Hotline 8.31.20
This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:
• COVID-19 testing available at City County Health
• Free Care19 Alert app available
• Face coverings on campus
• Coronavirus updates
• Viking sports updates
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published weekly during the academic year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. Friday.
COVID-19 testing available at City County Health
City County Health District in Valley City offers free COVID-19 testing on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. by appointment only. Call 701-845-8518 to schedule an appointment. The district offices are located at 415 2nd Ave. NE in Valley City.
Free Care19 Alert app available
VCSU students and employees are strongly encouraged to download a free smartphone app, Care19 Alert, to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by notifying users of possible COVID-19 exposure while protecting their privacy with technology developed by Apple and Google.
Care19 Alert uses Bluetooth proximity technology provided by both Apple and Google notification systems. The app provides proactive alerts and notifications to users based on anonymous keys exchanged between smartphones as users go about their daily activities.
Care19 Alert users will be notified if their device was in proximity of another device whose user tests positive for COVID-19. The app updates daily with positive COVID-19 results submitted by other users, which are then checked against the list of random keys that each device has encountered for more than 15 minutes in the last 14 days.
People who use Care19 Alert must explicitly choose to turn on exposure notifications, and they can turn off the app at any time. The Apple-Google Notification System utilized by the app does not collect, use or store any device location, including for users who report positive results.
Users have the option to decide whether to report a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, and identities are not known to Apple, Google or other app users. The system is only used for exposure notifications by official public health authorities and is not monetized.
The free app is available to download through the App Store and the Google Play Store. For more information, visit ndresponse.gov/covid-19-resources/care19.
Face coverings on campus
A reminder that all students, staff, faculty, affiliates and campus visitors are required to wear face coverings when interacting with others on the VCSU campus. The VCSU Safe Operating Procedures regarding face coverings can be found at onestop.vcsu.edu/support/solutions/articles/10000052288.
Coronavirus updates
Campus coronavirus updates can be found at www.vcsu.edu/coronavirus-information. Here you can find updates with news of positives cases within the campus community, along with information regarding impact to campus activities and facilities. This information will be updated regularly as needed.
There is also a host of resources with detailed information for employees and students on OneStop at onestop.vcsu.edu/support/solutions/folders/10000082374.
Viking sports update
Volleyball opens season Saturday
The VCSU volleyball team is scheduled to open the 2020 season with three matches this weekend, playing in Valley City, Jamestown and Mayville . The Vikings will host a triangular on Saturday morning and then will travel to Jamestown for a match Saturday evening. VCSU’s first match is at 9 a.m. Saturday against Dakota Wesleyan. That match will be played at VCSU’s W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse. The Vikings will then play at the University of Jamestown at 6 p.m.
VCSU Spectator Guidelines
The VCSU Athletic Department announced Friday that fans will be allowed and encouraged to attend home athletic events during the fall sports season.
After consultation with City-County Health and the North Dakota Department of Health, the decision has been made to allow fans up to 50 percent capacity of VCSU’s indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, said VCSU athletic director Jill DeVries. That could change depending on the state’s official risk level, currently at “low.”
At the current low risk level, VCSU will allow 1,250 fans at home football games and 500 fans at home volleyball matches and baseball games. All VCSU home volleyball matches this season will be played at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, which will allow for more physical distancing.
Face coverings will be required for all attendees at indoor and outdoor events. Spectators who are unable to wear masks for health reasons are asked to physical distance themselves at the event, or consider watching the game through VCSU’s online video broadcast.
VCSU will not endorse tailgating this fall, and will not allow tailgating on VCSU property prior to home events this fall. Fans will not be allowed on the court or field for postgame interactions with student-athletes.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 5: Volleyball vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 9 a.m.
Sept. 5: Volleyball at Univ. of Jamestown, 6 p.m. (Jamestown, N.D.)
Sept. 6: Volleyball at Mayville State, noon; vs. NDSCS (scrimmage), 4 p.m. (Mayville, N.D.)
Sept. 12: Cross Country at Dakota State, 10:30 a.m. (Madison, S.D.)
Sept. 12: Football at Presentation College, 1 p.m. (Aberdeen, S.D.)
Sept. 13-14: Golf at Jamestown Country Club, TBA (Jamestown, N.D.)
What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
Monday, August 31
Payday
4-6 p.m. Farmers Market, Rosebud Visitor Center Parking Lot
Tuesday, September 1
Wednesday, September 2
Thursday, September 3
4-6 p.m. Farmers Market, Rosebud Visitor Center Parking Lot
Friday, September 4
Saturday, September 5
Viking volleyball vs. Dakota Wesleyan University, home, 9 a.m.
Viking volleyball vs. University of Jamestown, away, 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 6
Viking volleyball vs. Mayville State University, away, noon
Viking volleyball vs. North Dakota State College of Science (scrimmage) @ Mayville, 4 p.m.
Monday, September 7
4-6 p.m. Farmers Market, Rosebud Visitor Center Parking Lot
Tuesday, September 8
Wednesday, September 9
Thursday, September 10
4-6 p.m. Farmers Market, Rosebud Visitor Center Parking Lot
Friday, September 11
Saturday, September 12
10:30 a.m. Viking men’s and women’s cross country at Herb Blakely Invitational, Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.
1 p.m. Viking football at Presentation College, Aberdeen, S.D.
Sunday, September 13
10:30 a.m. Viking men’s and women’s golf at Jamestown Country Club, Jamestown, N.D. (Sept. 13-14)
Visit www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.