The university was informed today that Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam tested positive for COVID, shortly after the Governor attended an event this week on our Fairfax campus.
The Governor was on campus for a short time on Tuesday, wore a mask during his entire visit and came into close contact with a very small group of individuals.
The university is working to make sure that the Virginia Health Department knows who was in close contact with the Governor on Tuesday, and health department officials will contact those individuals directly. Anyone who has concerns about their exposure or health should contact their health care provider.
Michael Sandler
Associate Vice President, Communications
Julie Zobel
Assistant Vice President, Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management
Dear Fellow Patriots:
This has been an awful week for justice. We end it without justice for Breonna Taylor. We end it without Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. And we end it with an ominous feeling surrounding next month’s election, regardless of who wins.
If you are feeling some terrible mix of trauma, anxiety, anger, and hopelessness, you are not alone and there is nothing wrong with that. I feel them, too. This is somewhat normal given the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead.
It truly has been a disappointing week. We cannot change that. But we cannot afford to give into it, either. In my most difficult times, when I have faced my most significant failures, I have learned to transform my failures and disappointment into fuel, and that fuel into action.
So, let’s talk action.
Over the next few weeks and months, you will see a series of initiatives and programs related to inclusive excellence at Mason. I am asking all of you to get engaged and get involved, as your first task is one of learning and understanding. Toward that end, I am dedicating the first Freedom and Learning Forum of my presidency to a forum on racial justice and inclusion. We need a community conversation – to hear each other, and to speak the full truth about where members of this community remain marginalized, threatened, or traumatized by the current state of affairs. We simply have to get it out on the table. Stay tuned for announcements on when and how this forum will occur.
The Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence that I appointed last month is beginning to take action. The group met again today, and is working at full speed to map out its comprehensive plan to examine George Mason University in order to remake it into an exemplar of anti-racism and inclusive excellence. While there is not much for the eye to see on their progress at this point, know that there are more than 100 individuals hard at work on this initiative. The systemic racism that is preventing the administration of justice for the murder of Breonna Taylor underscores how vital the work of this task force remains.
In addition to learning and engaging as much as you can, please make the commitment to VOTE: While it may sound like a cliché, the closer we get to November 3rd, the more I realize that this is the most consequential election of our time. Election Day is in 38 days, but we can now vote early if we wish. If you are not registered to vote, or if your registration is not current, you have until October 13 to register. You can do so online with the Virginia Department of Elections. If you are registered, you can vote early or absentee if you do not want to wait until Election Day. Whatever your circumstances are: raise your voice with your vote, and make sure every eligible voter around you does the same.
And finally, we all need to take care of ourselves and each other. Feelings of anxiousness, anger, or anxiety are rampant. And they can easily be amplified by the isolation brought on by the pandemic. Seek out help if you need it, and seek the company of those whom you care about. As bad as this week has been, next week – and every “next week” that will follow – gives us renewed hope and opportunity to make things better.
This weekend, rest and be well. Next week, Patriots, we get back to work.
Sincerely,
Gregory Washington
President
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam praised George Mason University for keeping its coronavirus numbers low during a visit to the Fairfax Campus on Tuesday where he announced a refinancing plan for colleges and universities.
“Mason has taken safety precautions very seriously,” said Northam, speaking through a Mason-branded face covering. “I know that this campus community understands that safety is a shared responsibility.”
Dear Fellow Patriot,
As you know, last week George Mason University made the decision to test our most at-risk population—our residential students—to see if there was any significant impact from the Labor Day holiday. I’m pleased to share that with 97 percent of those results in, we have seen a remarkably low rate of transmission: just 11 positive students out of more than 2,400 test results, or a 0.45 percent positivity rate.
These numbers are even better than the number of transmissions off campus (12 active cases), and we have recorded zero classroom-related outbreaks to date. The total number of positive cases among our 51,000-member community of students, faculty, and staff stands at fewer than 30. These extraordinary numbers are cause for encouragement—not to let up on our efforts to keep COVID-19 away, but to stay the course. Relative to managing COVID-19 outbreaks, these results are the best for any large institution in Virginia and one of the best in the country, and they are proof that the decisions made up to this point were the right ones and a model for others to follow.
Over the course of months, the Mason team has built a multi-layered approach to keeping COVID-19 at bay, starting with pre-arrival quarantining and screening of students headed to live and study at Mason, and continuing with ongoing testing of randomized samples of the population, physical distancing, heightened hygiene requirements across campus, robotic food delivery, management of congregate student activity, and partnerships with our local community. But the most important reason for our low rate of transmission is the decision by our community—particularly our students—to take this situation very seriously. You have all done an outstanding job of doing your part, and the results are clear for everyone to see.
And while we are strongly encouraged by our initial success, our top priorities include caring for those are sick or are in quarantine because they were in close contact with someone who has tested positive. We are working to make sure you get proper health care, housing, and food brought to you so that you can recover. And we will continue to use our Starship Robots, which have helped deliver food to many while minimizing exposures from human contact.
Equally important is that we all continue to be vigilant on campus and follow the guidelines in the Safe Return to Campus plan that have been shown to be so effective. This situation can change rapidly, so we need everyone to double down on efforts. Remember:
Finally, we will continue to refine our planning for the rest of the semester and are developing an equally impactful plan for the upcoming spring semester. Our shared commitment to safety and well-being is another example of why George Mason University remains a leader in higher education.
Great job, Patriots—let’s all keep it up!
Sincerely,
Gregory Washington
President
George Mason University Korea has been preparing its campus for opening safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Mason Korea’s Emergency, Health and Safety team recently launched a #PatriotProtection campaign to inform students about the safety protocols and building access guidelines created to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The safety protocols include temperature checks, social distancing and mask wearing.
George Mason University this week is testing all 3,000 residential students for COVID-19, an effort intended to measure the impact of the Labor Day holiday and manage a likely spike in cases on campuses.
Mason President Gregory Washington announced the effort on Sept. 11, citing the need to stay ahead of the virus. All residential students received saliva test kits this week, which they were asked to complete. The tests are FDA-approved and are being analyzed by Rutgers University’s Infinite Biologics laboratory. Results are expected early next week.
George Mason University improved its already strong ranking as one of the nation’s most diverse universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2021 Best Colleges rankings.
Mason is ranked 15th nationally in ethnic diversity, up nine spots, best in the Washington, D.C., area. Mason is also the top Virginia school for innovation, and 35th nationally, in the U.S. News 2021 Best College rankings, released Monday, Sept. 14.
The event restrictions for the Fall 2020 semester have been created in the spirit of public health and safety, to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
