GUIDE FOR SICK/EXPOSED CAMPUS MEMBERS

STEP 1: Stay home when sick or after possible exposure
STEP 2: Get tested for COVID-19
STEP 3: Complete the COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form
STEP 4: Notify appropriate campus members
STEP 5: Self-monitor and get support
STEP 6: Determine when it is safe to come to campus

STEP 1: STAY HOME WHEN SICK OR AFTER POSSIBLE EXPOSURE

Sick campus members should follow the guidance of their medical providers and/or contact tracers on when to discontinue isolation or quarantine. The following are basic guidelines following the latest CDC guidance:

For individuals who had a close contact with someone who has a positive or presumed positive COVID-19 case:

Quarantine by staying home and monitoring your health:

• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19*
• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19
• You can leave quarantine to seek medical attention and get tested as needed, but you should go directly to your appointment, minimize contact with others, and return to quarantine
• If you receive a negative COVID-19 test result, you should still quarantine for 14 days from the time of close contact, as you may develop symptoms during that time

* This excludes people who had COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered. For guidance regarding individuals who have recovered from a COVID-19 case within the past 3 months, please visit cdc.gov.

For individuals with a positive or presumed positive case:
If you have symptoms, you can discontinue isolation and be with others after:

• At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
• At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
• Symptoms have resolved

If you had severe illness from COVID-19 (you were admitted to a hospital and needed oxygen), your healthcare provider may recommend that you stay in isolation for longer than 10 days after your symptoms first appeared (possibly up to 20 days) and you may need to finish your period of isolation at home.

If you do not have symptoms:
If you continue to have no symptoms, you can discontinue isolation and be with others after 10 days have passed since the date you had your positive test.

STEP 2: GET TESTED FOR COVID-19

Free COVID-19 testing is being provided for students, faculty, and staff by the Texas A&M University System. The tests provided through this program are mouth swab tests that do not require assistance. To schedule a COVID-19 test, please visit https://tamus.curativeinc.com/welcome .

Student Health Services provides additional COVID-19 testing information for students and faculty/staff.

STEP 3: COMPLETE THE COVID-19 SELF-REPORTING FORM

Students
If you are a student, you must stay home and immediately complete the COVID-19 Report Form if:

• You have been diagnosed with or received a positive test result for COVID-19;
• You are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (as listed on the CDC website); or
• You believe that you have been in close contact (defined as being within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period regardless of wearing a face covering) with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19, or someone in your household (including a roommate or housemate) has been diagnosed with or received a positive test result for COVID-19.

Employees
If you are an employee, you must stay home, immediately notify your supervisor, and complete the COVID-19 Report Form if:

• You have been diagnosed with or received a positive test result for COVID-19;
• You are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms (as listed on the CDC website); or
• You believe that you have been in close contact (defined as being within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period regardless of wearing a face covering) with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19, or someone in your household has been diagnosed with or received a positive test result for COVID-19.

STEP 4: NOTIFY APPROPRIATE CAMPUS MEMBERS

Students
Students living on-campus should contact their residence hall/apartment staff for assistance with isolation and/or quarantine. Members of the Corps of Cadets should contact Col Gary Beaty.

Students experiencing personal Illness that is too severe for the student to attend class qualify for an excused absence (See Student Rule 7, Section 7.2.2.) To receive an excused absence, the student must comply with the documentation and notification guidelines outlined in Student Rule 7. While Student Rule 7, Section 7.3.2.1, indicates a medical confirmation note from the student’s medical provider is preferred, for Fall 2020 only, students may use the Explanatory Statement for Absence from Class form in lieu of a medical confirmation. Students must submit the Explanatory Statement for Absence from Class within three business days after the last date of absence.

Employees
Employees must notify their supervisor if they are diagnosed with COVID-19, experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, or believe they have been in close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19.  Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period regardless of wearing a face covering. 

Student Employees
If you are a student employee who works on campus, you must immediately notify your work supervisor.

Students or employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in close contact to someone with COVID-19 will be contacted by a member of the Operations Center to conduct an interview, provide specific guidance, answer questions about COVID-19, and initiate contact tracing.  Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period regardless of wearing a face covering. Students who suspect that they may have COVID-19 are also encouraged to contact Student Health Services or their preferred health care provider for health advice.

Supervisors and Faculty
If you are a supervisor or faculty member, you must follow the steps outlined above in Step 3 for “Employee” and you must also take the steps shown below when notified directly by an employee or student of any of the above listed COVID-19 criteria.  Faculty do NOT need to take these steps when a student provides them with a confirmation of a medical visit document or an absence of notification form.

• Instruct the person to go home immediately or stay at home, practice self-isolation, and complete the COVID-19 Report Form;
  • Supervisors and faculty should use the provided script when notified by an employee or student of any of the COVID-19 criteria (see FAQs below)
• Immediately report any information provided by the individual through the COVID-19 Report Form by selecting “Supervisor”;
• Encourage the person to seek medical attention (if they have not already done so);
• Inform the person that a member of the Operations Center will contact them to provide them with information and resources, and to initiate contact tracing, if necessary; and
• Encourage the person to fully cooperate with the Operations Center’s contact tracing efforts.

Supervisors and faculty should not relay any medical information, such as a diagnosis or symptoms, about employees to any other person.  Supervisors and faculty may advise relevant personnel that the employee may be absent from work.

Supervisors, faculty, and unit heads are not required to contact SSC to arrange cleaning of workspaces.  Cleaning, if required, will be directed by the COVID-19 Reporting Committee, led by the Office of Risk, Ethics, and Compliance (OREC).  Such information will be provided in a de-identified form to Texas A&M Facilities Services and the department head or principal investigator, as appropriate.

STEP 5: SELF-MONITOR AND GET SUPPORT

Monitor Your Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, or other symptoms. Make an appointment with your primary medical provider if you would like to further discuss your specific condition. Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. If you are sick or are caring for someone who is sick, you can also use the COVID-19 Self-Checker or the DSHS Texas Health Trace application to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. Seek emergency medical care immediately if you show any of these signs: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face.

Mental Health Resources
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Additional Resources
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STEP 6: DETERMINE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO COME TO CAMPUS

Sick campus members should follow the guidance of their medical providers and/or contact tracers on when to discontinue isolation or quarantine. The following are basic guidelines following the latest CDC guidance:

For individuals who had a close contact with someone who has a positive or presumed positive COVID-19 case:
Quarantine by staying home and monitoring your health:

• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19*
• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19
• You can leave quarantine to seek medical attention and get tested as needed, but you should go directly to your appointment, minimize contact with others, and return to quarantine
• If you receive a negative COVID-19 test result, you should still quarantine for 14 days from the time of close contact, as you may develop symptoms during that time

* This excludes people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered. For guidance regarding individuals who have recovered from a COVID-19 case within the past 3 months, please visit www.cdc.gov.

For individuals with a positive or presumed positive case:
If you have symptoms, you can discontinue isolation and be with others after:

• At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
• At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
• Symptoms have resolved

If you had severe illness from COVID-19 (you were admitted to a hospital and needed oxygen), your healthcare provider may recommend that you stay in isolation for longer than 10 days after your symptoms first appeared (possibly up to 20 days) and you may need to finish your period of isolation at home.

If you do not have symptoms:
If you continue to have no symptoms, you can discontinue isolation and be with others after 10 days have passed since the date you had your positive test.