COVID-19 Information

• Contact tracing refers to the process by which close contacts of an individual who tests positive or is suspected of testing positive with COVID-19 are warned of their exposure in order to stop chains of transmission.

• Contact tracing is critical in stopping the spread of the virus. The University has developed a contact tracing and notification protocol for students and employees adhering to CDC guidance and best practices for confidentiality, HIPAA protections, and pandemic exceptions for the public good.

• Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 will be notified through contact tracing, however identifying information about the source of the exposure will not be shared to protect privacy.

Quarantine is required for individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19, even if they are not experiencing any symptoms (asymptomatic). Quarantine helps reduce the spread of infection, especially before individuals know they are sick. Fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to quarantine if exposed, but must self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the date of exposure.

Individuals in quarantine should:

• Stay home and avoid close contact with other people.

• Monitor their health closely.

• Follow directives of the local health department and their personal healthcare provider.

• Any unvaccinated or symptomatic member of the University community who has had exposure (as defined by the CDC) to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to stay home and isolate themselves for 10 days from their last-known exposure. Upon completion of this 10-day period and with presentation of a negative test (or a 14-day period with no test result) will an individual be permitted to return to campus. Learn more, via CDC.

Students

• Commuter students

  • Students should stay home and not come to campus while they are quarantining.

  • Students in quarantine will continue to have access to their course materials and should continue to complete their academic studies remotely, as their health permits.

  • It is the student’s responsibility to notify faculty that they are in quarantine.

• Off-campus students

  • Students who live alone should stay at home and self-monitor.

  • Students who share apartments or houses should consult the CDC guidelines on managing quarantine and discuss options with housemates.

  • If students live within driving distance, can be transported safely (e.g. in a vehicle alone or with one other person, both wearing a mask and windows open), and will not be exposing any at-risk family members, quarantining at home is highly encouraged.

  • Students in quarantine will continue to have access to their course materials and should continue to complete their academic studies remotely, as their health permits.

  • It is the student’s responsibility to notify faculty that they are in quarantine.

• Residential students

  • The University will maintain a limited number of designated quarantine facilities for residential students.

  • If students live within driving distance, can be transported safely (e.g. in a vehicle alone or with one other person, both wearing a mask and windows open), and will not be exposing any at-risk family members, quarantining at home is highly encouraged.

  • Students are encouraged to consider which option they prefer before they return to campus and discuss logistics with family members.

  • Students in on-campus quarantine will continue to have access to their course materials and should continue to complete their academic studies remotely, as their health permits.

  • It is the student’s responsibility to notify faculty that they are in quarantine.

  • Arrangements will be made for meals to be delivered to students in on-campus quarantine who have a Dining Services meal plan.

  • If a student does not have a meal plan or has run out of meals on their meal plan, Dining Services will offer meals on a per diem basis.  The cost of which will be communicated to the student at the time of the quarantine relocation process.

Faculty and staff

• Faculty and staff are required to quarantine off-campus at home. Staff who reside on campus are required to quarantine within their campus residence.

• Faculty and staff in quarantine will work with their supervisors to discuss remote work opportunities, as their health and role permit.

• Employees who are unable to work due to personal illness should use available sick time. If an employee’s available sick time has already been exhausted, they should contact the Office of Human Resources to discuss available leave options.

Travel

• See the Health Guidelines section of this plan for details regarding domestic and international travel.

According to the CDC, isolation is used in order to separate those who have (or likely have) contracted the virus from those who have not. Those in isolation should remain home and separate themselves from others until it is safe for them to be around other people.

Any member of the University community who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is showing any of the COVID-19 symptoms will be required to isolate until they meet the criteria to end isolation.

Students

• Students who have tested positive and need to be relocated to an on-campus isolation unit should complete the COVID-19 Disclosure Form immediately to start the relocation process.

• The University will maintain a limited number of designated isolation facilities for residential students.

• If students live within driving distance, can be transported safely (e.g. in a vehicle alone or with one other person, both wearing a mask and windows open), and will not be exposing any at-risk family members, isolating at home is highly encouraged.

• Students are encouraged to consider which option they prefer before they return to campus and discuss logistics with family members.

• It is the student’s responsibility to notify faculty that they are in isolation.  Students in on-campus isolation will continue to have access to their course materials and should continue to complete their academic studies remotely, as their health permits.

• Arrangements will be made for meal delivery to students in on-campus isolation who have a Dining Services meal plan.

• If a student in on-campus isolation does not have a meal plan or has run out of meals on their meal plan, Dining Services will offer meals on a per diem basis. The cost of which will be communicated to the student at the time of the isolation relocation process.

• Commuter students should discuss how the need for isolation will be managed with family members.

• Off-Campus students should review and discuss isolation guidelines with housemates.

Faculty and staff

• Faculty and staff are required to isolate off-campus.

  • Please review CDC guidelines for safe isolation.

• Faculty and staff in isolation will work with their supervisors to discuss remote work opportunities, as their health and role permit.

• Employees who are unable to work due to personal illness should use available sick time. If available sick time has already been exhausted, the employee should contact HR to discuss available leave options.

  • HR will contact the appropriate chair or program director (faculty) or vice president (staff), as appropriate.

• lasalle.edu/covid19 will continue to serve as the hub of information relating to COVID-19 and its impact on campus operations. This will include the number of positive cases that have been identified on campus.

• Students, faculty, and staff will continue to be updated via email announcements in their lasalle.edu email account.