Mandatory Reporting

These plans are based on federal, state, and local regulations and guidance available at this time, as well as public health recommendations. As the situation with COVID-19 is fluid, they are subject to change.

All members of the UMHB community are required to report immediately if:

• You test positive for COVID-19
• You develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19
• You have known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

Click here for instructions on mandatory reporting.

FOR STUDENTS

You must report by directly contacting Dr. Brandon Skaggs, Vice President for Student Life, at bskaggs@umhb.edu or (214) 704-1168, or Michael Burns, Dean of Students, at (405) 308-7336 or mburns@umhb.edu. Contacting other staff or faculty does not fulfill your requirement to immediately report directly to Dr. Skaggs or Mr. Burns. Your report will be handled confidentially by only those university officials who have a need to know.

QUARANTINE

Quarantine is used to keep someone who is at higher risk of having been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps limit further spread of COVID-19. (source: CDC)

Quarantine means staying in a specific designated location (i.e., campus housing or student’s own home) and staying separated from others. People in quarantine limit movement outside of their home or current residence. They monitor their health status for the development of symptoms. Typically, a COVID-19-related quarantine lasts for a 14-day period.

Quarantine is used for people who are not sick and is similar to, but not the same as, isolation, which is used when a person is sick.

Who should quarantine? You may be instructed by a healthcare provider, a local health official, or the university to self-quarantine because of close contact with someone who has lab-confirmed COVID-19.

Steps for Self-Quarantine:

1. If you have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who is being tested after a suspected exposure to COVID-19, you are required to self-quarantine and to report immediately and directly to Dr. Brandon Skaggs at (214) 704-1168 or Michael Burns at (405) 308-7336 or student.covid@umhb.edu. For students who reside in campus housing, Dr. Skaggs or Mr. Burns will discuss your options for quarantining in campus housing.
2. You should not contact other faculty or staff directly. Dr. Skaggs or his designee will coordinate your continuation of UMHB classes and other activities with your instructors and others. Most classes can be converted to an online format during your quarantine period. Please refer to the university’s Face-To-Face Classes Notice you have already received for more information.
3. Stay in your self-quarantine area until 14 days after the date of your last known exposure and limit movement outside of your self-quarantine area.
4. Follow the rules while you’re lying low. You can still connect with friends and family via computer and phone. However, it’s important you do not break quarantine until after 14 days is over.
5. Do not leave your quarantine location for any non-essential reason. For on-campus quarantine, specific information will be provided to you regarding where you may and may not go outside your campus living quarters.
6. Do not use public transportation or go to shopping centers.
7. Maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others at all times.
8. Avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe illness.
9. Self-monitor for symptoms. Check temperature twice a day. Watch for fever above 100.0 °F, cough, or shortness of breath. Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop and report the onset of symptoms immediately to Dr. Brandon Skaggs at (214) 704-1168 or Michael Burns at (405) 308-7336 or student.covid@umhb.edu.

If you are allowed to quarantine in campus housing, additional rules will apply.

• UMHB may require that you use certain entrances/exits at your residence.
• While it is expected that you will limit your movement outside your residence during self-quarantine, you may be required to stay completely away from certain areas of the campus where social distancing may be more difficult to maintain. For example, you may not go to the Townsend Memorial Library, Bawcom Student Union, Mabee Student Success Center, or other campus buildings.
• Do not have friends or family with you in your quarantine room or apartment, unless they have been approved by your healthcare provider and UMHB.
• Do wear a face mask if you need to use a shared bathroom, go to a healthcare appointment, etc.

How UMHB will assist you during self-quarantine in campus housing:

UMHB has in place procedures to safely and appropriately assist students residing on campus who are self-quarantining, while simultaneously safeguarding the health and well-being of the broader university community. In addition to the self-quarantine rules outlined above, the following apply to students who are quarantined in campus housing:

• You must stay in separate campus quarters with separate bathroom facilities.
• Food and other essential supplies will be delivered to the person’s campus quarters if needed.
• Garbage should be bagged and left outside by the door of the quarters for routine pick up. Special handling is not required.

Regardless of where you quarantine, returning to face-to-face classes and other campus activities after quarantine is strictly prohibited until you have been provided written permission to do so from Dr. Brandon Skaggs or his designee.

ISOLATION

Isolation is used to separate sick people from healthy people (source: CDC).

Who should isolate?

Any student who:

1. Develops fever, cough, or other symptoms listed under the Health and Safety Protocols section.
2. Has tested positive for COVID-19.

Steps for Isolation

Students who meet the criteria for isolation must immediately self-isolate, then contact Dr. Brandon Skaggs at (214) 704-1168 or Michael Burns at (405) 308-7336 or student.covid@umhb.edu.

You should not contact other faculty or staff directly. Dr. Skaggs or his designee will coordinate your continuation of UMHB classes and other activities with your instructors and others. Most classes can be converted to an online format during your isolation period if you feel well enough to participate. If you cannot, your options will be discussed with you by Dr. Skaggs.

Campus Disclosure

UMHB will disclose any known COVID-19 case only to members of the campus community who have a need to know while respecting the confidentiality of the individual student.

Contact Tracing

If you test positive for COVID-19, when you provide notice of the diagnosis to the university, please provide a list of any members of the UMHB community that you recall being in close contact with during the 48 hours preceding the onset of your symptoms.

Location of Isolation

Every student is required to have a plan for off-campus isolation (including private transportation), should it become necessary.

If undergoing isolation at your permanent residence is not possible due to extraordinary circumstances, the university may agree to provide appropriate isolation accommodations and other assistance listed above, if your symptoms are less severe and you can provide self-care during the isolation period.

• You must not go to the library, Bawcom Student Union, Mabee Student Success Center, or other campus buildings.
• You must not use public transportation or go to stores or shopping centers.
• You must not have friends or family with you in your isolation room or apartment, unless they have been approved by your healthcare provider and UMHB.
• The university may require you to comply with other rules during on-campus isolation.

Hearing that you are “being isolated” or asked to “self-isolate” may feel scary. Remember, the goal of isolation is to give you the space and time to recover, while also protecting others from exposure to illness. However, you can still connect with friends and family via social media and phone.

Regardless of where you isolate, returning to face-to-face classes and other campus activities after quarantine is strictly prohibited until you have been provided written permission to do so from Dr. Skaggs or his designee.

Common feelings during quarantine or isolation

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations such as an infectious disease outbreak that require changes in location or behavior. When you are out of circulation, you may experience a range of feelings, including:

• Anxiety, worry, or fear related to your health status or that of others
• Feeling special; like you’re having an adventure
• Anger or resentment of the inconvenience
• Worry about not having your things with you or not doing your usual routine
• Uncertainty or concern about how long you will need to remain in this situation
• Excitement to have some alone time to rest and catch up on reading
• Loneliness or feeling cut off
• Boredom and frustration
• Sadness or depression

Student Resources

Dr. Brandon Skaggs
Vice President for Student Life
(254) 295-4150
bskaggs@umhb.edu

Michael Burns
Dean of Students
(254) 295-4589
mburns@umhb.edu

Debbie Rosenberger, RN
Student Health Services Coordinator
(254) 295-4696
drosenberger@umhb.edu

Karli Butterworth, LPC
Student Counseling Center
(254) 294-4696
kbutterworth@umhb.edu

National Crisis Text Line Text HELLO to 741741

For more information about quarantine or isolation, see these resources: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html