What’s new with COVID-19:
- As of Sept. 25, free COVID-19 test kits are once again available for mail order.
- The University COVID-19 and Flu vaccine clinic will be held in the Student Union Fountain Lounge on the McNichols Campus Thursday, Oct. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched the Bridge Access Program for uninsured or underinsured individuals.
More information:
Testing:
- As of September 25, free COVID-19 test kits are once again available for mail order at https://www.covid.gov/tests;
- You can test right away if you are ill. If you have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual, you can test after five days if you remained symptom-free;
- It is best to test twice, with at least 24 hours between the first and second test
Vaccination:
- The University COVID-19 and Flu vaccine clinic will be held in the Student Union Fountain Lounge on the McNichols Campus, Thursday, Oct. 19 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. The sign-up will be done through RiteAid Pharmacy’s online portal beginning October 3. The updated vaccine will be available and you are able to receive both the COVID and Flu vaccine at the same time.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched the Bridge Access Program for uninsured or underinsured individuals. This program provides free COVID-19 vaccination. If you are searching for a COVID vaccine and are unable to attend the Oct. 19 clinic, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/ to find the manufacturer you are looking for (Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax), and if using the Bridge Access program, be sure to check the box indicating such.
- Learn more about the updated COVID vaccine and who should get it by watching the American Medical Association AMA update on COVID vaccination.
What to do if you have COVID-19:
- Isolate right away;
- Tell your close contacts (those individuals within six feet of you for a cumulative 15 minutes over the course of 24 hours, in the two days prior to your illness). A service for advising close contacts, https://tellyourcontacts.org/ provides a text or email to the exposed individual. This may be a preferred option for a business setting or in the event you do not know the individual well;
- Use tele-health appointments if needed to check-in with your medical provider;
- Improve ventilation to reduce indoor exposure to viruses; and
- Review the University Health Advisories website for absence protocols and illness-related resources to help determine an estimated time of absence, pending symptom improvement and a full five days of isolation.
What you can do NOW: Be sure to have test kits on-hand, as well as a high-quality mask, such as N95. Take measures to stay physically healthy through good nutrition, increasing movement and when possible, enjoy the outdoors.
You can also find information on the pillars of health and those factors that allow us to flourish in all areas of our life, on the University Wellness & Well-Being page.