Tag: COVID-19

COVID-19 protocols/reminders

The following reminders are offered as an uptick of COVID-19 cases are being reported in South Texas and throughout the country.

CDC Guidelines
In the interest of keeping our community safe, students, faculty and staff should not attend in-person classes or events or come to work on campus if ill or have tested positive for COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive should follow the guidelines provided by the CDC and use the isolation and exposure calculator.

OLLU Protocols
The following protocols must be followed by students, faculty and staff who receive a positive result for COVID-19:

• Students Living in the Residence Halls: Must submit a Self-Report Form when diagnosed as COVID positive. They also must notify their professors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

• Athletes: No longer have to submit a Self-Report form when diagnosed with COVID-19 (unless they live in a residence hall); however, they must notify their professors and coaches of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

• Commuter Students: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form but must notify their professors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

• Employees: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form but must notify their supervisors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

Student Affairs No Longer Providing Letters
Please Note: The Division of Student Affairs no longer provides letters to faculty when a student tests positive for COVID-19. Students have been directed to communicate directly with their faculty members about absences.

Accessibility Services
Students who will be absent due to COVID or other illnesses are encouraged to contact the Accessibility Services Office as soon as possible for support and accommodations.

COVID-19 Testing
Testing services are no longer available on campus. At-home tests are available at local retailers and pharmacies. Some free services are available to individuals without health insurance. Information is available online at https://www.covid.gov/tests. A community-based testing site locator is available online.

Updates
COVID-19 protocol updates are posted at https://www.ollusa.edu/campus-safety/index.html.

OLLU Timely Care
Reminder: All OLLU students have access to free medical and mental health services through TimelyCare.

• Services are provided 24/7/365

• On-demand and scheduled medical care offered

• On-demand and scheduled counseling appointments, and health coaching offered • Set up an appointment online or download the TimelyCare app.

COVID-19 protocols for fall 2023 semester

The following reminders are offered as an uptick of COVID-19 cases are being reported in South Texas and throughout the country.

In the interest of keeping our community safe, you should not attend in-person classes or come to work on campus if you are ill or have been exposed to any infectious disease. Follow CDC and/or local health official guidelines. Communicate with your faculty members, coach and/or supervisor if you are unable to attend class or come to work due to illness.

As a reminder, the COVID-19 protocols for the fall 2023 are the same as last semester with one exception: There is no longer a self-report form just for athletes.

The following protocols must be followed by students, faculty and staff who receive a positive result for COVID-19:


• Students Living in the Residence Halls: Must submit a Self-Report Form when diagnosed as COVID positive. They also must notify their professors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

•  Athletes: No longer have to submit a Self-Report form when diagnosed with COVID-19 (unless they live in a residence hall); however, they must notify their professors and coaches of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

• Commuter Students: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form, but must notify their professors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

• Employees: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form, but must notify their supervisors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

OLLU Timely Care

Reminder: All OLLU students have access to free medical and mental health services through TimelyCare.

• Services are provided 24/7/365

• On-demand and scheduled medical care offered

• On-demand and scheduled counseling appointments, and health coaching offered

• Set up an appointment online or download the TimelyCare app

Self-reporting requirements for COVID-19 to change

As the number of COVID-19 cases around the country and at the OLLU campuses have stabilized, the university is changing its self-reporting requirements. Most community members will no longer be required to report a positive diagnosis to the university. Below are the requirements, which will go into effect on Dec. 23.

Employees: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form. Must notify their supervisors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

Residential Students: Must submit a Self-Report Form when diagnosed as COVID positive. Must also notify their professors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

Commuter Students: Must notify their professors of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

Athletes: Must submit a Self-Report Form when diagnosed as COVID positive. Must also notify their professors and coaches of their isolation dates calculated with the use of the CDC calculator.

New academic year brings new guidelines for masks and COVID-19 reporting

Masks are encouraged but no longer required in all OLLU indoor or outdoor spaces for the 2022-2023 academic year. Mask wearing in classrooms will be optional for students and faculty; however, a faculty member may set a mask requirement for their classroom.

Employees and students are required to report a positive COVID-19 diagnosis immediately after learning of it by using the Self-Report Form. Employees and students are also required to submit a self-certification form when their isolation/quarantine is over in order to get cleared to return.

For more information about the new guidelines, see the attached flyer below:

OLLU modifies its COVID-19 processes for employees

The university is modifying its COVID-19 processes for employees beginning this fall. Employees who submit a self-report form will no longer receive an email or a call from ConquerCovid identifying the dates an employee has to isolate/quarantine.

COVID-positive employees and some[1] employees who had close contact with a COVID-positive individual are still asked to refrain from coming to campus. Going forward, employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual should follow these steps: 

  1. Determine isolation/quarantine days with the use of this isolation/quarantine calculator.
  2. Submit a Self-Report Form.
  3. Immediately notify the supervisor of the days that the individual will need to isolate/quarantine.
  4. Employees who tested positive for COVID should notify colleagues or students with whom they had close contact[2].
  5. Submit a Return-to-Work/Self-Certification Form before returning to campus once your isolation/quarantine period is over.
  6. Forward the confirmation email received after submitting the Return-to-Work Form to the supervisor. This is what clears the employee to return to work.

The Health Education team will still be available to answer any questions. Submit any questions to conquercovid@ollusa.edu. This new system will go into effect on Monday, Aug. 15. Employees are encouraged to save this email with the links to the Self-Report and Self-Certification Forms in the event they might need them in the future.

The university thanks all employees in advance for their patience with any kinks in the system that may occur as the university rolls out this new process.

Preparation for emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 vaccination and testing

OLLU is monitoring legal action around the OSHA emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 vaccination and testing. Although the standard has been halted by the courts, the university is taking actions to be prepared to comply with the standard if the courts allow it to go into effect by the original Jan. 4, 2022 deadline.

If the current stay is lifted by the courts, OLLU employees will need to upload proof of COVID-19 vaccination (if they have not already done so). Individuals who do not provide proof of vaccination or receive an appropriate exemption will be required to submit results from a COVID-19 test each week at their own expense.

Until further notice, OLLU will continue to conduct at university expense regular testing of employees who have not provided proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

As always, OLLU will monitor the communities served by the university and make changes to COVID-19 protocols as necessary.

COVID-19 testing protocols changing

With COVID-19 risk levels declining in the communities OLLU serves, low positivity rates on our campuses and changing protocols from Curative, the university’s testing provider, OLLU is making changes to COVID-19 testing requirements. Curative has announced it is no longer testing asymptomatic individuals. Therefore:

•Students will no longer be required to test on a regular basis; testing is required if students have symptoms or close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual.
•The Curative testing site in the UWAC is now closed; anyone with symptoms or close contact can test at the Curative site in Lot K or with other local providers.
•Observed, quick tests are available in the Health Education Resource Office for urgent situations. Call the office at 210-431-3919.
•Employees who have not submitted proof of vaccination will continue testing on a regular basis and will receive updated instructions on the new OSHA emergency temporary standard in the coming weeks.
•Students, faculty, staff and visitors to OLLU campuses are still required to wear masks when indoors or unable to isolate.
•Students, faculty and staff are still required to report COVID-19 illness or close contact by submitting a Self-Report Form
•Students and employees who have not yet done so are still encouraged to submit proof of vaccination here.  

The university will continue to monitor the situation and will update protocols as conditions change.

Save the Date: Dec. 3 vaccine clinic
OLLU will hold a vaccine clinic on the San Antonio campus on Dec. 3 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Pfizer vaccines, boosters and pediatric vaccines will be available. The flu shot also will be available, but recipients must provide their health insurance card.

OLLU reviewing new OSHA standard on COVID-19 vaccination requirements

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a new emergency temporary standard dealing with COVID-19 vaccination for large employers (100 or more employees). OLLU administration is reviewing the standard and related FAQs and will provide guidance for university employees in the coming weeks, prior to the Jan. 4, 2022, deadline for compliance.

OLLU introduces changes to COVID testing program

With a decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in our area, OLLU is introducing changes to its COVID-19 Testing Program. Read below for an overview of OLLU’s plans going forward. OLLU awaits the publication of OSHA’s regulations related to President Biden’s vaccination announcement for employers with 100 or more employees. The university will continue to monitor the situation and will make adjustments as they become necessary.

Who Needs to Test
▪ Students and employees who have not submitted proof of vaccination will be required to test on a regular basis. Weekly testing will not be required. Individuals will receive an email with instructions when it is time to test.

▪ Students and employees who did submit proof of vaccination will not be required to test. On occasion, a random group of individuals in this category will be invited to take part, on a voluntary basis, in monitor testing that assists with tracking breakthrough cases.

When to Test 
▪ When it’s a student or an employees’ turn to test, they will receive an email from ConquerCovid@ollusa.edu with instructions. Individuals needing to test will receive an email the week before the test is required.

▪ Employees can test during the workday.

Where to Get Tested
▪ San Antonio-based students and employees can test on campus. The OLLU testing site is located at the University Wellness and Activities Center (UWAC), Room 112, formerly the Health Services Office. If you are selected to test, you will receive an email with date/times when you can test.

▪ Students and employees from the RGV and Houston campuses will be provided with specific instructions on testing options.

▪ If an employee tests at the OLLU site, he/she will be asked to wait 15 minutes at the UWAC for their results.

▪ Individuals may elect to test at a testing site outside of OLLU, but home tests will not be accepted.

o If an employee or student plans on testing elsewhere, he/she must let the University know.

o If employees or students test at a different site, they will be asked to submit their test results by a specified deadline.

o Details on this will be included in the email that is sent to the employee or student.

Exemptions
Students or employees do not have to test if:

▪ They tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days.

▪ They are currently in quarantine or isolation.

▪ They are not working, living, taking classes or participating in activities on campus.

▪ They provided proof of vaccination. Students and employees who have not yet done so can still submit proof of vaccination here.

If an employees or students receive an email asking them to test and they meet either of these exemptions, they will be asked to let the COVID team know.

COVID-19 Cases at OLLU
The number of active cases at OLLU and in San Antonio continues to improve. As of Sept. 22, there are only two active cases reported. The university would like to thank every student and employee who has responded to requests to test for COVID-19 and everyone who has followed the safety guidelines. The university’s success is a direct result of everyone’s efforts.

Reminder: Masks Still Required
OLLU continues to require masks/face coverings for all individuals on campus – vaccinated and unvaccinated. Face coverings must be worn in classrooms, hallways, meeting spaces and other common areas where individuals cannot isolate or social distance.