COVID-19 Exposure/Symptoms/Diagnosis Procedures for Students in the Foundations Phase

UWSOM students in the Foundations phase who test positive for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), have a known COVID-19 exposure (UW Medicine COVID-19 exposure policy link) or develop symptoms of COVID-19 should:

  1. Seek medical care if needed
  2. Not attend any in person classes
  3. Let their Foundations dean know
  4. Follow instructions from their regional campus
  5. Inform UW Environmental Health & Safety by sending an email with your contact information and a description of the situation to covidehc@uw.edu

This is your daily Covid-19 self-attestation reminder (LINK TO SELF-ATTESTATION). If you have difficulty accessing this self-attestation, then close all your internet browsers and make sure you are completely logged out. Alternatively, you can try a different browser, than you normally use. You should be prompted to log-in with your UW Net ID when you click on the link.

If you are planning on coming into the University of Washington, School or Medicine (UWSOM), Health Sciences Building, South Campus Center, or other UW Medicine facilities then you must complete this self-attestation. If you cannot answer “YES” to both the statements in this self-attestation, then you should follow the guidance below and not come to the UW campus.

Since your last visit to a University facility, have you experienced any of the following symptoms?

  • A new fever (100.4 F or higher) or a sense of having a fever?
  • A new cough that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
  • New shortness of breath that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
  • A new sore throat that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
  • New muscle pain that you cannot attribute to another health condition or that may have been caused by a specific activity, such as physical exercise?
  • New gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
  • New respiratory symptoms, such as a runny nose, that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
  • New chills that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
  • New loss of taste or smell that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
  • A new headache that you cannot attribute to another health condition or emotional reason?

_______________________________________________________________

UWSOM students in the Foundations phase who develop symptoms of COVID-19, test positive for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), or have a known COVID-19 exposure (UW Medicine COVID-19 exposure policy link must:

If you received positive test results for a COVID-19 infection within the past 14 days, stay home and follow the guidance in the FAQ “What do I do if I have confirmed or suspected COVID-19?” at https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/faq/.

If within the past 14 days you were in close contact with a person who has a COVID-19 infection, stay home and follow the guidance in the FAQ “I have been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19. What should I do?” at https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/faq/.

  • Close contact includes being within approximately 6 feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 for more than a few minutes, living with a person who has COVID-19 or having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils).

Thank you,

UW School of Medicine team

Spokane UW SOM Student Do’s and Don’ts for the Fall during the pandemic

Background
The purpose of this memo is to directly address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Foundations instruction in Spokane. Guidelines for viral transmission mitigation in Schoenberg as well as what to do in the event of exposure or illness are presented.

Before you arrive

  • Anticipate that the risk of infection is greater outside of school than during in-person instruction. Given the risk of COVID acquisition is greater in the community than in the classroom, we ask that you take the risk of transmission to your classmates, instructors, and patients into consideration when planning your extra-curricular activities. As medical students, you are part of the healthcare community and our concerns regarding risk exposures and transmission is much greater given the vulnerable population that we serve.
  • Make sure you are clear on your health insurance and how you plan to access medical care if you become ill – See 2020 Spokane Foundations, Health: Insurance, Access and Care.
  • If you are at risk for complications of COVID-19, discuss this with your College Mentor
  • Review Take Gonzaga return to campus training – Link will be provided
  • Plan for Phase 2 restrictions here in Spokane

https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/safe-start/whats-open-each-phase

Once school starts

      • Fever (100.4 F, 38 C) or chills
      • Cough
      • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      • Fatigue
      • Muscle or body aches
      • Headache
      • New loss of taste or smell
      • Sore throat
      • Congestion or runny nose
      • Nausea or vomiting
      • Diarrhea
  • Wear a cloth mask when on campus both indoors and outdoors; this does not replace 6 foot distancing
  • Masks and face shields are required for in-person physical diagnosis learning. All students will be given a face shield and two cloth masks.
  • Practice frequent and excellent hand hygiene
  • Practice respiratory etiquette
    • Masks should be worn in Schoenberg at all times. As a general rule, cover unmasked coughs and sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol hand gel.
  • Practice physical distancing
    • Maintain 6 ft spacing with classmates and faculty. During physical diagnosis instruction, continual 6 ft physical distancing will not be possible. See specific guidelines on choreography of physical diagnosis instruction at the bottom of this document.
    • Eating and drinking should be done at a 6 foot distance from others given inability to wear mask. Eating and drinking in Schoenberg should only be done in lounge spaces or outside the building.
  • Wipe down your desk/tabletop area before and after use. Cleaning supplies will be available in all rooms.

If you are exposed
Definition of exposure (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html)  – Individual who has had close contact (< 6 ft) with a:

  • Person with COVID-19 who has symptoms (in the period from 2 days before symptom onset until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation; can be laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness)
  • Person who has tested positive for COVID-19 (laboratory confirmed) but has not had any symptoms (in the 2 days before the date of specimen collection until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation).

We believe that living in a communal setting (i.e. housemates with a shared kitchen) would constitute exposure. Therefore, if a housemate becomes infected, all those in the communal setting should consider themselves exposed.

Recommended precautions in case of exposure:

  • Stay home until 14 days after last exposure and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others at all times
  • Self-monitor for symptoms
    • Check temperature twice a day
    • Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19 (see below)
  • Avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19
  • If symptoms develop, contact either the GU Health Clinic or your primary care doctor

If you become ill – see ‘symptoms’ above

  • If you are at school, go home or seek health care depending on how severe your symptoms are
  • Students who have a COVID test that is sent but the result is pending should:
    • Stay home
    • Notify Spokane Foundations Assistant Dean
  • Foundations students who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 are to notify
  • Individuals should self-isolate at home until they meet criteria for return to school
    • Criteria for return to school https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/return-to-work.html
      • 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
      • 24 hours with no fever and without the use of fever-reducing medications and
      • COVID-19 symptoms have improved (i.e. cough, shortness of breath)
    • After a positive PCR test and without symptoms return to school is allowed 10 days after the test
  • When to seek emergency attention
    • Emergency warning signs
      • Trouble breathing
      • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
      • New confusion
      • Inability to wake or stay awake
      • Bluish lips or face
    • Call 911 or call ahead to the emergency facility – notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19

References:

UW Back-to-School Task Force recommendations – https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/learning-task-force/

CDC Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education recommendations – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/considerations.html

Addendum – In-person FCM physical diagnosis classes

Since teaching physical diagnosis necessarily involves students being closer than 6 ft, I would recommend the following

  • Establish and maintain student dyads, class groups, instructors and classrooms.
  • Students and instructors should be masked and wearing face shields (this recommendation is based on clinical rather than pedagogical practice)

Wyoming WWAMI COVID-19 Guidelines 8.20.20

Subject to change per University, State and CDC Guidelines

University of Wyoming COVID Hotline (COVID19@uwyo.edu or 307-766-2683)

Background
The purpose of this memo is to directly address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Foundations instruction in Laramie. Guidelines for viral transmission mitigation as well as what to do in the event of exposure or illness are presented.

Daily Expectations

  • Attest that you are not symptomatic before coming to campus – the University of Wyoming is working on a convenient system for self-attestation.
  • Wear a cloth mask when on campus both indoors and outdoors; this does not replace 6 foot distancing
  • Practice frequent and excellent hand hygiene: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
  • Practice respiratory etiquette
    • Masks should be worn in Health Sciences at all times. As a general rule, cover unmasked coughs and sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol hand gel.
  • Practice physical distancing
    • Try to maintain 6 ft spacing with classmates and faculty. During physical diagnosis instruction, continual 6 ft physical distancing will not be possible. Follow instructions given to you by FCM faculty.
    • Eating and drinking should be done at a 6 foot distance from others given inability to wear masks.
  • Wipe down your desk/tabletop area after use. Cleaning supplies will be available in all rooms.

If you Exhibit Symptoms (see list above) that are Unexpected

  • Do not come to campus.
  • Seek medical care (make arrangements for a PCR COVID-19 test). Be sure to inform provider/clinic of your symptoms PRIOR to arrival. Options include but are not limited to:
    • UW Student Health Services (307-766-2130)
    • Ivinson Memorial Hospital (307-742-2141)
    • Local Urgent Care clinics including:
      • Grand Avenue Urgent Care (307-760-8602)
      • Stitches Acute Care Clinic (307-721-1794)
  •  Report symptoms to the following:
    • Uwyo COVID-19 Hotline by emailing COVID19@uwyo.edu or 307-766-2683
    • Block or FCM Lead (depending on what class you will be missing) &/or Tim Robinson, Regional Dean tjrobin@uwyo.edu or 307-761-5159
  • Self-isolate at home until you receive test results
    • If (+) COVID follow self-isolation protocols below
    •  If (-) COVID remain at home until you are symptom free
  • When to seek emergency attention
    • Emergency warning signs
      • Trouble breathing
      • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
      • New confusion
      • Inability to wake or stay awake
      • Bluish lips or face
    • Call 911 or call ahead to the emergency facility – notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19

If you test Positive for COVID-19

  • Report test result to the following:
  • Individuals (Symptomatic or Asymptomatic) should self-isolate at home until they meet criteria for return to school
    • Criteria for return to school https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/return- to-work.html and Wyoming Department of Health guidelines
      • 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
      • 24 hrs. with no fever and without the use of fever-reducing medications and
      • COVID-19 symptoms have improved (i.e. cough, shortness of breath)
    • After a positive PCR test and without symptoms return to school is allowed 10 days after the test
  • When to seek emergency attention
    • Emergency warning signs
      • Trouble breathing
      • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
      • New confusion
      • Inability to wake or stay awake
      • Bluish lips or face
    • Call 911 or call ahead to the emergency facility – notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19

If you are Exposed

Definition of exposure – Individual who has had close contact (< 6 ft for greater than 15 min.) with a:

  • Person who has tested positive for COVID-19 who has symptoms (in the period from 2 days before symptom onset until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation;
  • Person who has tested positive for COVID-19 (laboratory confirmed) but has not had any symptoms (in the 2 days before the date of specimen collection until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation).

We believe that living in a communal setting (i.e. housemates with a shared kitchen) would constitute exposure. Therefore, if a housemate becomes infected, all those in the communal setting should consider themselves exposed.

Recommended precautions in case of exposure:

  • Stay home until 14 days after last exposure and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others at all times
  • Self-monitor for symptoms
    • Check temperature twice a day
    •  Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19

QUESTIONS?

Contact University of Wyoming COVID Hotline (COVID19@uwyo.edu or 307-766-2683) or Student Health Services (307-766-2130)

References:

University of Wyoming COVID-19 Policy- Updated 8/16/20

  • If students have any COVID-19 symptoms or have a COVID-19 exposure, reach out to Dr. Kathy Young, WWAMI Alaska Foundations Dean, or to Dr. Tanya Leinicke, WWAMI Alaska Head of Colleges.
  • Fill out the COVID-19 Symptom Attestation for WWAMI/UWSOM in person events at UAA.
  • Students are required to wear masks at all times in the Health Sciences Building (HSB) and in all clinical settings.
  • Face shields for all sessions in HSB (clinical and anatomy) and for hospital tutorials.

View Montana State University’s website for more information: https://www.montana.edu/health/coronavirus/

View the University of Idaho’s website for more information: https://www.uidaho.edu/vandal-health-clinic/coronavirus/students