Spring campus safety guidelines include updated quarantine period

As we begin the new semester, Augusta University remains vigilant in keeping our campus safe amid COVID-19.

Find the latest protocols and information on the Augusta University COVID-19 resources page. Our statistics page is updated weekly to include information about positive cases on campus and at Augusta University Health System.

The following guidelines are in place as of Tuesday, Jan. 4:

• Masks are encouraged, but not required for faculty or students except in clinical spaces such as Augusta University Medical Center, College of Nursing’s Nurse-Managed Health Center or the Dental College of Georgia Vaccines are encouraged but not required.
• While masks/face coverings are not required on campus, they must be worn while using public transportation, including university shuttles.
• Classes during the spring semester will be taught as scheduled, whether in person or online. An exception may be granted by the provost through the college dean in cases where a faculty member tests positive for COVID-19 but can still teach online.
• Fully vaccinated people are not required to quarantine unless they are symptomatic and await testing.
• You are considered “fully vaccinated” for COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) within six months, or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson) within two months or after receiving a booster shot.

What to do if you get sick

Unsure if you should get tested? Been in close contact to someone with COVID-19? Confused about isolation and quarantine procedures? Follow these guidelines for getting tested, reporting a positive test, and isolating yourself from others.

After testing positive for COVID-19:

• Following a positive test result, self-isolate for at least five days since symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours with no fever (without taking fever-reducing medication) and improvement in symptoms.
• After five days with the last 24 hours being asymptomatic, without taking fever-reducing medication, you can leave quarantine.

Students: Complete the student COVID reporting form after testing positive for COVID-19. Student Health will grant clearance to return at the appropriate time. Professors may request a note from a student’s medical provider to excuse the absence.

Returning to work

Employees who have been ill with COVID-19 and are able to return to work are required to follow these guidelines:

• Email reportcovid@augusta.edu (required). If you have leave questions, call or email University HR at 706-446-4457 to review leave options: sick leave, FMLA, other. If you seek to work remotely, contact your supervisor.
• Stay home for at least five days since symptoms first appeared, with the last 24 hours of the five days being fever-free (without taking fever-reducing medication).
• Email HR at reportcovid@augusta.edu when able to return to work.
• All hospital and clinical staff must call Employee Health at 706-721-3418 for return-to-work clearance.

Thank you for your continued adherence to safety guidelines as we work together to keep Jaguar Nation safe and healthy this semester.