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So I have learned from a reliable source that some UGA freshmen were told this this morning that they had been exposed to someone with Covid, and *asked if they could go home for 2 weeks*. Thread: students, if you are living in campus housing, you don't HAVE TO go home.
Note, the freshmen had been participating in a sanctioned pre-semester university affiliated event, which is being held mostly virtually but with some small, masked, in-person gatherings. One of these gatherings was the source of the exposure.
Also, I only know of one positive test and 15 "exposed" students; I don't know if any of those involved are symptomatic or not. But, it has already started, and this pattern will repeat. So let's prepare and understand the policies.
Key distinction here: quarantine vs. isolation. Quarantine is what you are asked to do if you were *exposed* but are asymptomatic. The university's reopening plan should have assumed that MANY students will be exposed. https://coronavirus.uga.edu/category/health-wellness/
So what does it mean to "quarantine?" It's explained here. Basically you need to not attend classes for two weeks, stay home, monitor symptoms, keep distance. *This should not require you to leave campus* if you don't want to. https://housing.uga.edu/site/notices
Per my source, the student was called early this morning (7 am), told that a small group discussion they attended (everyone masked, indoors, but not 6 feet apart) included someone who tested positive. They were asked "can you go home during quarantine" and they said yes.
If a student *wants* to go home to quarantine, they should be able to do so of course (and faculty, we need to plan for this) but quarantine should be completely possible to do in town / in campus housing. Dining needs to have sufficient capacity for meal delivery, as well.
Students should not be pressured to leave campus / leave Athens for quarantine, let alone if they become sick. If you test positive, then the relevant term is isolation. And again, it has been UGA's job to plan for isolation capacity. Policies are here:
Familiarize yourself with this policy: https://coronavirus.uga.edu/faq/#housing "UGA housing has several hundred rooms identified for students who need to isolate, and who do not have the ability to return to their permanent home." This may be a better option for you than returning home.
"These spaces have exterior exits, a microwave, refrigerator, and in-room bathrooms. University Housing will provide disinfection kits, hygiene kits and linens to students in these spaces. UGA’s Student Care and Outreach will engage with all students who require isolation...."
"...and will assist them based on their individual circumstances. Student Care & Outreach is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and accepts walk-ins and phone calls throughout those hours. If you prefer, you can schedule an appointment by calling (706) 542-7774 or emailing [email protected]."
My opinion: part of the compact of UGA saying it was ready for students to come back to campus was for them to plan for these *completely predictable* scenarios and provide adequate housing, and food, for students who live in campus housing.
If you experience symptoms, you should *isolate* and get tested. Again, *you do not have to return to your permanent residence for this* unless you want to. UGA has said that they will have isolation housing. We should expect it to be used. https://coronavirus.uga.edu/category/health-wellness/
My concern: based on comments in the Town Hall, I fear UGA may put pressure on students to leave campus / return to their permanent residence if they are exposed or if they test positive. This is not only not necessary, it is arguably the WORST thing we can do for spread.
In summary, unless students WANT to return to their permanent residence, they should quarantine or isolate in Athens, and for those in campus housing, don't hesitate AT ALL to stay, and expect Housing / Dining / professors to accommodate. https://coronavirus.uga.edu/faq/#housing
A bit more information, and this is important: The "campus conversations" video here. It's a hour-long discussion with multiple campus high-level administrators about our various protocols for opening. I'm going to focus in on a 5 min section: 20-25. https://coronavirus.uga.edu/
Starting at 20:13, there is a question for the UGA VP for Student Affairs, Victor Wilson, about housing plans for students who receive a positive test. His answer: "Generally, what we want students to do... is leave campus as soon as possible." https://coronavirus.uga.edu/
The full quote from Student Affairs VP Victor Wilson (who oversees housing): "Well, generally, what we want students to do, and all students, once they receive a positive test, obviously, is to leave campus as soon as possible." 20:44 of video: https://coronavirus.uga.edu/
VP Wilson continues: "The students who are living on campus and are not able to return to their permanent residence, *which is a request that we will make* (emphasis added), if that is not possible, then housing will be working with them in terms of providing an isolation space."
No details, no assurance of what the isolation / quarantine spaces will look like -- the PLAN is to ask students to return home after a positive test, to *request* this. I can forsee students feeling pressured to oblige.
(He goes on to discuss what students who live off-campus should do, and I agree that this is not UGA's job). (Also, I am very grateful for the Office of Student Care and Outreach, which is top-notch, and I hope they have been able to hire new staff this year!)
I see this as a problem -- students "going home" for isolation (no positive test, but exposed), or quarantine (positive test) is not an option for many students. Heck, I live in Athens, and neither my son, nor my husband and I, want this to be "Plan A."
Also, he ends it weirdly, at 22:30, "But the bottom line is to contact Student Care and Outreach if there are any housing concerns, or any quarantine or isolation questions." Um, isn't that the job of Housing, to have a clearly communicated plan that lays out all criteria?
The next part also leaves me with some questions, starting at 22:35, a question for Dean Shelley Nuss, UGA Medical Partnership Dean. The question is about *isolation* protocols if you receive a positive test. Remember, positive test = isolation. Exposed = quarantine.
Dean Nuss rightly notes that the guidelines for *isolation* (after a positive test) have been evolving over the past 4 months. CDC used to recommend 14 days, now they rec. 10 days if symptoms improved & no fever. (minute 23) https://coronavirus.uga.edu/
My question: where are these specific guidelines reflected on the UGA website? I know a student who was told today that she has to *quarantine* for 14 days -- she has no positive test and no symptoms, but was around another person with covid (with both of them masked). Why 14?
Again, my main concern is housing, and making sure that UGA fulfills its obligations to students who live in Campus Housing, *not* pressuring them to return home (and thus possibly spread the virus off campus).
