Today@Sam Article

Updates On COVID-19 Protocols, Testing, Vaccines And More

Jan. 15, 2021
SHSU Media Contact: Stephanie Knific

Spr21FirstDayClass18This Spring semester, the Sam Houston State University community has taken lessons learned, incorporated them into the university’s health and safety plan and adapted protocols to continually make the campus safer.

Due to the increase in recent COVID-19 cases in the region, as a precautionary measure to slow a potential spread of the virus, SHSU has begun this semester with a two-week moratorium on all in-person events outside of classroom instruction.

The campus continues to enforce mandatory face covering and social distancing and have incorporated a COVID-19 learning module in Blackboard for students. The most up-to-date information can be found on the Staying Strong ’21 site where the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section is regularly updated as policies and requirements change.

Student testing continues to be offered at the Student Health Center associated with a sick visit. Asymptomatic screening testing will start on Jan. 20. Faculty and staff testing at the SHC will follow shortly thereafter. SHSU will provide more details as they become available. In the meantime, students, faculty and staff can still get tested at two county testing sites.

COVID-19 Testing – Asymptomatic Screening

Where: Student Health Center  /  When: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The testing provided by the SHC is for asymptomatic screening. If you are uninsured, testing is covered under the CARES Act. In order to be tested at the SHC, you need to do the following:

  • Be a current SHSU student, faculty or staff
  • Bring SAM ID to test
  • Log into the Patient Portal on the SHC homepage and upload insurance information OR if uninsured, add your driver’s license information

COVID-19 Testing – Symptomatic

  • Students: If you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, seek medical care at the SHC
  • Faculty/Staff: If you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, seek medical care through your medical provider

COVID-19 Vaccines

Sam Houston State has been approved as a vaccine administration site allowing us to provide free vaccinations to students, staff, and faculty.

  • What’s Happening Now: Currently, Phase IA recipients (front line healthcare workers and residents at long-term care facilities) and Phase 1B recipients (people 16 and older with at least one chronic medical condition and those over 65 with an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19) are eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • What’s Happening Next: The Student Health Center has developed a campus vaccine administration plan for when the shipments arrive. Unfortunately, due to the state distribution plan, we do not know when SHSU will receive its vaccine shipment but anticipate it will be later in the semester. The university encourages those eligible to get the vaccine now to do so through their healthcare provider or other resources.
  • What to Expect: While the vaccine is not available to the general population and our Bearkat community yet, we will keep you informed every step of the way until it is.

FFCRA Leave

Earlier this week, Human Resources sent an email to all faculty and staff announcing SHSU has chosen to participate in extending FFCRA which provides full time employees up to 80 hours of emergency paid sick leave for eligible COVID-19 conditions between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Please be advised this is an extension. If faculty and staff have previously used this leave, it is no longer available to them.

 

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