Working and Serving at HCU

Self Reporting COVID-19 Cases

Updated Jan 12, 2022

In order to maintain a safe work environment, please report a confirmed case of COVID-19 to Human Resources at 281-649-3321 or jstrutton@hbu.edu.  Any member of the staff and faculty with COVID-19 will be asked to self-quarantine according to the Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines listed below. Contact tracing will no longer be required or enforced; and as always, positive cases will not be shared with the HCU community. Given the transmissibility of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, widespread exposure to positive cases is likely. Please consider getting vaccinated and boosted immediately if you have not done so, and consider masking in public, even if you are fully vaccinated.

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COVID Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines

View this information in a flow-chart. 

What to do if you have close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19

You do not need to quarantine if you have close contact to someone with COVID-19 and:

1. You have received both the recommended vaccination and booster shots, or
2. You have a viral test confirmation of a case of COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

Neither apply to me.  What should I do?

1. Stay at home for five days, wearing a mask around others at home when possible.
   a. If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately for COVID-19.
   b. If you do not develop symptoms, ideally get tested after the five days of close contact exposure. If your test is negative, you no longer need to quarantine, but should continue to wear a mask around others until ten days following close contact.
   c. If you are unable to be tested, but remain symptom free, you no longer need to quarantine, but should continue to wear a mask around others until ten days following the close contact.
   d. You should avoid areas where you are unable to mask (restaurants, gyms, etc.) until ten days following the close contact.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

I tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms.

1. Stay at home and isolate (stay alone in a “sick room” of your home if possible) for five days following your first full day of symptoms.
   a. If you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (ex. ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, and aspirin) and your other symptoms are improving, you may end isolation after five days have passed since your symptoms began. You should continue to wear a mask when in public for an additional five days, until a total of ten days since the onset of your symptoms have passed.
   b. If your fever persists, or your symptoms have not improved, you must continue to isolate until you meet the criteria above. If it has been less than ten days since the onset of your symptoms when you have met the criteria and end isolation, please wear a mask until the tenth day. Immunocompromised individuals should seek additional direction from their healthcare provider about ending isolation.

I tested positive for COVID-19, and have no symptoms.

1. Stay at home and isolate (stay alone in a “sick room” of your home if possible) for five days following your positive test result for COVID-19.
   a. If you develop no symptoms, you may end isolation but should continue to wear a mask until ten days since receiving your positive test have passed.
   b. If you do develop symptoms, your isolation clock resets, and you should follow the protocol outlined above for people testing positive for COVID-19 with symptoms. The first full day of having symptoms is now day 1 for your isolation clock.
   c. You should avoid areas where you are unable to mask (restaurants, gyms, etc.) until ten days following close contact.

Last Updated January 12, 2022