Reopening

Wearing a mask has been shown to slow the spread of COVID-19. By not wearing a mask, you are potentially endangering the health of others. Analysis of the COVID-19 virus shows that it can be spread by those who are not showing symptoms.

• Face masks are required to be worn in all indoor spaces, such as classrooms, labs and all inside public areas of campus buildings and facilities, including the Student Center, dining facilities, and common areas of residence halls such as study rooms and laundry rooms.
• Face masks are required in any situation where social distancing practices (6 feet of separation) cannot be maintained.
• Face masks are required when riding JagTran buses.
• Face masks are not required in residence hall rooms unless non-resident guests are present.
• Face masks are not required outside of University buildings (i.e. sitting outside, exercising outside, walking to and from classes) provided that social distancing of 6 feet is maintained.
• Employees who are alone in private offices (individual offices with a door) or in laboratories are not required to wear face masks.

Any mask distributed by the University, any cloth mask that covers the nose and mouth, or any commercially available medical grade face mask. Neck gaiters are not considered an acceptable form of masking.

You may supply your own mask, and in addition the University will provide two masks, free of charge, to each student and employee. For information regarding mask pickup, students may contact the Office of Student Affairs and employees may contact Human Resources.

The following recommendations are published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To put on and wear your face mask:

• Wash your hands before putting on your face mask.
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
• Make sure you can breathe easily.
• Keep you mask on your face the entire time you’re in public.
• Don’t put the mask around your neck or up on your forehead.
• Don’t touch the face mask, and, if you do, wash your hands.

To remove your face mask:

• Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops.
• Handle only by the ear loops or ties.
• Fold outside corners together.
• Place covering in the washing machine.
• Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing.
• Wash hands immediately after removing.

Students who wish to request a reasonable accommodation to the masking requirement based upon a legally protected status should contact the Office of Student Disability Services. Employee requests for reasonable accommodation should be directed to the Office of Human Resources. In limited circumstances, the University may also allow exceptions to this policy when wearing a mask is not deemed necessary by the University. In such circumstances, the University will clearly communicate the exception to those impacted.

In making the decision to reopen and operate the campus, University leadership relied upon information from authoritative sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Alabama Department of Public Health, as well as the leadership of the USA Health system. The criteria for reopening campus were based upon the ability of the University to implement best practices for the safety and health of the University community, and to continually monitor the community for potential outbreaks of COVID-19. The University has implemented widespread procedures that are designed to protect the health and safety of our community, as well as processes designed to monitor and respond to any cases of COVID-19 on campus.

In almost all cases, classes are delivered either in a web-blended (hybrid) model or fully online. For web-blended courses, some portion of the courses is generally offered face-to-face, adhering to social distancing guidelines. Small classes (with low enrollment relative to classroom size) that allow for social distancing may be held fully face-to-face. Other classes are reconfigured to reduce density and allow for social distancing.

The University is continually monitoring the health of the campus population and the public health of our region. The campus is poised to move back to remote work, if conditions warrant, to protect the health of students and employees. In this event, faculty will be prepared to quickly move all courses online and students will be able to complete coursework online.

Students who have been exposed or are symptomatic for COVID-19, or indicate areas of concern, will be referred for testing to their primary care provider or through the Student Health Center.

Faculty and staff who have been exposed or are symptomatic for COVID-19, or indicate areas of concern on Jag Healthcheck may follow up with Employee Health and Wellness at (251) 461-1521 and may be referred for testing to their primary care provider or the USA Health drive-through testing center at the Mobile Civic Center.

The University communicates about the COVID-19 situation on campus on a regular basis via emails and USA’s COVID-19 Information website. Individuals who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be notified through contact tracing and asked to self-quarantine and be tested. In compliance with federal and state privacy requirements as well as University policies, the University will only disclose identifying information about individuals or groups who have tested positive for COVID-19 to appropriate health agencies.

Each Monday, the COVID-19 Dashboard is updated to indicate the number of positive cases reported on campus, as well as quarantine room capacity and positivity rate for students tested at Student Health.

The flu vaccine is required for all USA Health employees and for all students living in on-campus housing, and strongly encouraged for non-resident students. The flu vaccine can keep you and those around you from getting sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and reduces the severity of illness for those who get the flu.

The flu vaccine also prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year, reducing the burden on our health care system.

• Face masks will be required for attendance.
• Temperature checks will be conducted at gates.
• Social distancing strategies will be in place in all facilities.
• All working personnel will be in masks and gloves .
• Sanitizing stations will be installed, and staff will continuously sanitize facilities during events.
• Mobile ticket options will be available and encouraged.

The Department of Athletics will release more information related to events, tickets and attendance guidelines. Please visit the Jaguar Athletics website for information.

University information on the novel coronavirus can be found on its Coronavirus Updates website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health also are updating their sites with useful information.

If you have questions regarding our response to COVID-19, you may contact the COVID-19 Response Office at covid19@southalabama.edu or (251)461-1590.