Definitions:
*Close contact – Someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). Learn more about close contact, including exceptions to the definition for K-12 schools.
***Exposure – Contact with someone infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a way that increases the likelihood of getting infected with the virus.
**Fully Vaccinated – You are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
Caregivers and anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 should stay home, except in limited circumstances. System Offices employees caring for someone who has COVID-19 should follow the guidance on this page for a close contact based on their vaccine status.
Quarantine periods should be calculated based on the last day of close contact to someone with COVID-19. If exposure is ongoing, quarantine periods for caregivers should be calculated based on the last day of isolation for the person receiving care.
System Offices employees caring for someone sick at home should send an email with your contact information to the System Offices Infectious Disease Response Team (IDRT) for additional guidance.
If you are caring for someone with COVID-19 at home or in a non-healthcare setting, follow this advice to protect yourself and others. Learn what to do when someone has symptoms of COVID-19 or when someone has been diagnosed with the virus.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you might have COVID-19, and you should isolate immediately. Even if you do not know if you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, if your symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, you are considered a probable COVID-19 case.
System Offices employees who have COVID-19 symptoms should not return to a system member facility and schedule a COVID test as soon as possible. If you are unable to get a test or are awaiting test results, you should isolate for at least five days to keep from spreading the respiratory illness to others and follow the CDC’s recommendations for isolation.
Send an email with your contact information to the System Offices Infectious Disease Response Team (IDRT) for additional guidance.
- If you tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and subsequently recovered and remain without COVID-19 symptoms, you do not need to quarantine or get tested after close contact.
- You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0).
- You may choose to work at a system facility provided that you wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0;
- Schedule a Curative test at the MCB at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- Send an email with your contact information to IDRT@tamus.edu.
- Complete the TAMUS COVID-19 Self-Reporting Portal as a “Person who has been exposed to someone who received a positive test result for COVID-19.”
- Do not return to a system facility for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5).
- To calculate your 5-day quarantine period, day 0 is the last date of exposure with a person who has COVID-19.
- You may choose to return to work at a System Offices facility 5 days after the last exposure date provided that you wear a well-fitting mask at a System Offices facility for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10);
- Schedule a Curative test at the MCB at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- Speak with your supervisor about the possibility of working remotely until you have completed your quarantine period.
- If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive your test results.
- Send an email with your contact information to IDRT@tamus.edu.
- Complete the TAMUS COVID-19 Self-Reporting Portal as a “Person who has been exposed to someone who received a positive test result for COVID-19.”
- Do not return to a system facility for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5).
- To calculate your 5-day quarantine period, day 0 is the last date of exposure with a person who has COVID-19.
- You may choose to return to work at a System Offices facility 5 days after the last exposure date provided that you wear a well-fitting mask at a System Offices facility for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10);
- Schedule a Curative test at the MCB least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- Speak with your supervisor about the possibility of working remotely until you have completed your quarantine period.
- If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive your test results.
- Send an email with your contact information to the System Offices Infectious Disease Response Team (IDRT).
- Complete the TAMUS COVID-19 Self-Reporting Portal as a “Person who received a positive test result for CoVID-19 (a laboratory confirmed case)”
- Do not return to a system facility for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5).
- To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is the day of your positive viral test (based on the date you were tested) and day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for your positive test.
- You may choose to return to work at a System Offices facility after 5 days if you continue to have no symptoms, provided that you wear a well-fitting mask at a System Offices facility for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10);
- Speak with your supervisor about the possibility of working remotely until you have completed your isolation period.
- IMPORTANT: If you develop symptoms after testing positive, your 5-day isolation period should start over. Day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Follow the recommendations above for “What should I do if I have received a positive viral test for COVID-19 and have symptoms of COVID-19.”
- Send an email with your contact information to the System Offices Infectious Disease Response Team (IDRT).
- Complete the TAMUS COVID-19 Self-Reporting Portal as a “Person who received a positive test result for CoVID-19 (a laboratory confirmed case)”
- Do not return to a system facility for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5).
- To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed.
- You may choose to return to work at a System Offices facility after 5 days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved, provided that you wear a well-fitting mask at a System Offices facility for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10);
- Speak with your supervisor about the possibility of working remotely until you have completed your isolation period.
- If you continue to have fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
- Face coverings are no longer required on Texas A&M University System Offices facilities, indoor and outdoor, including System Offices vehicles pursuant to Executive Order No. GA-p36 issued May 18, 2021 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
- Face coverings remain highly recommended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and are encouraged for those who are not yet fully vaccinated or anyone who would like to continue wearing one to help protect themselves and their colleagues.
- Employees who would like a facemask can email safety@tamus.edu.
Yes, System Offices employees can use the MCB Wellness Center while observing the following posted safety precautions:
- Wash hands before using any equipment AND again before you leave the gym.
- Practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others while exercising.
- Clean exercise equipment with supplied disinfectant before AND after use.
External visitors in System Offices facilities remains limited until further notice.
- Please do not bring your pets or family to your building.
- Please do not bring vendors into your building. Meet with vendors virtually.
- Food deliveries should be met at the reception desk (e.g., MCB 2nd floor or appropriate for your building)
- All mail deliveries are received at the reception desk (e.g., MCB 2nd floor or appropriate for your building)
- Employees are encouraged to contact Human Resources to discuss their particular situation regarding the leave needed.
- If your potential exposure was due to a close contact* within the System Offices, you will be notified by a member of the TAMUS Infectious Disease and Response Team (IDRT) with instructions on when it will be safe to re-enter a System Offices facility based on your individual circumstances.
- If your potential exposure came from a family member or close contact* outside of a System Offices facility, you will be notified by your County Health Officials. It is possible that a close contact may reach out to you directly to self-disclose that they have been lab confirmed to have COVID-19.
- If you receive a notification that you have been in close contact* with someone who has been lab confirmed to have COVID-19, you should send an email with your contact information to IDRT@tamus.edu and follow the close contact instructions in this FAQ.
- If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.
- If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, and are experiencing symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and send an email with your contact information to IDRT@tamus.edu
- Do not enter a System Offices facility if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
- If you think you may have COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms, you can be with others after:
- Fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medication) and
- Improvement in symptoms and
- At least 10 days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared
- Persons with a weakened immune system (due to a health condition or medication) or that have had severe illness from COVID-19 may need to stay home and isolate longer, possibly up to 20 days after symptom onset.
- Follow the CDC Guidance listed here for steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick.