COVID-19 Policies

The University of Missouri–St. Louis has implemented a variety of safety measures in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. These efforts include but are not limited to instituting a face coverings policy, promoting social distancing throughout campus, regularly disinfecting high touch areas, promoting personal hygiene practices, and requiring members of the UMSL community to remain home when sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. However, despite all of these safety precautions, we acknowledge that some members of our community may either test positive for COVID-19 or suspect they may have the virus but have not yet been tested. The procedures set forth below outline what steps will be taken upon campus officials learning of a positive or suspected case of COVID-19.

Reporting Confirmed or Suspected Cases (Students)

Please note – Any UMSL student experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. Students are required to complete the Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Form if they are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have had contact with a person identified as testing positive. The submission of the form is received by the Campus Health Officer, who is responsible for tracking confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases on campus.  

When a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 has been reported, the Campus Health Officer will:

• Discuss symptoms or diagnosis with the student, and may instruct the student to immediately self-isolate and not to return to campus until receiving written approval by the Campus Health Officer.
• If applicable, the Campus Health Officer will notify faculty members that the student is prohibited from returning to campus until they are cleared by Health Services. Student Affairs will provide assistance as needed with helping faculty coordinate academic accommodations.
• Gather additional information in accordance with our limited campus contact tracing efforts.
• Coordinate with Facilities to advise which campus locations require cleaning.
• Submit required information to the Department of Health and Senior Services within 24 hours and any information required by the local health authority serving the facility .

Residential Students

• Should a residential student have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, it is strongly recommended that they return home or seek off-campus housing until they are cleared to return to campus. Should the student need to remain in campus housing, Residential Life and Housing will immediately initiate quarantine/isolation procedures – this includes placing the student in a room which is isolated from other residents with meals and grocery items being brought to the student’s room on a regular but limited basis to reduce exposure to others. The student would also be directed by the Campus Health Officer to remain in self-isolation until written approval is received.

Reporting Confirmed or Suspected Cases (Employees)

Please note - Any UMSL employee experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. Employees are required to complete the Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Form if they are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have had contact with a person identified as testing positive. The submission of the form is received by the Campus Health Officer, who is responsible for tracking confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases on campus as well as Human Resources who will work with the appropriate supervisor to address departmental needs related to the affected employee’s absence. Employees are also responsible for notifying their supervisor if their health status results in an absence from work. Additionally, Human Resources will be responsible for ensuring that appropriate documentation is completed (e.g., FMLA, work from home arrangements, etc.).

When a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 has been reported, the Campus Health Officer will:

• Discuss symptoms or diagnosis with the employee, and may instruct the employee to immediately self-isolate and not return to campus until written approval is received by the Campus Health Officer.
• Gather additional information in accordance with our limited campus contact tracing efforts.
• Coordinate with Facilities to advise which campus locations require cleaning.
• Submit required information to the Department of Health and Senior Services within 24 hours and any information required by the local health authority serving the facility .

HR-700.I.C provides access to paid leave benefits for employees who are directed to remain off-site because of COVID-19 symptoms as well as asymptomatic employees directed to remain off-campus for quarantine or isolation (for example, if the employee was in “close contact” with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19).

Limited Campus Contact Tracing

Individuals with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 will be asked to provide the campus locations they have visited as well as their close contacts with others since the onset of symptoms. (Close contact is defined as having had contact within six feet for 15 minutes or more, no matter if those in contact were wearing a face covering.) This process, commonly known as "contact tracing," is used to identify individuals who may have been exposed to the virus so that they can self-isolate as appropriate and to identify areas that may need additional cleaning and disinfection. This information also will assist public health officials (for example, St. Louis County, St. Louis City and St. Charles County public health offices) who have the statutory authority by state law to engage in official contract tracing.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Exposed Locations

When appropriate, UMSL Facilities will work the Campus Health Officer to evaluate physical spaces that may require additional cleaning and disinfection following notice of a positive on-campus case. Facilities will communicate with impacted departments and identify alternative space as needed. Cleaning and disinfection protocols are established in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Communicating Reported Cases

The health, safety and well-being of our university is paramount to our community and our shared goal continues to be to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, the university is committed to protecting the personal privacy of all individuals within our community. The identity of an individual confirmed positive for COVID-19 will be kept confidential and not disclosed to the general public or university community. However, the university may share notifications of positive COVID-19 cases under the following circumstances:

• Public health officials or an individual student, faculty or staff member, through the Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms form, must first notify the university of a confirmed positive case.

If that condition is met and the reported case involves a community member known to have physically occupied a university owned or managed property and who is known to have been in close contact (physically maintaining less than six feet of distancing for more than 15 minutes) with others within our community:

• A direct notification will be sent to specific individuals if public health officials or university officials have been provided with contact information for those believed to have had risk of exposure through our limited campus contact tracing efforts or through Saint Louis County Public Health’s official contact tracing efforts.
• On a case-by-case basis, the Campus Health Officer may issue a unit-level or campus-wide notification should public health officials or university officials believe a broader group of individuals in one or more locations may have had significant exposure or close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The university will keep the individual’s identity confidential and will not identify personally identifiable information in notifications. However, specific employees in Health Services, Human Resources and Academic Affairs will have access to this information in order to assist with contact tracing, and providing educational or workplace accommodations.

Human Resources and Health, Counseling and Disability Access Services are responsible for communicating information on confirmed cases. Individual employees, faculty members, supervisors, students, staff and college, school or divisions should not communicate any confirmed cases to respect the personal privacy of individuals in our community. Doing so would infringe on FERPA and HIPPA requirements.

Under state law, local health departments have jurisdiction in all public health matters. UMSL relies on public health officials to determine protocols for how to respond to and communicate confirmed cases to faculty, staff, students and the broader community. These protocols guide campus health authorities’ assessment of positive cases as well as initiation of contact tracing to determine with whom an individual may have come into close contact with. Given these protocols and privacy safeguards, the university may have limited information about those who have tested positive from local health officials and individual health providers.

UMSL will continue to take action to monitor and protect the health and safety of our campus community. We remind everyone to remain vigilant and follow university safety expectations.

VIEW COVID-19 REPORTING DATA

View full policy and FAQs

The university will prioritize the support for internal, university-sponsored events and restrict use of campus facilities for external groups. All external client requests will be denied unless an official exemption request is received and approved.

Executive Summary

INTERNAL CLIENT EVENTS

• Internal clients are encouraged to consider alternative options for university-sponsored events whenever possible
• Staff in UMSL Event Services, the Touhill Performing Arts Center, and Mark Twain Athletic Facility will work directly with campus clients to address needs and determine if an event should be held in person.
• In-person events will be limited to no more than 30 people unless an exception is granted by the steering committee of the Campus Events Task Force.
• If internal clients wish to exceed the 30 person limit, they must submit a COVID-19 Event Request Form located on the Event Services website at https://www.umsl.edu/events. 
• Regardless of whether an approved university-sponsored event is occurring at an on-campus or off-campus venue, internal clients engaged in events that include a face-to-face format must follow Foundation Guidelines for Events.

EXTERNAL CLIENT EVENTS

• External events should not take place on campus until further notice.
• In unique situations external clients will only be considered for on-campus venue usage if they have completed a COVID-19 External Event Request Form on the Event Services website https://www.umsl.edu/events
• In the event an external client is approved for an on-campus event, all Foundation Guidelines for Events will apply to venue usage. External clients are also required to meet additional criteria including:
  • External events may include an additional charge for proper venue cleaning and disinfecting according to CDC guidelines.

APPROVAL PROCESS FOR CAMPUS EVENTS

All internal events which require an exception to the Foundation Guidelines for Events or external event requests will be reviewed by the steering committee of the Campus Events Task Force. The committee includes:

• Laura Blevins – Executive Events
• Jason Stahr – Touhill Performing Arts Center
• Perry Drake – College of Business Administration
• Dorian Hall – Millennium Student Center/Event Services
• Nicholas Kedzuch – UMSL Athletics
• Jessica Mode – Office of Student Involvement
• Timothy Wombles – Marketing and Communications

COVID-19 Event Request Form (Internal)

COVID-19 Event Request Form (External)