COVID-19 General Information

Student Covid-19 General Information

• Symptomatic: If you are symptomatic regardless of vaccination status (URI, cough, allergies, etc.) do not go to class/clinicals/lab and obtain a covid test ASAP and email student health.
  
• Type of test: A home test kit is acceptable but if still symptomatic after a negative home test kit please schedule a PCR covid test. Student Health has same day appointments available Mon-Fri.
• Isolation: If you are sick and waiting on a covid result please stay home and do not attend class/clinicals/lab until you receive a negative covid test result.
• Positives: If you have tested positive for covid please remain on isolation for 5 days and email student health asap. You will be given instructions and a Dr's note.
• Return-to-class for COVID positive students/Schedule Antigen test: If you are feeling better at day 5, you must obtain a follow up covid antigen test at Student Health. There is no cost for this test when it is performed at Student Health. For more information please click here for UTMB guidelines and here for CDC guidelines for HCW.
• Scheduling a Covid test: Please click here and select covid test only or covid sick visit to see a Provider.

Do not hesitate to email us at SHCemail@utmb.edu with any questions or concerns.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.

Possible symptoms include:

This list does not include all possible symptoms. Symptoms may change with new COVID-19 variants and can vary depending on vaccination status. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. Older adults and people who have underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. Click this link to the CDC for more information on symptoms for COVID-19.

COVID Positive

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.

COVID Exposure/Multiple COVID positives in class

• ASYMPTOMATIC: If you are asymptomatic, you may continue with your normal activities but you must wear a facemask for 7 days and monitor your symptoms for 14 days.
• SYMPTOMATIC:  If you are symptomatic regardless of vaccination status (URI, cough, allergies, etc.) obtain a covid test ASAP and email student health. A home test kit is acceptable but if still symptomatic after a negative home test kit please schedule a PCR covid test. You may schedule a covid test at the Student Health website, where same day appointments are available, and self-isolate pending a negative covid result.

• Also email shcemail@utmb.edu the following information: School/Program/DOB/Phone Number/Student ID Number

Return-to-Class/Clinicals for COVID Positive Students/Schedule Antigen Test

• NON-CLINICAL STUDENTS: Students without patient contact may return to normal activities when symptoms are improving AND are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. No antigen test is required. As a reminder, students must not attend class/clinicals/lab while ill. 
  

• CLINICAL STUDENTS:  If you are a clinical student at one of UTMB’s hospital campuses or surrounding clinics and you have a positive initial diagnostic test, you must stay home for a minimum of five days from the first onset of symptoms. Proceed with the options below when scheduling any additional antigen tests. If you are feeling better at Day 5 or later, you MUST obtain a follow-up COVID-19 antigen test at UTMB Student Health Clinic (home testing is not acceptable). Notify your instructor and return to class/clinicals regardless of the test result. There is no cost for this test when it is performed at Student Health.
  • If the antigen test at day 5 is negative, or if the antigen test is positive and you are asymptomatic at time of test or mildly symptomatic (with improving symptoms), notify instructor and return-to-class/clinicals immediately, however you cannot care for immunocompromised patients. See below for neonatal patients. 
  • If you are a caring for neonatal patients (Galveston or CLC), and the 5-day antigen is negative and you are experiencing improvement in symptoms, afebrile for 24 hours then you can return to clinicals if symptoms do not interfere with work duties. If the antigen test is positive, then retake an additional antigen test at day 7. If the test remains positive, you cannot care for those in the neonatal ICU until 10 days from the onset of your symptoms, symptoms have improved, and you are afebrile for 24 hours without the use fever-reducing medication. Negative antigen tests at day 5 or 7 days must meet improvement in symptoms and afebrile for 24 hours. 
  • Students with either a positive or negative follow-up test result must use a KN95 mask, N95 mask or double medical masks for an additional five days.
  • You cannot have any unmasked interactions with others for 5 days after returning on-site. This includes taking breaks alone in a separate room and not eating in the presence of others.

No physician note is needed to return to class/clinicals after five days or longer in the case of a COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 Testing

Scheduling a COVID Test: Please click the button below to schedule your appointment online now.

Schedule an Appointment for a COVID test.

COVID-19 Vaccine

All COVID vaccines are available at student health please click this link to schedule an appointment same day appointment are available.

Schedule an Appointment

Appointments are available every Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm in Student Health If you have any questions, please email Student Health @ shcemail@utmb.edu.