Health and Safety Information
Prevent the spread of COVID-19
People come first at East Tennessee State University. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ETSU has continued to safeguard the health of our students, faculty, staff, and community. As the university transitions to Stage 4 Operations with Modifications, safety restrictions are being scaled back, however, testing and reporting protocols remain in place.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccines are widely available and encouraged. ETSU Health continues to offer several opportunities for members of the community who are 18 and older to receive the free, one-dose Janssen Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics. To find a vaccine location near you, visit: Vaccinefinder.org.
Face Coverings
Students, faculty, staff and visitors to the university who have been fully vaccinated (two weeks past their final vaccine dose) are no longer required to wear face coverings, and also are not required to observe physical distancing. As noted by the CDC, persons who have not been fully vaccinated should continue wearing face coverings and following physical distancing guidelines.
Testing and Reporting COVID-19
COVID-19 Testing is available at the University Health Center and ETSU Health COVID-19 Community Testing Site. Individuals should report suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 not diagnosed/treated by University Health Center to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 423-439-7785.
What is ETSU doing to keep people safe?
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Cleaning Protocols and Physical Distancing
Cleaning and Sanitation
Additional hand sanitizing stations are available in residence hall lobbies and food service areas and ETSU Facilities Management has implemented additional cleaning and sanitation measures using EPA certified cleaners approved to kill viruses. Enhanced cleaning will include the use of the most current disinfecting technology - electrostatic disinfecting equipment.
What is electrostatic disinfecting?
Electrostatic disinfecting equipment creates a positive electrostatic charge on the disinfecting agent when released from the sprayer. The positive charged mist seeks out negative charges (present on all fixed surfaces), which increases coverage efficacy.Deep cleaning common spaces
- Facilities Management staff deep clean classrooms, computer labs, restrooms, conference rooms, etc.
- Focus on high touch surfaces (doorknobs, handrails, furniture in common areas, elevator buttons, etc.)
- Restrooms deep cleaned every evening, which will include electrostatic disinfecting of all high touch surfaces. In addition to the deep cleaning every evening, high-traffic restrooms will be closed periodically each day for additional electrostatic disinfecting.
Health and Safety SignageETSU Facilities is working with University Relations to develop and post appropriate health and safety signage for public spaces, including all external doors to ETSU buildings. Departments will be responsible for posting any signage within their respective office spaces.
View available health and safety signage
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COVID-19 Testing
University Health Center
COVID-19 testing is available to any student, staff, or faculty member who wishes to be tested. For more information about how to get tested, call the University Health Center at 423-439-4225
If you experience COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) and/or have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, contact your health care provider or the University Health Center. Do not go to a health care facility before you have called your provider.
University Health Center
423-439-4225 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or
after-hours at 1-888-915-7299ETSU Health
COVID-19 testing is also available at the ETSU Health COVID-19 Community Collection Site. Appointments are required and results are available to patients within 24 hours.
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Medical Response Team
A team of experts from ETSU’s health sciences colleges is helping the university navigate important decisions and policies to protect the health and safety of the campus community and ETSU Health clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Medical Response Team meets regularly to analyze disease trends, craft medical suggestions and aid in decisions and considerations regarding the safe return to campus.
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Policy on Face Coverings
Given the recommendations recently released by the CDC, ETSU has lifted its emergency COVID-19 policy on face coverings that was put into place in 2020. In continued accordance with CDC guidelines, students, faculty, staff and visitors to the university who have been fully vaccinated (two weeks past their final vaccine dose) are not required to wear face coverings, and also are not required to observe physical distancing. As noted by the CDC, persons who have not been fully vaccinated should continue wearing face coverings and following physical distancing guidelines.
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Travel Restrictions
Travel guidelines will be updated as the campus progresses through stages of operation. Travel restrictions and guidelines currently in place include:
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Select outgoing university-related international travel is permitted. Travelers must follow the most current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other appropriate federal, state, and local agencies.
STUDY ABROAD
Select study abroad and other international programs for ETSU students are permitted. Travelers must follow the most current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other appropriate federal, state, and local agencies.
DOMESTIC TRAVELOutgoing university-related domestic travel is permitted. Travelers must follow the most current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other appropriate federal, state, and local agencies.
LOCAL/REGIONAL TRAVEL
Local travel associated with everyday operations of the university, including blanket travel, will continue.
Vehicular travel outside a 50 mile radius, with the exception of other ETSU campuses, requires supervisor approval and should be limited to activities that are absolutely necessary and cannot be rescheduled or conducted remotely.
PERSONAL TRAVELRecommendations for personal travel and international students traveling to ETSU is to follow the most current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other appropriate federal, state, and local agencies.
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Vaccines
All members of the ETSU community are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Our partners at ETSU Health will continue to host free vaccine clinics. More information about free vaccination opportunities is available at Vaccines.gov or through our partners at Ballad Health.
Learn more about COVID-19
Information for ETSU Health Patients
Health Questions and Answers
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What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 refers to the illness caused by SARS-CoV2, which is a type of coronavirus. The virus was just recently discovered in the fall of 2019.
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What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms are fever, chills, or cough.
Other symptoms may include loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Some people may not experience any symptoms, and some may have only mild symptoms.
Others will experience more severe symptoms which may result in hospitalization, being placed on a ventilator, or death.
In people who get very sick from COVID-19, many organs can be affected, including the heart, kidneys, and brain.
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How long does it last?
Mild cases of COVID-19 may last a few days to a few weeks. For more severe cases, some people may be in the hospital for weeks or even months.
There is emerging evidence that people may have long term complications from this illness, although not enough time has passed yet to have specific information about those complications.
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How is it transmitted?
COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets that come out of our noses and mouths when we talk, cough, sneeze, or even just breathe. Face coverings are very helpful at preventing this type of transmission.
It may also be transmitted by touching a surface that has virus particles on it, and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.
It is important to note that it is very possible to transmit COVID-19 without knowing that you are infected.
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How is it treated?
Mild illness resolves with time, and is treated like any other mild respiratory illness: with medicines to keep fevers down, rest, hydration, and staying away from other people.
In more severe illness that requires hospitalizations, doctors are using several different medications, most of which are still being studied in the treatment of COVID-19.
You can learn more information about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Tennessee here.
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How can I protect myself and people around me?
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
You can learn more information about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Tennessee here.
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What are the testing requirements? Options?
Testing is available to any students, staff, and faculty who elect to be tested. For more information about how to get tested, call the University Health Center at 423-439-4225 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or after-hours at 1-888-915-7299.
COVID-19 testing is also available at the ETSU Health COVID-19 Community Collection Site. Appointments are required and results are available to patients within 24 hours.
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Who should get tested?
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested. All ETSU faculty, staff, and employees may contact the University Health Center at
423-439-4225 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or after-hours at 1-888- 915-7299 to arrange testing.If you do not have symptoms but wish to get tested, you may do so through the Tennessee Department of Health. Click here for more information.
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As a member of the ETSU community, what should I do if I get sick?
If you are experiencing COVID 19 symptoms, you should contact the University Health Center or your physician to arrange testing.
Stay home or in your campus residence hall room or apartment and follow the guidelines in the COVID-19 Wellness Addendum to the 2020-2021 Housing Contract.
If you are a student, contact your instructors to let them know you are ill and will be missing class.
If you a faculty or staff member, contact your department chair, dean, or supervisor and discuss modifications that may need to be made to your work patterns. You may request to use sick leave or annual leave for your initial absence, or may be eligible for Emergency Paid Sick Leave while awaiting a diagnosis. Contact Human Resources for more information.
If you test positive for COVID 19, please See Appendix A: Reporting Protocol
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Are faculty and staff members required to report students with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to the Office Environmental Health and Safety?
A faculty or staff member who becomes aware of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 involving a student should provide information to the student on ETSU’s Reporting Protocol so that the student can make a self-report.
A faculty or staff member who becomes aware of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 involving a student may report the student to the Office of Environmental Health Safety directly; however, the preference is that the faculty or staff member encourage the student to self-report.
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What will be done with my testing results/information?
The results are shared with the Health Department.
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How is ETSU contact tracing?
ETSU works with the Health Department on contact tracing and follows the Health Department guidelines on contact tracing.
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I think I was exposed; can I request a test?
If you think you have been exposed, the CDC recommends waiting 5-7 days before getting a test. Tests may be falsely negative in the first few days after exposure, so waiting several days gives the best chance for the test to be accurate. While you are waiting to get tested, you should stay at home and avoid contact with others.
COVID-19 testing is available to any student, staff, or faculty member who wishes to be tested. For more information about how to get tested, call the University Health Center at 423-439-4225 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or after-hours at 1-888-915-7299.
COVID-19 testing is also available at the ETSU Health COVID-19 Community Collection Site. Appointments are required and results are available to patients within 24 hours.
If you are a Quillen Medical student, please call ETSU Health Access at 423-952-6490. Please note that this resource is for Quillen students ONLY at this time.
If you experience COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) and/or have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, contact your health care provider or the University Health Center. Do not go to a health care facility before you have called your provider.
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If a faculty member, staff member or student gets tested for COVID-19, what are the protocols they follow while waiting for their test results? After receiving results?
After testing, you should quarantine at home while you await results.
Click here to learn more.
See Appendix A: Reporting Protocol
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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What counts as a “close contact” of someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19?
Per the Tennessee Department of Health, a close contact is considered someone who:
Lives in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19; or
Cares for a sick person with COVID-19; or
Has been within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, including up to two days prior to the contact’s diagnosis of COVID-19; or
Has been in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.)
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I was a “close contact” of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. What do I do?
You should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with the person with COVID-19.
If your contact is a household member, you may need to stay home for longer.
Do not go to work or school, and avoid public places for 14 days.
If possible, get others such as friends or family to drop off food or other necessities.
Watch for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the person with COVID-19.
If you develop these symptoms within 14 days of last contact with a person with COVID-19, you may have COVID-19. If your symptoms are mild, stay home and monitor your health.
If you need a medical assessment, call the health clinic or hospital before you arrive and tell the provider that you are a close contact to a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Click here for more information
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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I was exposed to someone who has symptoms of COVID-19, and they’re awaiting test results. What do I do?
You should stay home until the person with symptoms of COVID-19 notifies you of their test results.
Do not go to work or school, and avoid public places until the test results are available.
If the results are negative, and you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, you may return to work or school while wearing a face covering at all times.
If their test is positive, please see question above.
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I was not a “close contact” of someone with COVID-19, but I was near them. Do I need to get tested or quarantine?
No. If you do not fit into the criteria above for a “close contact,” then you do not need to quarantine or get tested, unless you develop symptoms.
Wear a cloth face-covering if you are not vaccinated.
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What do I do after I get tested?
Stay home and quarantine while you await test results. Click here for more information.
See Appendix A: Reporting Protocol
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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Will temperature checks be done at entrances to buildings, offices, classrooms, etc.?
All faculty, staff and students are asked to conduct symptom self monitoring each day before reporting to campus. You must be free of any symptoms potentially related to COVID-19 to be eligible to report to campus.
At this time, symptoms for COVID-19 include one or more of the following:
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fever
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Runny nose or new sinus congestion
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throatFatigue
New gastrointestinal symptoms
New loss of taste or smellThis list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as more is learned about COVID-19.
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, do not report to campus for work or class. You should immediately notify your supervisor and/or professor and follow guidelines for seeking medical care and self-quarantining
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If I was sick, when can I go back to work or class?
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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I was diagnosed with COVID-19 but never had any symptoms. When can I go back to work or school?
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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I was exposed to someone with COVID-19 and stayed home for 14 days. When can I go back to work or school?
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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Do I need a negative test before going back to work or school?
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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What if I had COVID-19, and have been re-exposed?
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.
See Appendix B: Return to Work or Class Protocol
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Under what circumstances would ETSU move more courses online? Limit the number of individuals on campus?
The health and safety of all members of the ETSU community and our visitors to campus remain our highest priority. We recognize that the current state of the pandemic is concerning to many people. ETSU continues to monitor data and other information that is being released regarding COVID-19 from local, state, and federal health organizations. Our decisions regarding academic and business operations of the institution are also being informed by our health experts and leaders on this campus.
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Is there specific guidance for supervisors from Human Resources related to COVID-19?
Yes, Human Resources has prepared a FAQ document for supervisors. Learn more here.
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I still have questions. Who should I contact?
Please visit the contact us page.
If you have a health emergency, please dial 911.
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What support services are available if I feel concern or worry about COVID-19?
Students may contact the ETSU Counseling Center at 423-439-3333 or counselingcenter@etsu.edu
The Counseling Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Bucs Press 2 provides counseling support by phone and is available 24/7 by dialing 423-439-4841 and pressing 2.
The BucsCARE website is another resource for students. BucsCARE lists offices and campus resources in various categories. Student referrals can be made by submitting a CARE Report.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a resource for faculty and staff members who need counseling support and referral to other resources. Assistance is available 24/7 by calling 855-437-3486.
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How can I protect myself and others from getting sick?
To minimize the spread of illness, everyone should follow these everyday preventive actions recommended by the CDC:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Wear a cloth face-covering if you are not vaccinated.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with a disinfectant.
Monitor your health daily and be alert for symptoms
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Are COVID-19 vaccines available for the ETSU community?
Vaccines are widely available and encouraged. ETSU Health continues to offer several opportunities for members of the community who are 18 and older to receive the free, one-dose Janssen Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics. To find a vaccine location near you, visit: Vaccinefinder.org
Commitment to Communicate
Stay informed and pay attention to health and safety information and updates. ETSU is committed to providing clear communication in a timely manner. There are several ways the university communicates and shares important messages:
Email messages sent to your ETSU address
D2L announcements from your instructors
Signs posted and displayed on campus with special instructions
ETSU social media accounts on Facebook Instagram and Twitter
ETSU News website