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.
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
Face coverings are encouraged indoors and in outdoor settings when physical distancing is not possible to prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19. Please remember that everyone’s health situation is unique. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to be respectful of individual decisions regarding masking.
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 on a regular schedule, 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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Face Coverings
Face coverings are encouraged indoors and in outdoor settings when physical distancing is not possible to prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19. Please remember that everyone’s health situation is unique. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to be respectful of individual decisions regarding masking.
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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
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