Symptoms:

• Symptoms may include new onset of fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, fatigue, and new loss of sense of taste or smell, diarrhea and vomiting, although not all those who have COVID-19 develop symptoms.

Prevention:

• Stay up to date with vaccinations. 
  • Vaccines can be obtained at an upcoming UCCS COVID vaccine clinic or at a community vaccine clinic that can be found by visiting https://www.elpasocountyhealth.org/how-can-i-get-a-vaccine.
• Avoid contact with sick people and stay home when you are ill.
• Get tested if you develop symptoms or have been a close contact of a positive case. 
• Maintain at least 6 feet distance between yourself and others.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol. It is especially important to clean your hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose.

Individuals who have been in close contact to a confirmed COVID-19 individual no longer need to quarantine, but should take the following precautions: 

• Monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days after exposure.
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, you should get tested and isolate until results are received. If you test negative, continue taking precautions through day 10. 
   

Isolation

If You Test Positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status:

• Isolate for a minimum of 5 days
• If you have no symptoms on day 5, you can leave your house/room starting on day 6 but need to wear a mask for the next 5 days
• If your symptoms are not resolved by day 5, you need to continue to isolate for a full 10 days or until you have a negative test result, whichever comes first

Regardless of other symptoms or test results, if you have a fever, continue to stay home until you have been fever-free without the use of medicine for 24 hours.

Please note that UCCS and El Paso County Public Health are only contact tracing individuals in the following categories.

• Residential students living on campus
• Individuals age 50 and older 
• Campus outbreaks 

All other individuals will be responsible for notifying their close contacts. The Wellness Center has templates available to assist individuals with notifying their close contacts.
 

Quarantine

Individuals who have been in close contact to a confirmed COVID-19 individual no longer need to quarantine, but should take the following precautions: 

• Monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days after exposure.
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, you should get tested and isolate until results are received. If you test negative, continue taking precautions through day 10. 
   

Individuals experiencing any COVID-like symptoms should isolate themselves for 5 days or until tested for COVID-19. It is ideal to test on days 2-5 for the most accurate results.

An individual may end isolation sooner if they test negative for COVID-19, AND if symptoms have improved, AND if one of the symptoms is not a new onset of loss of sense of smell and taste, AND if they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Individuals may also end isolation if they receive another definite medical diagnosis that explains their symptoms such as strep throat.

An individual that experiences a loss of sense of smell or taste, must isolate following the above guidance even if their test result is negative.

Individuals who have been in close contact to a confirmed COVID-19 individual no longer need to quarantine, but should take the following precautions: 

• Monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days after exposure.
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, you should get tested and isolate until results are received. If you test negative, continue taking precautions through day 10. 

An individual diagnosed with COVID-19 is infectious for 48 hours prior to the onset of their symptoms and for up to 10 days after the onset of symptoms.

If you had a severe illness from COVID-19 (you were admitted to a hospital and needed oxygen), your healthcare provider may recommend that you stay in isolation for longer than 10 days after your symptoms first appeared (possibly up to 20 days).

If you have developed NEW COVID-like symptoms, you should get tested for COVID-19 2-5 days after symptom onset, and refrain from coming to campus until you receive a negative test result or you receive a different diagnosis by a health care provider that has ruled out COVID-19.

If you are a student, call the Wellness Center at 719-255-4444 for an appointment.

If you are faculty/staff, call your primary care provider, a community testing site or perform an at-home COVID test.

Employees should contact their supervisor and work with UCCS Human Resources for the next steps.

Students who receive positive test results from a non-UCCS provider should notify the Wellness Center by emailing contrac@uccs.edu to review next steps.

Students who need additional support with things such as notifying professors should contact the Dean of Students office at dos@uccs.edu

Please note that UCCS and El Paso County Public Health are only contact tracing individuals in the following categories. 

• Residential students living on campus
• Individuals age 50 and older 
• Campus outbreaks 

All other individuals will be responsible for notifying their close contacts. The Wellness Center has templates available to assist individuals with notifying their close contacts by emailing contrac@uccs.edu.
 

TESTING FOR STUDENTS:

Active UCCS students can be tested at the UCCS Wellness Center by scheduling an appointment at 719-255-4444. The Wellness Center is currently offering telehealth visits and testing for students experiencing COVID like symptoms and for close contacts of positive cases. The Wellness Center rapid antigen testing has same-day results. Specimens can also be sent out to a local lab using a student’s insurance for PCR testing with results typically available in 48–72 hours. The cost of PCR testing without insurance coverage is $100. Current students can make an appointment by calling 719-255-4444. Commuter students may find it easier to visit a community testing site. 

TESTING FOR EMPLOYEES:

Faculty and staff may be tested by contacting their primary care provider or by visiting a community testing site. 

WHEN TO GET TESTED:

For optimal results, COVID testing for symptomatic individuals is days 2-5 after developing symptoms. Optimal results for individuals exposed to a positive case that are currently asymptomatic is 5 days after exposure. 

The Wellness Center is able to provide testing to actively enrolled students by calling 719-255-4444 for an appointment.

Individuals in isolation should not travel via any public means of transportation.

If an individual in isolation can make it to their home in a vehicle without needing to stop, they will be allowed to drive home.

Housing students from out of state or outside a short drive from campus will need to complete their isolation period in a designated room on campus. 

Unfortunately, exceptions about travel cannot be made since this is a public health issue. 

Please do not walk into the Wellness Center for COVID testing as all testing is performed outside of the clinic. Appointments for telehealth visits and testing can be scheduled by calling 719-255-4444.

The Wellness Center is able to provide testing to actively enrolled students.

Most countries and some states require a negative PCR test prior to travel. For asymptomatic individuals seeking testing prior to travel, review your destination's requirements for testing to ensure you get an adequate test. The Wellness Center is able to offer students some pre-travel testing depending on your departure schedule and timing of test results. Students can call 719-255-4444 to assess the best option for their testing. For a list of community testing sites that offer PCR testing visit https://www.elpasocountyhealth.org/covid-19-testing-information. Please allow 2-4 days prior to travel to get your results back. 

Per the CDC, if it has been less than 90 days from their positive result, they do not need to follow this guidance except for monitoring of symptoms.

At this time there is no need to quarantine following an exposure to a positive case. If you were notified that you were a close contact of a positive case, you should do the following:

• Monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days after exposure.
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, you should get tested and isolate until results are received. If you test negative, continue taking precautions through day 10. 

If you are experiencing any new onset COVID-like symptoms you should refrain from coming to campus and isolate yourself.

If you are an employee with HR questions related to COVID please email hrhelp@uccs.edu.  

For student employee related questions, please contact Student Employment at stuemphelp@uccs.edu.

If you are a student and have tested positive, you should email the Wellness Center at contrac@uccs.edu for additional guidance.  

If you are a faculty or staff member and have tested positive, you should notify your primary care provider. You may contact the Wellness Center at contrac@uccs.edu for campus related guidance.

If you have general questions about COVID-19, call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911.

• You can also email COHELP@RMPDC.org for answers in English and Spanish (Español), Mandarin (普通话), and more.
• American Sign Language COVID-19 Hotline visit https://tinyurl.com/ASLCOVID.

Please note that UCCS and El Paso County Public Health are only contact tracing individuals in the following categories. 

• Residential students living on campus
• Individuals age 50 and older 
• Campus outbreaks

All other individuals will be responsible for notifying their close contacts. The Wellness Center has templates available to assist individuals with notifying their close contacts if needed by emailing contrac@uccs.edu. 

You can find information about obtaining a vaccine at a community site here. The UCCS Wellness Center also offers vaccine clinics so watch your emails for information on how to register for upcoming clinics.