Covid Protocol
BSOM Office of Student Affairs follows ECU Student Health Services (SHS) and CDC guidance regarding Covid-19.
COVID Guidance from CDC
The CDC updated its COVID-19 guidance on 3/1/24. The new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers. CDC is making updates to the recommendations now because the U.S. is seeing far fewer hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 and because we have more tools than ever to combat flu, COVID, and RSV.
Read about the new guidance, including what to do if you or someone close to you has COVID-19, flu, or RSV. here
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines
Current Precautions for Students…
In Brody:
Face coverings are no longer required indoors in the Brody School of Medicine building with the exception of clinical areas and some research lab areas. Areas in which masks are required will be clearly indicated.
Those returning from quarantine or isolation must continue to wear a mask for at least 5 days following their return.
Although these guidelines are eased and masks are no longer as widely required, mask wearing, vaccination, social distancing, and sanitation continue to be the best defenses against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. BSOM still encourages students and staff to protect themselves and to make their own careful choices concerning the best way to protect their health.
In ECU Health Medical Center:
- Effective Monday, April 3, 2023, ECU Health will make masking optional for healthy patients, visitors and team members (including medical students) at all ECU Health facilities, including ECU Health Physicians clinics.
If you have to isolate:
- Contact your Course Directors and the Office of Student Affairs.
- Do not attend any in-person classes or events.
- SUBMIT an Absence Request Form
- Take care of yourself / rest / recover
- Continue to wear a mask for at least 5 days after your return.
How Do I Know If I Have Been Exposed? You May Have Been Exposed If…
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes cumulatively over
a 24-hour period. - You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.
- You shared eating or drinking utensils.
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.
To help you determine next steps following an exposure, please visit the CDC Exposure Guidance. Please note, as of August 2022, vaccination status does not factor into the recommendations for exposed individuals.
When Can I Go Back to Class? When do I request an Excused Absence?
Whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, students may only return to class when safe, based upon CDC guidelines. To return to class, students should complete the following steps:
- ABSENCE REQUEST FORM- You must complete an excused absence request form prior to any assessment or within 48 hours of returning to class, if you have not done so already. It is your responsibility to present this information to your course directors and the Office of Student Affairs.
- CDC GUIDELINES- Before returning to class, students must follow current CDC guidelines to ensure that it is safe to leave isolation/quarantine and must wear masks as directed by CDC guidance. To determine your quarantine/isolation plan, go to CDC isolation and exposure calculator and follow the directions. Please direct any further questions or concerns to the Office of Student Affairs.
