If a student notifies you that they have received a positive test for Covid or have been in close contact with someone who has received a positive test for Covid, you should tell the student to report this information to the Dean of Students.  Close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more within 2 days prior to illness onset, regardless of whether the contact was wearing a mask.

UAH has released a new COVID Notification Protocol which is provided below and can be found at the following website: 

                    https://www.uah.edu/covid-19/covid-19-testing/reporting-exposure

 

Reporting

Any faculty, staff, or student who has a positive COVID-19 test result must notify the university as soon as possible.  If someone notifies you that they have received a positive COVID-19 test result, please strongly encourage them to self- report the following:

  • when they were last on campus,
  • the buildings/areas in which they spent more than 15 minutes,
  • any other known members of the university community with whom they had close contact.

Faculty or staff reports of a positive COVID-19 test or close contact exposure are made to Associate Vice President for Human Resources: Ms. Laurel Long at longl@uah.edu  or 256-824-6545 (email preferred).  The Associate Vice President for Human Resources will notify the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) and the Office of Risk Management and Compliance (ORMC) of positive COVID-19 cases.

Student reports of a positive COVID-19 test or close contact exposure are made to Dean of Students, Dr. Ronnie Hebert, dos@uah.edu or 256-824- 6700.  The Dean of Students will notify OEHS and ORMC when a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases is identified when necessary.

HIPAA rules are followed. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html 

 

Building Notification

  • Custodial Services regularly cleans and disinfects all classrooms and common areas according to a preset schedule to mitigate transmission. 
  • Classroom closures and class cancellations, including teaching labs, are determined by the Dean of Students based on whether there has been a cluster of cases impacting a specific class.
  • Due to the potential for damaging lab equipment, teaching laboratories are not included in the cleaning schedule.  Lab personnel can perform a daily wipe-down schedule for each lab or communicate to OEHS that the lab can safely be sprayed so that the room can be added to the Custodial Services schedule.
  • OEHS notifies building authorities of exposure in offices and research laboratories. Closure is recommended for three days from last occupancy by an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.  The space owner is responsible for placing signs and notifying individuals who may access that space.  If assistance with signage is required, contact OEHS or UAH Police Department.

 

Communication

The Dean of Students, ORMC, and the staff of the Faculty and Staff Clinic or Student Health Center coordinate notification to those who have been identified as a close contact with a person who has tested positive or who have been in close proximity when a cluster of cases has been identified.

The method of communication will depend upon how widespread and urgent the notification needs to be.

  • For those in the university community who were in close contact and who need to be quarantined, an immediate email using the official UAH email system, phone call, or text message will be sent.  Student Health Clinic and/or the Faculty and Staff Clinic will follow up.   Example: suitemates, officemates, individuals sharing a small laboratory, etc. 
  • Only in unusual circumstances is communication needed beyond the close contacts and those in close proximity of an individual who tested positive with COVID-19.