Return to Campus: Fall 2020

Yes. Face masks are now required on the Lamar University campus.

In early July, Governor Abbott issued an order that requires face masks be worn in counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases. In compliance with this order, anyone on the LU campus must wear a face mask while on campus, unless one of the following exceptions is met: --Have certain health conditions that prevent wearing a mask --While consuming food or drink --Are outside where six feet of social distancing is possible --Under the age of 10 years old.

The governor’s order states that violators could face up to $250 in fines. Individuals not wearing a face mask when required may receive a written or verbal warning for their first violation. We ask for everyone's support as we implement this new requirement, designed to protect the health of the entire LU community.

All public spaces require a face covering of some kind. If your workspace is separated by partitions, yes, you need to wear a face mask. If your office is separated by walls, you are not required to wear a mask if you are alone. Everyone must wear a mask in an office or classroom with more than one person present.

An exemption is needed for any student, faculty or staff member who does not wear a mask. You must provide documentation of their health issue from your primary care physician to the Disability Resource Center so options can be discussed to ensure some type of safety measure is in place if you are a student, your supervisor if you are staff or your department chair if faculty. Click here for more information on exemptions - https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2768376.

If you are not sure how to wear your face covering, this website from the CDC will explain - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html.

We will be providing all instructors in the department and others as needed, clear masks and clear face shields.

During the summer months, our custodial staff concentrated deep cleaning efforts in buildings throughout the campus. Everything from the floors to the ceilings have been cleaned and sanitized. As classes resume in the fall, we are committed to providing normal daily housekeeping duties, with an emphasis on disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects. All classrooms and educational facilities will be fogged daily with a disinfectant that meets the EPA’s criteria for use against the virus that causes COVID-19.

CDC recommended, alcohol-based, hand sanitizer stations will be located in all buildings, primarily at facility entrances, exits, high-traffic areas and other places where hand washing capabilities are not readily available or easily accessible. Disinfectant-wipe stations will be placed at various locations throughout campus along with posters in all bathrooms of hand washing tips and techniques. Additionally, spray disinfectant, paper towels and/or disinfectant wipes for use on shared equipment, such as computer labs and other similar situations, can be requested by submitting a work request at dept_facilities@lamar.edu or by calling Facilities Management at x8470.

Maintenance personnel have been performing extensive preventative maintenance on our buildings’ heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. We are increasing Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value filter ratings, to the highest levels, depending on HVAC system limitations to enhance central air filtration. In conjunction with the increased filtration, circulation of outside air to building HVAC systems will be increased as much as possible. Temperature and humidity levels will be balanced, and the addition of more fresh air will help dilute airborne bacteria, reducing exposure, and making infection less likely.

We also are exploring opportunities to utilize ultraviolet light technology in campus buildings. These systems have been installed in the HVAC ducts at several facilities and have been used to control bacterial and fungal growth on the cooling coils. Maintenance personnel are currently inspecting these systems and performing repairs as needed.

There will be posters by every elevator letting you know how many people can ride that elevator at one time in order to allow for social distancing.

There will be stickers to guide you on where to stand if you are in line somewhere on campus, if you are walking down the hall and also where to encourage you to sit in class all to maintain social distancing.

Yes, there will be signs posted with entrances and exits clearly defined.

Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea/vomiting or diarrhea are considered symptoms of COVID-19.

If you have been around someone who was identified as a close contact to a person with COVID-19, closely monitor yourself for any symptoms of COVID-19. You do not need to self-quarantine unless you develop symptoms or if the person identified as a close contact develops COVID-19.

Source: CDC, Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs

According to the CDC, if you have trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in your chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake or bluish lips or face, you need to call 911 or call ahead to your emergency facility, letting them know that you have or may have COVID-19.

Please report your positive result using our online form. This will help to notify the appropriate department at LU for faculty, staff or students who may need additional information during this time. You are to isolate at home for 10 days starting with your test date as day one.  You may resume social interaction after the completion of all 10 days. 

Report a Positive Test

According to the CDC, you need to self-quarantine for 14 days after your last contact with the person who has COVID-19 if:

• You were within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes.
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.
• You had direct physical contact with the person.
• You shared eating or drinking utensils.
• They sneezed, coughed or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.

There will be a total number of Lamar University students, faculty and staff who test positive listed at the top of this page as an ongoing total. Contact tracing will be conducted. If you are told by someone that they tested positive, encourage them to go to this page at lamar.edu/return and fill out the form listed near the top of the page. Remind them that they should self-quarantine until they have received their test results. Students need to notify their course instructors so they can keep them involved in class and not receive penalties for absences.

If you were sent home to self-quarantine and were exposed to someone who tested positive then you need to stay at home for 14 days from the last date of contact with the COVID-19 positive person, regardless if you yourself tested negative. 

If you tested negative and were not exposed directly to a COVID-19 positive person and just went to get tested, then you may return to campus the next day.

Exposure to a COVID-19 positive person means you were within six feet for longer than 15 minutes. If you do not meet both of these parameters then you were not exposed.

If a student states they tested positive for COVID-19, have the student submit a Maxient report.  The Dean of Students office will then notify the student and clarify dates and times of their results and instruct the student on what actions are now needed: isolation if the test was recent, nothing if the test was done more than 10 days ago.  The faculty member will be notified if the student is not able to attend face to face class and when they may return. 

If you believe a work-related exposure made you ill, then you must notify your supervisor, or a higher-level person within your department, of an on-the-job injury, or first clear symptoms of an occupational disease within 30 days of that injury or first clear symptoms.

The supervisor must notify Human Resources and complete the TWCC-121 (Supervisor’s Investigation of Employee Accident/Injury) the same day of the accident/injury/illness) and return it to Human Resources.

Identifying persons who may have been exposed to COVID-19 is essential to effective Contact Tracing. Contact Tracing is a key strategy used by local and state health department personnel for preventing further spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. It is part of the process of supporting affected individuals and warning contacts of exposure in order to stop the chains of transmission. 

If you have symptoms of the virus, including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, go get tested. If someone you know is experiencing symptoms, please encourage them to get tested. Most urgent care facilities are now offering test options and many are covered by insurance.

If you are having a COVID virus test, please let the Student Health Center know if you are a student at 409-880-8466. If you are a staff or faculty member, please contact Bert Wagner at rwagner3@lamar.edu  or 409-880-8474. They will provide you with information you may need as you await test results.