At UMN Morris, the health and safety of our campus community is of the utmost importance. This page provides COVID-19-related updates and information.
COVID-19 Recommendations
- Follow the latest CDC and FDA guidance.
- Keep your vaccinations and booster shots up to date to help prevent severe illness.
- The University still requires proof of vaccination or a religious/medical exemption.
- In Morris, the vaccine is available at SCMC, Prairie Ridge Healthcare, Horizon Public Health, Thrifty White, and Seip Drug.
- If you're exposed to COVID-19, wear a high-quality mask for 10 days. Get tested on day 5.
- If you feel sick, get tested.
- Free at-home antigen tests are available. Follow the new FDA guidance on testing.
- One-Stop Test to Treat sites offer free testing and provide treatment if appropriate.
- Visit your clinic or healthcare provider for testing.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, use the CDC Quarantine and Isolation Calculator (currently being updated) to determine how long you need to isolate from others. Recommendations are more detailed than before. At higher risk of poor outcome? Seek medical treatment immediately. Many treatments are only effective if used in the first days of the infection. See below for more detailed instructions for students and for faculty and staff.
- Masking is still important. If you need to protect yourself; if you have been exposed to or are recovering from COVID-19; or if you are in a building on campus where healthcare is provided make sure you are correctly wearing a well-fitted high-quality mask (cloth and surgical masks do not provide adequate protection).
- Free masks are available for students on request at all University residence halls and apartments.
- Units can order masks through UMarket.
- Be aware of the level of infection risk in your community and where you travel. Increase precautions where the level is high.
- If you’ve come into close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, view this chart for guidance or the CDC's website. You should follow the full quarantine guidelines outlined by the CDC.
Testing Positive
If you test positive for COVID-19, we strongly recommend you inform your individual close contacts that they may have been exposed and should seek testing. In addition to following the CDC’s guidance for isolation and quarantine (see this chart for guidance as well), please take the following steps.
- Health Service and the student care team will coordinate your care and support.
- You may receive guidance from MDH with information and a request to complete an online survey. Completing the survey will help MDH better understand the current state of COVID-19 transmission in our state.
- Review and act on guidance about how to identify close contacts and advice for notifying them that you have tested positive for COVID-19.
- Inform your instructors of your need to isolate and make arrangements to stay on track with your courses. Instructors may also help you identify close contacts in your classrooms or labs where close contacts can be identified.
- Reach out to your manager or supervisor if you work on campus to arrange for time off and request assistance with notifying those at work with whom you had close contact.
Follow all public health or medical guidance about isolating and taking additional steps to protect others, including staying home if you are ill.
If you test positive for COVID-19, it’s strongly recommended that you inform your individual close contacts that they may have been exposed and should seek testing. In addition to following the CDC’s guidelines for isolation and quarantine (see this chart for guidance as well), please take the following steps:
- You may receive guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health with information and a request to complete an online survey. Completing the survey will help the MDH better understand the current state of COVID-19 transmission in our state.
- Review and act on guidance about how to identify close contacts so that you can notify them that you have tested positive for COVID-19.
- Inform your manager or supervisor if you need to arrange for time off or if you would like assistance identifying and notifying those with whom you have had close contact.
- Follow all public health or medical guidance about isolating and taking additional steps to protect others, including staying home if you are ill. Please note: The University’s guidance is aligned with the CDC.
Beyond taking personal health precautions, your role when notified of a positive COVID-19 case is to support your student in notifying others. If you are a manager or supervisor, your responsibility is to support your employees in notifying others. The Office of Human Resources has more detailed guidance.
Avoid mass notifications of entire classrooms unless there is a documented public health reason to do so as reviewed by public health partners or the Health Emergency Response Office (e.g., there is reason to believe a large percentage of students in the classroom meet the CDC definition of close contact).