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Thanks to continued diligence and responsible choices by students, faculty, and staff, The University of Texas at Arlington is successfully reaching the midpoint of the fall semester.
Many public health officials are urging caution as we enter into flu season. To help keep you, your fellow Mavericks, and your loved ones safe and healthy, each of us must continue to follow public health guidelines and University protocols that include:
- Face coverings: Everyone at UTA must wear face masks or coverings in campus buildings, classrooms, and elsewhere when it is not possible to stay 6 feet away from others. The only exceptions are when you are in a private office alone, by yourself in a laboratory, or in your residence hall room or apartment. If dining on campus, you should wear your mask or face covering until you are ready to eat and then replace it after you are done eating. UTA's face covering protocol applies to everyone on campus—all students, staff, faculty, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and visitors.
- Hygiene: Simple everyday precautions can help protect you and others from COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Self-monitoring and symptoms: Before reporting to campus each day, all faculty, staff, and students must perform a daily health screening, which includes a temperature check and self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, chills, body aches, and fever. Anyone experiencing any of these should not come to campus. Anyone who begins to feel sick at work or in class should notify their supervisor or professor and return home. Download the UTA self-monitoring checklist to help with your daily self-assessment.
- Close contact: If you come into close contact (within 6 feet for 10 minutes or longer) with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, do not come to campus. You are required to complete the University's Close Contact form and self-isolate away from campus for 14 days.
- COVID-19 diagnosis: If you test positive for COVID-19, do not come to campus. You are required to report your diagnosis to the University through the Report Personal Diagnosis form and self-isolate away from campus for 14 days.
As a reminder, the flu vaccination is strongly encouraged. Students can make appointments to receive flu vaccinations from Health Services by calling 817-272-2771. The vaccine is free with most insurance.
For employees, flu vaccinations were available on campus earlier this week and remain available at no or low cost at many pharmacies or through your primary care provider.
The Maverick community understands that we are all in this together. Let's all continue to follow UTA health protocols so we can finish the semester strong.
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