COVID Operations Plan for the 2023-24 Academic Year
Loyola's COVID operations plan for the 2023-24 academic year mirrors and builds on the successful plan that we implemented during the 2022-23 academic year. On May 15, 2023, the public health emergency related to COVID, as defined by the World Health Organization will end. Given this milestone transition for the pandemic, the leadership at Loyola feels confident that we are even better positioned to navigate the pandemic successfully moving into the next academic year.
Faculty, staff, and administrators who are exposed/symptomatic/test positive
All members of the community are advised to follow CDC Covid guidelines. Employees no longer need to report positive tests through the office of human resources.
Students who are symptomatic
Any student who is symptomatic should take a home test, contact Loyola Student Health Services at 410-617-5055 for an appointment, or visit a local urgent care. Report positive results to the Student COVID Case Reporting form.
Students who test positive
Students who test positive should complete the Student COVID Case Reporting form to ensure that the proper communication regarding isolation is given.
Residential students who test positive for COVID will be asked to return home to isolate, if possible, or isolate in their assigned room. You are required to isolate for five days after the date of your positive test. Your test date is Day ZERO.
During this time, you are not permitted to move freely around campus and should coordinate with your instructors for makeup of classwork. You will be permitted to wear an N95 mask to grab meals to take back to your room
You will be required to isolate in your room, treating your roommates and suitemates as your “family unit” while here at school. We are continuing our isolation/quarantine plan, which has been successful, having students who test positive for COVID will isolate in their rooms. Roommates may still be expected to share the space. Learn how best to do this on the Isolation section of the Student Health Services site.
Student Health Services will help coordinate when you are cleared to normal campus activities including classes, athletics, and other organizations.
Students who are symptomatic and/or have a fever on day 5 may need to isolate for the full 10 days.
Masking
Although wearing a mask is not required on campus, community members are always welcome to wear a mask. There are many reasons why individuals would choose to wear a mask, including but not limited to the fact that they or loved ones are immunocompromised or have other health conditions that prevent vaccination, personal preference, etc. Please be respectful of other people’s concerns around commutable illnesses. Student Health Services requires masks for symptomatic individuals visiting the health center.
Vaccinations
All undergraduate students—residential, off-campus residents, and commuters and all graduate students engaging in in-person experiences on any of Loyola’s campuses—are strongly encouraged (but no longer required) to be up-to-date with their flu shot and to have received at least one bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Student Health Services will continue to offer COVID booster and flu vaccination clinics on campus each fall and as needed based on the activity of these viruses in our region.
Continue to Monitor
We will continue to monitor COVID on campus and continue to put steps in place as needed. The operations plan and related policies are subject to change.
Questions
If you have any questions, please reach out to COVIDResponse@Loyola.edu.