Dear Student,

As we prepare for your arrival on campus for the fall semester, we wanted to make you aware of some of the steps you need to take in advance of your return. It is important that we do all that we can for the health and safety of all members of our Loyola community.

Pre-return COVID-19 Testing
Every student will be required to have proof of a negative viral test for COVID-19 prior to returning to Loyola’s campuses. The test must be administered within 14 days prior to your return. The test must be a viral test, not an antibody test.

Every student—both residential and commuting undergraduates, as well as all graduate students who are not enrolled in a fully online program—will be required to provide proof of a negative viral test and receive clearance from Loyola’s health care partner prior to returning to campus. We will send additional information on the clearance process soon.

How do I get tested? Check with your health care provider or visit your state or local health department’s website to find the best testing options for you in your community. Depending on the site and your community, testing may be free or there may be an associated cost.

Students who test positive will be required to delay returning to campus until they are free of symptoms and cleared by their healthcare provider. Students who test negative will be cleared through Loyola’s clearance process. We will provide information on the clearance process in a subsequent communication.

Pre-return Quarantine
All students are required to self-quarantine for the 14 days prior to arrival at Loyola—with the exception of the trip for COVID-19 testing. This will put us in the best position for a healthy semester for our community.

What is self-quarantining? Quarantines are meant to limit the movement of people who have been potentially exposed to COVID-19 but have not tested positive for it. This period is a precaution in order to monitor for any potential symptoms that might arise and minimize the chance of any new exposure. You should stay at home to self-monitor for the entirety of the virus's 14-day incubation period. If you develop any COVID-like symptoms such as fevers, cough, and shortness of breath, you should contact your healthcare provider. While under self-quarantine, it is expected that you remain at home, stay at least 6 feet away from others, and maintain general germ contagion precautions (i.e. good hand hygiene, avoiding sharing cups/drinks, covering your mouth when coughing, etc.).

Conclusion
As you prepare to begin the fall semester, we require that you visit the Healthy Hounds site. We are requiring students to sign the pledge to commit to being a “Healthy Hound” when you are on Loyola’s campuses.

We will provide additional information when we send the link to our COVID-19 Safety and Awareness Training. You will also be able to access information through our daily COVID-19 screening app, which we will give you access to in the weeks ahead. You can also find information on the Student Health Services FAQs page.

Thank you for doing your part to advance the health and safety of our Loyola community.

Sincerely,

Student Health Services