Positive Diagnosis Protocol

Caring for the well-being of our community is a group effort. Therefore, it is the obligation of the diagnosed person—not a fellow student, faculty, or staff member—to self-report their case. Students, faculty, and staff members who are aware of COVID-19 cases should not report on behalf of the diagnosed person but should encourage them to self-report and contact trace. 

The Wellness Center is conducting modified contact tracing for our community based on information available and strongly encourages students, faculty, and staff to notify their closes contacts if they test positive for COVID-19. Those not comfortable with identifying themselves can use solutions like Tell Your Contacts to anonymously alert others.

It is the University’s responsibility to respect and maintain the privacy and anonymity of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the University, along with public health authorities, is not allowed to share the identification of any of these individuals, nor will we provide any information that may compromise confidentiality.

The University has developed a Symptom Checker application to promote your own health and safety and to improve awareness of the symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever greater than 100.0 F, chills, cough, runny nose, sore throat, difficulty breathing, loss of sense of taste or smell, headache, muscle aches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. It is strongly recommended that you use the application on a daily basis. It is available for use via your browser and also within the Loyola mobile application. Information on how to download and use the Loyola mobile application can be found here.

You can find COVID-19 testing resources here.

If you have not tested positive for COVID-19 but are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, please remain at home and reach out to the following for guidance and care: 

• Students at Lakeside campuses, including ABSN students: Call Dial-a-Nurse at 773-508-8883. 
• Biomedical graduate students and medical students at HSC: Call Employee and Student Health Hotline at 708-216-1170. 
• Faculty and staff: Call your medical provider.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must report their case immediately to COVID-19report@LUC.edu or by calling 773.508.7707. This policy applies to students who test positive anywhere, whether on Loyola’s campuses or at an off-campus COVID-19 testing site.  

Failure to self-report a positive COVID-19 case is a violation of University policy; students may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (OSCCR) for a policy violation. 

Students should reach out to each of their professors and explain that they have tested positive for COVID-19 and will be unable to attend class. If a student is too ill to contact all of their faculty, they should reach out to their academic advisor (listed in both LOCUS and Navigate) and ask for assistance in reaching faculty. Faculty are asked to work with each student individually to help them keep up with in-person lectures through class notes on Sakai. Students are encouraged to continue turning in assignments, if possible. If it’s not possible to turn in assignments, or take quizzes or exams while in isolation, students should work out extended deadline dates with each faculty member. If you are a student who needs help with tutoring, contact the Tutoring Center as virtual appointments may be available while you are in isolation. 

In many cases of a positive test for COVID, students will have utilized a home test and may not see a doctor or be able to provide proof of a positive COVID test. If a student is seen in the Wellness Center, they will not provide any medical notes to faculty. A student has a right not to share any positive report or diagnosis. If a student was seen at the Wellness Center, staff can provide an appointment card confirming their appointment date and time. No medical information will be released to faculty without a signed written consent from the student.   

Students who are extremely ill or hospitalized should contact the Office of the Dean of Students for assistance.

A student who tests positive for COVID-19 – regardless of vaccination status - may return to campus when: 

• At least 5 days have passed since symptoms onset. Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive. Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started, 
• your symptoms are improving and 
• At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. 
• Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.  

If you do not have symptoms but had a positive test, you must isolate for 5 days since testing positive but continue to wear a mask around others for 5 more days. Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result). Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested.  If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset. 

CDC recommends that you wear your mask through day 10, or if you have 2 sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10.  

A student’s ID will be deactivated for their entire isolation period. A student may not leave their residence hall (if living on campus) or appear on campus at all during this time period. Off-campus students should not leave their home and are not permitted anywhere on campus, either. 

Failure to isolate for the full 5 days is also a policy violation and is subject to reporting through OSCCR. 

Note: Students involved with clinical rotations in health care facilities, including our Health Sciences Campus, who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for a full 7 days, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

Faculty who test positive for COVID-19 should report their case immediately to COVID-19report@LUC.edu or by calling 773-508-7707. They are required to stay off campus and self-isolate for at least 5 days and should consult with their department chair, program director, or associate dean for further guidance. In some cases, a faculty member will be able to shift their teaching modality to online, should they feel well enough to teach.  In other cases, a substitute instructor may be available, or class may need to be cancelled.  All faculty should make these decisions in conjunction with department chairs, program directors or associate deans.

A faculty member who tests positive for COVID-19 – regardless of vaccination status - may return to campus when: 

• At least 5 days have passed since symptoms onset. Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive. Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started, 
• Your symptoms are improving and 
• At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. 
• Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.  

If you do not have symptoms but had a positive test, you must isolate for 5 days since testing positive but continue to wear a mask around others for 5 more days. Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result). Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested.  If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset. 

CDC recommends that you wear your mask through day 10, or if you have 2 sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10. 

Note: Faculty involved with clinical rotations in health care facilities who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for a full 7 days, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

Staff who test positive for COVID-19 should report their case immediately to COVID-19report@LUC.edu or by calling 773-508-7707. They are required to stay off campus and self-isolate for at least 5 days. 

A staff member who experiences mild symptoms may work remotely if possible.If working remotely is not possible, review your paid time off options at luc.edu/hr/paid-time-off/. An employee who is sick with severe COVID-19 symptoms and cannot work should report absence to Matrix Absence Management.  

A staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 – regardless of vaccination status - may return to campus when: 

• At least 5 days have passed since symptoms onset. Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive. Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started, 
• Your symptoms are improving and 
• At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. 
• Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.  

If you do not have symptoms but had a positive test, you must isolate for 5 days since testing positive but continue to wear a mask around others for 5 more days. Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result). Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested. If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset. 

CDC recommends that you wear your mask through day 10, or if you have 2 sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10. 

Note: Staff involved with clinical rotations in health care facilities who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for a full 7 days, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.