COVID-19 Saliva Testing
Do not call UIC or the College of Medicine Rockford for information on appointments or test results. Call SHIELD’s 24-hour patient hotline any time at: (217) 265-6059.
For information on SHIELD Illinois Public COVID-19 Saliva Testing for the Community, visit: https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/shield-illinois-covid-19-testing-info-for-the-public/
Students, staff and faculty can get information about COVID-19 saliva testing at https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/shield-illinois-covid-19-testing-info-for-students-staff-and-faculty/. Any student, staff or faculty member on campus who is not fully vaccinated (must have an approved COVID-19 vaccination exemption) must be tested on two non-consecutive days per seven-day period.
Masking (updated 5/24/2022)
Masking is now required on the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford until further notice
Winnebago County has now moved to a high COVID-19 risk level. Given the increase in positive COVID-19 cases on our campus as well, masking is now required in all areas on campus unless you are alone in an office or study room.
COVID-19 Testing (Updated 3/1/2022)
Testing Required:
- All unvaccinated students, faculty and staff who have a medical or religious vaccination exemption and all partially vaccinated students, faculty and staff are still required to test twice per seven-day period, 48 or more hours apart.
- Staff working in the SHIELD Illinois lab and collections site will continue to test weekly per their department requirements.
- Students, staff, faculty and visitors may be required to participate in testing before or after certain events or breaks. Continue to submit the Rockford Re-open form for events (and resubmit a form if you have an upcoming event that would be affected by updated policies listed in this email.) Watch eNews for specific situations where testing may be required.
New Testing Procedure:
Weekly saliva testing at the easily accessible SHIELD Illinois campus testing site is encouraged for fully vaccinated students, staff, and faculty, but not required.
Students, staff and faculty can obtain testing materials in the Commons kiosk area, but will check out in the auditorium.
Entering and Exiting the Building (Updated 3/1/2022)
Do not enter or exit through:
- South entrance/SHIELD Illinois community COVID-19 testing center entrance
- Student Health and Wellness North Building red awning entrance (unless you are a patient or work there).
OK to enter or exit through:
- Main entrance without checking in/out at the reception desk.
- Other entrances via key card.
Eating and Drinking (Updated 6/8/2022)
Eating and drinking are not allowed:
- Health care settings
- Research laboratories
- Classrooms
- Lecture halls
- Where signage indicates
Eating and drinking are allowed:
- Campus areas other than those listed above
- On-campus university-sponsored events (boxed meals only, fill out Rockford Re-OpenForm )
- Off-campus university-sponsored events (boxed meals only, fill out Rockford Re-OpenForm)
- Seated areas for eating should be available to allow individuals to unmask and be socially distanced from those outside of their household or social group.
Moving Forward
While COVID-19 cases have decreased recently, continue to monitor for symptoms and if you have any do not come to work or school and contact Student Health and Wellness or Employee Health Services.
Masking, testing, vaccination and preventive and treatment medications continue to be tools in the fight against COVID-19 and we are encouraged by the decreasing cases and hope current trends continue.
Vaccination (updated 1/11/22)
As of Oct. 1, 2021, all students, staff and faculty of the College of Medicine Rockford must be vaccinated or have an approved exemption.
Due to recent increases in COVID-19 cases, evolving information about the more transmissive Omicron variant, and new Centers for Disease Control guidelines, the University of Illinois System is now requiring that all faculty, staff and students get a COVID-19 booster shot as soon as they are eligible (see the CDC Guidelines for details on eligibility).
Provide Proof of Booster Vaccination:
- Faculty and staff: Submit a copy of your booster vaccination card to Employee Health Services at [email protected].
- Medical Students: Upload a copy of your booster/vaccination card to Castlebranch.
- Pharmacy Students: Upload a copy of your booster/vaccination card to the Compliance System for the College of Pharmacy.
- MBT Students: Please send a copy of your booster/vaccination card to Noel Pycior MS, FNP-BC, at [email protected].
- Nursing Students: Upload a copy of your booster/vaccination card to the Compliance System for the College of Nursing.
All staff and faculty should have reported their vaccination status through UIC Healthcheck and Patricia Monaghan ([email protected]) in Employee Health Services by October 1, 2021, or have an approved exemption. A copy of your vaccination card or letter of exemption from UIC must be sent to Patricia Monaghan.
Any student, staff or faculty member on campus who is not fully vaccinated must have an approved COVID-19 vaccination exemption and must be tested for COVID-19 through the on-campus SHIELD Illinois test site on two non-consecutive days per seven-day period.
Please note that if you have symptoms of COVID-19 you should isolate from others and be tested regardless of vaccination status. The vaccine is highly effective but not 100% and rapid identification of infection helps prevent transmission to others.
Find a COVID-19 Vaccine or Booster:
- Search vaccines.gov.
- Text your ZIP code to 438829.
- Call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
- Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available.
- Contact your state or local health department for more information.
Visitors on Campus
- Visitors are welcome to come to campus for approved or registered campus events or if invited to campus by a department to engage in any of the activities below. The list of approved visitor activities is intended to provide examples of suitable visitor activities; it is not meant to be exhaustive.
- Business and education operations (including interviews, scheduled meetings, guest lectures, etc.)
- Research collaboration
- externally contracted work
- student support
- admission events
- student internship programs
- approved or registered athletic events, social events, academic events
- construction and maintenance tasks
- other business and education operations
All campus visitors should follow the current UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford health practice guidelines (check-in at reception, masking, social distancing, etc.). Visitors should review their own symptoms immediately before coming to campus for an in-person activity. Sponsors of visitors should email the visitor the health screening questions below before their visit. Visitors must be advised, if they answer yes to any of the health screening questions, they must not come to campus. Upon their arrival they will be asked to review the screening questions again. If they answer yes, the sponsor will be notified and asked to come to the reception area to address the concerns.
The Health Screening questions are as follows:
- Have you felt feverish?
- Do you have a cough or sore throat?
- Have you been experiencing difficulty breathing or shortness of breath?
- Do you have muscle or body aches?
- Have you had a new or unusual headache? (e.g., not related to caffeine, diet, or hunger, not related to a history of migraines, clusters, or tension, not typical to the individual)?
- Have you noticed a new loss of taste or loss of smell?
- Have you been experiencing chills or rigors (a sudden feeling of cold with shivering accompanied by a rise in temperature?
- Do you have any gastrointestinal concerns (e.g., abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea)?
- Is anyone in your household displaying any symptoms of COVID-19?
Health Screening Questions.pdf
Events on Campus
Campus colleges, departments, offices or student organizations that would like to plan or resume any in-person activity, must submit a Rockford Re-Open form if the meeting or event will have:
- more than 25 in-person attendees from the campus community, or
- outside visitors, or
- if food is being consumed or distributed.
Please continue to submit requests for rooms through the room reservation system. When planning your events, be certain to contact building services to ensure the room is set up safely and cleaned as appropriate.
The Rockford Recovery Committee and the Dean reserve the right to cancel previously approved events as needed.
Event sponsors should track all attendees to the greatest extent possible. For contact tracing purposes, event attendees must include name, email, and phone numbers.
Reporting COVID-19 Cases and Concerns
COM Students: Sick Care Guidelines/Exposure to or Symptoms Consistent with COVID-19
If you are a student and you develop symptoms of illness that are consistent with COVID-19, or you have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, or you are unsure/unwell, please do as follows:
- Do not report to campus or a clinical rotation when you feel ill.
- Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?
Feverish, cough, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, muscle aches, new or unusual headache, unusual fatigue, loss of taste or smell, chills, gastrointestinal concerns (e.g., abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea). Have you or anyone in your household tested positive or been exposed to COVID19 or displaying symptoms of COVID19? - The student should notify:
- Phase 1 Medical Students: Dr. Clements-Jewery ([email protected])
- Phase 2/3 Medical Students: Dean Richards ([email protected]) or Dean Blevins ([email protected])
- Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Students: Dr. Sidik ([email protected])
- The student should contact their Primary Care Provider/Noel Pycior, APN, in Student Health and Wellness (815-395-5870), or call 911 if this is an emergency. Student Health and Wellness appointments are available Monday through Friday. Most patients can schedule an appointment within 24 hours. Both in-office and video telehealth services are available. On the weekends, please seek care at your nearest ER or Urgent Care location that is in-network per your insurance. (CampusCare members must utilize MercyHealth Rockford).
- You must remain fever-free (without utilizing antipyretic medications) for 24 hours before returning to course work/rotations.
- Please send a note to Dr. Clements-Jewery or Dean Blevins or Dr. Sidik with your clearance to return to work/school if you are placed on quarantine.
Faculty/Staff Reporting of Student-Related COVID-19 Concerns
Faculty or staff who are contacted by a student who is experiencing symptoms, has concerns that they have been exposed to a patient who tested positive for COVID-19 or who has tested positive themselves for COVID-19, must notify Carol Schuster at (716) 534-1882 or via email at [email protected]. The notification should include the student’s name, a brief description of the situation and the student’s cell phone number. If the student has symptoms, also refer them to their primary care physician, if they have not yet been in contact with them.
Employee Guidelines If Symptomatic or You Test Positive for COVID-19
If you are running a temperature in excess of 100.4 degrees or have any COVID-related symptoms, do not report to work. Per university guidance, if you need to be tested, or have tested positive 1) isolate at home, 2) contact your UIC supervisor, 3) call Patricia Monaghan in Employee Health Services at (815) 395-5789 (instead of HR). You may not physically report back to work until cleared by Employee Health Services. This process is coordinated at the Rockford campus, and employees will not need to report to the Chicago campus.
If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please contact 911 for guidance.
Travel
University Business Travel
Student Personal Travel
Anyone who travels domestically or internationally regardless of vaccination status still needs to report all travel. On an individual basis, depending on your vaccine status, where you traveled, and a combination of factors, we will determine your plan for return from travel.
If you plan to travel domestically or internationally, contact Noel Pycior, MS, FNP-BC, in Student Health and Wellness at 815-395-5870 or by email at [email protected] once you have confirmed your travel arrangements. She will need travel dates (departure and return) in order to determine any quarantine, symptom monitoring, or testing requirements upon return. Quarantine requirements are based on a combination of Winnebago County and University Health Service guidance.
Staff and Faculty Person Travel
Report all out-of-state or international travel to Patricia Monaghan at [email protected] or 815-395-5789.
Staff or faculty who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (i.e., two weeks have passed since final vaccine dose) and traveling domestically, are not required to quarantine as long as you remain asymptomatic. Patricia will notify you of any COVID-19 testing requirement. You should monitor symptoms and follow masking and social distancing guidance for 14 days after your return.
Staff and faculty traveling internationally (including Puerto Rico) should continue to notify Patricia of travel. Quarantine may be required at this time for fully vaccinated individuals visiting some countries, and there are testing requirements.
Adhere to masking rules: Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
It is recommended that you bring a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination records while traveling.
If you are not vaccinated, and you plan domestic or international travel, contact Patricia Monaghan at [email protected] or call 815-395-5789 for return-to-work guidance.
For the latest travel guidance from the Winnebago County Health Department see https://www.wchd.org/covid-19/travelguidance.
Resources for College of Medicine Rockford Students:
All-UIC College of Medicine COVID-19 info
Check your UIC email regularly for program-specific information.
Updated 8/25/2021 Study rooms and spaces can be reserved, but unreserved rooms are now available on a first-come, first-served basis. The listserv used for reserving study rooms is monitored M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reserve study rooms by emailing the date and time wanted to [email protected] not more than one week in advance. Follow capacity limits posted at each room. Do not move the furniture. If you are not going to use a study room that you have reserved, please notify the receptionist at [email protected] so the reservation can be cancelled and the room(s) made available to others.
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Return to Campus Resources for Employees:
UIC TelecommutingRemote Work Agreement May 2021
