COVID-19 Frequently asked questions related to screening and testing for COVID-19 such as: Who should I contact if I think I need to be tested for COVID-19? What should I do if I test positive? What should I do if I test negative?
Screening and Testing for COVID-19
Students
Updated: January 14, 2021
If I am not enrolled in an in-person or hybrid course and therefore not attending any in-person classes, and I answer yes to any of the questions found on the current version of the UT Health RGV Daily Self-Screening Questions, do I have to complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form?
All students, staff and faculty who answer yes to any of the questions found on the current version of the COVID-19 Daily Self-Screening Questions must complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form. Completing the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form allows UTRGV to help each individual receive the proper guidance, care, and testing to protect themselves and those around them.
What do I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms; have been in contact with someone who has tested positive or who is currently begin tested; or have tested positive?
Each day, prior to visiting any UTRGV campus/off-campus facilities, university students and employees must review and answer the current version of the COVID-19 Daily Self-Screening Questions regarding COVID-19-related symptoms.
Do not access the campus/off-campus facilities if:
You answered yes to any of the screening questions.
You have been in close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period).
You tested positive for COVID-19 and have not been officially released by a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team.
Reporting
Instead of accessing campus/off-campus facilities:
Communicate with your instructor/supervisor (If you are a student employee please communicate with both you instructor and supervisor.)
Fill out the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form. You will receive an immediate email response from the COVID-19 Response Team. The COVID-19 Response Team is responsible for identifying and contacting others who may have been at risk.
Students or employees may not return to UTRGV premises until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
If you develop symptoms or start to feel unwell while on campus, follow the same process:
Leave campus/work immediately.
Contact your instructor/supervisor so arrangements can be made with you to complete your academic requirements/work assignments.
Do not call Student Health for COVID-19 appointments.
Your completed Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form will be sent to and reviewed by a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team.
Based on the results, you will be contacted to determine the appropriate plan of action and told to either quarantine, isolate, get tested, or return to UTRGV premises.
Students may not return to UTRGV premises until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
What do I do if my phone/online screening determines I need to be tested for COVID-19?
If the preliminary screening determines that you need to be tested:
Your information will be reviewed, and a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to you to provide further guidance.
Students may not return to UTRGV premises until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
You will receive a call from the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team who will investigate the case and identify any close contacts.
Contact your Primary Care Provider immediately for continued care.
If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, etc. go directly to the Emergency Room.
Any individual testing positive must self-isolate and will not be permitted to return to in-person activities until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
Wait for an “Official Release to Campus Notification” email from the COVID-19 Response Team.
Contact your Primary Care Provider for continued care, especially if any symptoms arise.
What should I do if I am a Healthcare Student (medical, nursing, social work, rehab, PA, etc.)?
You may be required to get tested even if you do not show symptoms.
You will need to contact your school or department and follow their respective process.
You will fill out a form, which will be sent to the Call Center (1-833-UTRGVMD)
You will be contacted by phone and provided an appointment time to get tested at one of the four UT Health RGV COVID-19 Testing Drive-Thru sites.
What does “close contact” mean when social distancing?
Updated 01/14/2021
Close contact means that a person has been within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, even when wearing a mask. The CDC recommends avoiding close contact with others to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by properly wearing a face covering and keeping 6-feet distancing from other people at all times.
Faculty
Updated: January 14, 2021
If I am not teaching an in-person or hybrid course and therefore not working on-campus, and I answer yes to any of the questions found on the current version of the UT Health RGV Daily Self-Screening Questions, do I have to complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form?
All students, staff and faculty who answer yes to any of the questions found on the current version of the COVID-19 Daily Self-Screening Questions must complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form. Completing the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form allows UTRGV to help each individual receive the proper guidance, care, and testing to protect themselves and those around them.
What do I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms; have been in contact with someone who has tested positive or who is currently been tested; or have tested positive?
Each day, prior to visiting any UTRGV campus/off-campus facilities, university students and employees must review and answer the current version of the Daily Self-Screening Questions regarding COVID-19-related symptoms.
Do not access the campus/off-campus facilities if:
You answered yes to any of the screening questions.
You have been in close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period).
You tested positive for COVID-19 and have not been officially released by a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team.
Reporting
Instead of accessing campus/off-campus facilities:
Communicate with your instructor/supervisor (If you are a student employee please communicate with both you instructor and supervisor.)
Fill out the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form. You will receive an immediate email response from the COVID-19 Response Team. The COVID-19 Response Team is responsible for identifying and contacting others who may have been at risk.
Students or employees may not return to UTRGV premises until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
If you develop symptoms or start to feel unwell while on campus, follow the same process:
Leave campus/work immediately.
Contact your instructor/supervisor so arrangements can be made with you to complete your academic requirements/work assignments.
Wait for instructions from the COVID-19 Response Team.
What should instructors/supervisors do if a student/employee informs you that they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or tested positive for the COVID-19?
Please follow this process:
First and foremost, due to federal privacy laws, you may not disclose to anyone the medical information that has been shared with you by the student/employee.
After the form is completed, a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to the affected student/employee to obtain more information and provide further guidance.
The COVID-19 Response Team is responsible for identifying and contacting others who may be at risk.
Students/employees may not return to UTRGV premises until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 response team.
Lastly, instructors/supervisors should make arrangements to help the student/employee complete their academic requirements/work assignments until a student is cleared to return.
What do I do if my UT Health RGV Daily Self-Screening Questions determines I need to be tested for COVID-19?
You will receive a call from the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team who will investigate the case and identify any close contacts.
Contact your Primary Care Provider immediately for continued care.
If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, etc. go directly to the Emergency Room.
Any individual testing positive must self-isolate and will not be permitted to return to in-person activities until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
Wait for an “Official Release to Campus Notification” email from the COVID-19 Response Team.
Contact your Primary Care Provider for continued care, especially if any symptoms arise.
What does "close contact" mean when social distancing?
Updated 01/14/2021
Close contact means that a person has been within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, even when wearing a mask. The CDC recommends avoiding close contact with others to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by properly wearing a face covering and keeping 6-feet distancing from other people at all times.
Staff
Updated: January 14, 2021
If I am working remotely and therefore not working on-campus, and I answer yes to any of the questions found on the current version of the UT Health RGV Daily Self-Screening Questions, do I have to complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form?
All students, staff and faculty who answer yes to any of the questions found on the current version of the COVID-19 Daily Self-Screening Questions must complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form. Completing the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form allows UTRGV to help each individual receive the proper guidance, care, and testing to protect themselves and those around them.
What do I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms; have been in contact with someone who has tested positive or who is currently being tested; or have tested positive?
Each day, prior to visiting any UTRGV campus/off-campus facilities, university students and employees must review and answer the current version of the Daily Self-Screening questions regarding COVID-19-related symptoms.
Do not access the campus/off-campus facilities if:
You answered yes to any of the screening questions.
You have been in close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period).
You tested positive for COVID-19 and have not been officially released by a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team.
Reporting
Instead of accessing campus/off-campus facilities:
Communicate with your instructor/supervisor (if you are a student employee please communicate with both you instructor and supervisor.)
Do not call Employee Health for COVID-19 appointments.
Your completed Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form will be sent to and reviewed by a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team.
Based on the results, you will be contacted to determine the appropriate plan of action and told to either quarantine, isolate, get tested, or return to work.
Employees may not return to work until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
What do I do if my online preliminary screening determines I need to be tested for COVID-19?
Updated 07/14/2020
If the preliminary screening determines that you need to be tested:
Your information will be reviewed, and a member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to you to provide further guidance.
Employees may not return to work until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
You will receive a call from the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team who will investigate the case and identify any close contacts.
Contact your Primary Care Provider immediately for continued care.
If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, etc. go directly to the Emergency Room.
Any individual testing positive must self-isolate and will not be permitted to return to in-person activities until they are released by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
Wait for an “Official Release to Campus Notification” email from the Covid Response Team.
Contact your Primary Care Provider for continued care, especially if any symptoms arise.
I am an instructor/supervisor and my student/employee tells me that they have COVID-19 Symptoms, have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or tested positive for the COVID-19. What should I do?
Added 08/24/2020
Tell the student/employee to fill out the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form. You should make arrangements to help the student/employee complete their academic requirements/work assignments. A member of the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team is responsible for identifying and contacting others who may have been at risk.
What does “close contact” mean when social distancing?
Updated 01/14/2021
Close contact means that a person has been within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, even when wearing a mask. The CDC recommends avoiding close contact with others to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by properly wearing a face covering and keeping 6-feet distancing from other people at all times.