Concordia University uses systems and practices for screening for the COVID-19 virus consistent with CDC recommendations and best practice in healthcare. Guidance suggests smart screening is far more effective than mass testing to manage community health and well-being on campus.
Medicat daily symptom tracker
Each member of the campus community is required to complete the Medicat Daily Symptom Tracker. Students will receive a daily reminder to complete the tracker. Certain campus experiences, including classrooms at the instructor’s discretion, may require students to show a valid, time-stamped proof of being symptom-free for the day.
Each completion is valid only for 24 hours. You must complete the Medicat Daily Symptom Tracker each day, 7 days per week.
- GreenIf you are symptom and exposure safe, you will get a GREEN indicator. This means you are welcome to move about campus following the usual COVID-19 mitigation protocols, such as wearing masks and properly social distancing.
- Orange or RedIf you get an orange or red indicator, you should remain in your room/off campus and follow the instructions you receive within the Medicat Daily Symptom Tracker. Qualified personnel from our Student Health Center will follow-up with you.
Testing
Concordia’s testing strategy is focused on rapid capacity to identify, isolate, contact trace, and contain new infections. Students who fail their Medicat Daily Symptom Tracker check will receive guidance about next steps, including the possible need for a COVID-19 test that may occur off-campus or an antigen COVID-19 test that will be conducted on-campus at the Student Health Center.
If you are tested for COVID-19 outside of University health protocols and test positive, we ask that you immediately report that positive test to the Student Health Center. You will also need to report via the Medicat Daily Symptom Tracker that you have been exposed to COVID-19.
If you are advised of the need for a COVID-19 test off-campus, University Health Center staff will provide options for off-campus testing. You will be asked to provide your results to the Student Health Center. If you are recommended for testing, you will not be permitted to access campus until such time as you have results.
Positive test results
If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be isolated from others. Isolation will be coordinated with the Residence Life Staff/Campus Safety Staff. You will be cleared from isolation when:
- 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms, you have been 24 hours fever free without medication, and your symptoms have improved.
- You receive formal clearance from the University, in conjunction with our local public health department per CDC guidance.
Tracing
A dedicated CUWAA contact tracing team will coordinate notification of any exposed persons with the county public health office, as well as any needed cleaning and community notifications. The dedicated team closely tracks all cases to allow for early recognition of outbreaks.
The University will provide regular online updates about rates of infection and notifications for groups who may have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19. Notifications will be targeted to individuals and groups who may need to be tested, isolated, or self-monitor for symptoms.
Possible exposure generally falls into one of the following categories: physical contact, proximate contact, and close contact.
Close contact
You are considered to be a close contact if you have been within 6-feet of an infected person for at least 15-minutes starting two days before the onset of illness (or for asymptomatic cases, two days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the COVID-19 positive patient is isolated.
If you are contacted and informed that you have been identified as a close contact, you will:
- Quarantine for 14-days from your last exposure to the infected person.
- The Student Health Center will coordinate your quarantine location. Residential students should consider going home for quarantine.
- You will be cleared 14-days after your last exposure with the infected person; and
- If you have not developed any signs or symptoms of COVID-19; and
- You receive a clearance note from the University in coordination with our local public health department.
Student Health Center assessment flowchart
Student Health Center assessment flowchart outline
Top of chart begins with question: "Did student fail assessment?"
- If "Yes, student failed assessment, then "Why did student fail?"
- If "Failed due to symptoms" then two options
- "Advise to be tested", then "Was test positive?"
- If "Yes, test was positive", then "Isolated until 10 days pass from symptom onset and fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing meds and all other symptoms improving."
- If "No, test was not positive", then "Cleared to return to normal activities with note from Student Health Center."
- "Advise to be isolated until following day for evaluation", then "The following day get evaluated", then two options
- If "Evaluated and advised to be tested," then follow "Advise to be tested" flow.
- If "Evaluated and cleared to return to normal," then follow "Cleared to return to normal" flow.
- "Advise to be tested", then "Was test positive?"
- If "Failed due to international travel", then "Placed in quarantine until 14 days have passed since arrival to the United States and no signs or symptoms have developed", then "Will get clearance email from Student Health Center."
- If "Failed due to close contact", then "Placed in quarantine until 14 days have passed from last exposure and no signs or symptoms have developed", then "Will get clearance email from Student Health Center."
- If "Failed due to symptoms" then two options
- If "No, student is cleared to return to normal", then "Student will receive an email from assessor clearing them that day", then "Student is able to go to campus activities and show email as substitute for Medicat screen."
International travel
If you have traveled internationally in the last 14-days, you will:
- Complete your Medicat Daily Symptom Tracker each day
- Need to stay home until 14-days have passed since your arrival into the United States.
Your stay at home location will be coordinated with the Concordia International Center .
You are cleared from staying home once:
- 14-days have passed; and
- You have not developed any signs or symptoms of COVID-19; and
- You receive a clearance note from the University in coordination with our local public health department.