Health and Wellness

 
If you have more questions, please contact the Solution Squad at (314) 529-9360 or email ssc@maryville.edu.
 

• What is the status of cases of COVID-19 in Missouri?

  For updated state information, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website. https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/

• Does Maryville have any known COVID-19 cases?

  As the coronavirus continues to spread, we anticipate that we will learn of Maryville community members who have tested positive for COVID-19. As we learn of individuals within our community testing positive, we will work with local health officials to identify any potential exposure to our on-campus population and follow their advice. Our SaintStrong website will also keep a log of positive cases.

• What if a member of Maryville’s on-campus community tests positive?

  Maryville will report any positive cases of COVID-19 to county health officials and follow their directives regarding notifications and mitigation efforts. Maryville will consult with public health officials regarding appropriate next steps, which may include contact tracing, individual and community notifications, and specialized cleaning.

  Maryville will work with public health officials to determine whether alternate housing should be provided for any residential students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19. Residential students may be able to isolate in their current living space, may be required to relocate to alternative housing for the isolation period or may be asked to return home. Residential Life and the Health and Wellness Office have developed protocols so that isolated residential students will continue to have access to services such as meals, laundry, mail, and trash.

• How do I reach the Maryville Health and Wellness Office?

  You can reach the Health and Wellness Office at (314) 529-9520 or healthandwellness@maryville.edu.

• How will Maryville approach contact tracing?

  Maryville will report any positive cases of COVID-19 to county health officials and follow their directives regarding notifications and mitigation efforts. Maryville will consult with public health officials regarding appropriate next steps, which may include contact tracing, individual and community notifications, and specialized cleaning. All community members are expected to fully cooperate with contact tracing efforts.

• Will the Maryville community be aware when another community member tests positive for COVID-19?

  Community Members will have access to our “Maryville Confirmed COVID-19 Cases” webpage where information regarding how positive cases are managed and communicated, as well as the weekly number of positive cases within our campus community are housed. Maryville will provide weekly updates with the number of new positive cases and trend data.

  Maryville will work with public health officials to identify any individuals who were exposed and need to be personally notified or any additional actions to be taken.

• I may have been exposed to COVID-19. What should I do?

  Individuals with close contact (Closer than 6 feet for any length of time) to someone with COVID-19 may be required to complete a 10 to 14-day quarantine before returning to Campus Activities and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The exact quarantine period will be determined by the Health & Wellness Office or the individual’s primary care provider based on a review of their individual circumstances.

  Campus Activities include, but are not limited to:

  • On-campus activities such as reporting to work on campus, attending classes in-person, socializing on campus, participating in any athletics, recreation or student organization activities, utilizing any campus facilities such as the library, exercise facility, dining center, etc.
  • Off-campus activities such as athletics, recreation or student organization events and University-sponsored or sanctioned activities
  • For residential students, you should quarantine in your residential room AND contact the Health and Wellness Office

  If you learn you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 you should:

  • Notify the University using the Health Screening Survey, which will be emailed to you daily.
  • For non-residential students and employees, you should leave campus immediately and/or not return to campus until the 14-day quarantine period has concluded, and you have no COVID-19 symptoms; however, this could be extended if you are diagnosed with COVID-19;
  • For residential students, you should quarantine in your residential room AND immediately contact the Health and Wellness Office at (314) 529-9520 or healthandwellness@maryville.edu to determine appropriate protocols.

  Students will be able to continue to participate in their courses remotely. The University will notify a student’s instructors about their need to participate in courses remotely, but students should also make contact with each instructor to discuss specific requirements for each course affected by their remote attendance.

  Employees should contact Human Resources to discuss work expectations.

• I have tested positive for COVID-19 or been told by a medical provider that I am presumed positive. What should I do?

  If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or are diagnosed with COVID-19, you must:
  • Immediately leave campus (non-residential students and employees) or quarantine/isolate in your residential room (residential students), unless provided with other instructions.
  • Contact your primary health care provider to determine if testing is warranted. You can also call the St. Louis County COVID-19 Hotline at 314-615-2660. Students can also contact Maryville’s Health and Wellness Office.
  • Follow your health care provider’s directives.
  • Notify the University using the Health Screening Survey, which will be emailed to you daily. Individuals experiencing symptoms or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 must remain off-campus (employees or non-residential students) or in on-campus quarantine/isolation (residential students) until meeting the following conditions as recommended by the CDC and are cleared to return to Campus Activities by Maryville’s Health and Wellness Office:

  • Fever-free without the use of fever reducers for 3 consecutive days;
  • Symptoms have improved; and
  • 10 days since symptoms first appeared.

  Maryville may require individuals to provide documentation from their local county health department (required in St. Louis County) or a healthcare provider before returning to campus or lifting residential isolation requirements.

• Will COVID-19 testing be available on campus?

  We offer on-campus COVID-19 testing to students through Maryville’s Health and Wellness Office in circumstances where healthcare officials determine that testing is warranted. The availability of testing may be limited based on the availability of testing supplies and staffing capacity within the Health and Wellness Office. In cases where Maryville is unable to provide on-campus testing for students, referrals to other healthcare providers may be provided.

  Students are required to notify the Health and Wellness Office using the daily Health Screening Survey if they receive a positive COVID-19 test result or if a healthcare provider notifies them that they are presumed positive.

  For more questions about testing, contact the Health and Wellness Office at (314) 529-9520 or healthandwellness@maryville.edu.

• Are student athletes required to be COVID-19 tested?

  The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is requiring regular testing as part of their enhanced safety protocols for student-athletes, including testing upon return to campus. This requirement applies to certain athletics staff and all student-athletes, regardless of where they live.

  Residential student-athletes will be tested prior to moving into University housing. Specific instructions for your test time will be provided when you arrive on campus for the move-in appointment previously communicated.

• How are services in the Health and Wellness Office changing because of COVID-19?

  Our Health and Wellness Office is being expanded and redesigned to allow us to continue offering standard healthcare services from our Nurse Practitioner while also providing greater separation of patients and reduce possible exposure to COVID-19 or other diseases. We are also expanding staffing to provide the necessary resources to assist the office. To limit contact, all visits to the Health and Wellness Office will be by appointment only. Students with appointments will be pre-screened. Virtual appointments will be available through private, secure video conferencing.

  You can reach the Health and Wellness Office at 314.529.9520 or healthandwellness@maryville.edu.

• Who can I contact in case of an emergency?

  In case of an emergency, you can call Public Safety at 314-529-9500 or call 911.

• Will I be screened daily before arriving on campus or leaving my residential facility?

  All Community Members are responsible for personally assessing their own health and reporting COVID-19 diagnosis, symptoms, and exposure to the University by completing the required online health screening survey each day. In an effort to monitor the overall health and wellness of the community, all Community Members are required to complete the health screening survey daily, even if you will not be on campus. The survey must be completed no later than 12:00p.m. (Noon) each day or before arriving on campus or before leaving your residential room/apartment, whichever is earlier. A personalized version of the daily Health Screening Survey will be emailed to Community Members each morning. The link in the email is unique to each person and should not be shared.Alternatively, you can go to the SaintStrong website and find a link to the survey should you not have access to your email link.

  All Community Members are required to notify the University through the daily health screening survey if they:

  • Are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Have had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (Closer than 6 feet for any length of time) within the last 14 days.
  • Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 either through a positive test result or presumed positive.

  Individuals are expected to check their own temperature and report if they have a fever as part of the health screening survey. Information provided in the health screening survey must be honest and accurate. Maryville will continue to monitor public health guidance and may adjust health screening questions accordingly.

  Community Members reporting COVID-19 symptoms and/or close contact (closer than 6 feet for any length of time) with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days must remain at home or in their residential space until contacted by the University’s Health and Wellness Office, the Office of Human Resources, or other University officials.

• Are face coverings required on campus? NEW

  Consistent with St. Louis County guidelines, the University requires all Community Members to wear a face covering in the following settings on campus:

  • Fitness Centers/Gyms – Face coverings are required at all times in all indoor fitness centers/gyms, including when exercising.
  • Athletics – All athletes participating in a sporting event while not actively playing.
  • Dining Facilities – Face coverings are required while picking up food orders, walking through the dining hall, disposing of food waste and in all general areas of dining facilities. Once seated, while distanced from others by 6 feet, face coverings can be removed while actively consuming food or beverages.
  • All other Indoor Spaces – Face coverings are required at all times in all indoor spaces unless students are in their residential room/apartment without guests or employees are alone in their office.
  • All Outdoor Settings – Face coverings are required in all outdoor settings, including outdoor exercise, when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet is not possible.
  • Attending Maryville Meetings, Events, and Gatherings – Face coverings are required for all individuals attending Maryville meetings, events, and gatherings, including indoor and outdoor, and on and off-campus meetings, events, and gatherings.

  Individuals who violate the Face Covering Requirements may be immediately removed from campus or other University property as an interim measure. An interim removal may extend through completion of disciplinary proceedings under the student code of conduct and/or employee handbook, as applicable. Interim removals shall be in the University’s sole discretion and are not subject to a hearing, challenge, appeal, or other form of review. Removals may be made permanent as a result of a disciplinary finding.

  “Face Coverings” for the purpose of this policy, means a device, usually made of cloth, that covers the nose and mouth. Cloth face coverings are recommended for the general public over surgical or N95 respirators which should be reserved for medical professionals and first responders. Bandanas, gaiters, and face shields are not approved face coverings. Maryville faculty, staff and on-campus students will each receive two reusable masks. Maryville will continue to monitor public health guidance and may adjust face covering requirements accordingly.

  Individuals who feel that they are unable to wear a face covering, should contact the Office of Disability Support and Success (students) at (314) 529-9347 or afuller2@maryville.edu or the Office of Human Resources (employees) at (314) 529-9478 or hr@maryville.edu to request an accommodation.

• What other protocols are being put in place to keep students, faculty and staff safe?

  Maryville is implementing numerous policies and protocols to keep our community safe. They include:

  • Monitoring CDC, state of MO, and STL county health mandates and ensuring our workplace practices align
  • Required face coverings (reusable cloth facemasks will be provided to all employees and students)
  • Required social distancing policies
  • Daily health screening survey for faculty, staff and students
  • Provision of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes
  • Reduced capacity for meeting spaces and elevators
  • Where necessary, modified furniture arrangements, installation of plexiglass, etc.
  • Business travel restrictions for faculty and staff
  • Expectation to stay home if sick and continued extension of sick leave waiver for COVID-19 or influenza like illness symptoms
  • Mandatory COVID-19 symptom and diagnosis reporting and self-isolation
  • Recommended 10 to 14-day quarantine for any Maryville community member traveling by air, rail, boat or bus
  • Limited in-person events
  • Off-campus guests will be greatly limited
  • Suspension of fall study abroad programs
  • Enhanced cleaning protocols for common spaces and offices consistent with CDC guidance
  • Reduced residential housing occupancy
  • Modified dining services
• How do I prevent the spread of COVID-19?

  We encourage all Maryville community members to become familiar with the CDC recommendations https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html for prevention, including:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home.
  • Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when around others.
  • If you are around others and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
  • Monitor your health and be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of COVID-19.

• Will I be required to get a flu vaccine?

  All on-campus students as well as faculty and staff working on campus will be required, by November 1, to submit documentation to the Health and Wellness office evidencing that they have received an influenza vaccine between August 1, 2020 and November 1, 2020. Students, faculty, and staff may elect to obtain the influenza vaccine from a medical provider of their choosing, but Maryville will be offering flu vaccines on campus, free of charge, for those who are interested. The flu vaccines offered by Maryville will be administered through a third-party vendor, the Visiting Nurses Association. Additional details on flu vaccine clinics and how to submit documentation to the Health and Wellness Office through the Health Portal was emailed directly to students. Individuals who are interested in seeking an accommodation or exemption to the vaccination policy should contact the Health and Wellness Office. An accommodation or exemption should be in place prior to November 1, 2020.

  New students and employees who join the Maryville community after November 1, 2020 should provide proof of the flu vaccine or an exemption within ten days of their start date. Contact the Health and Wellness Office for additional instructions: healthandwellness@maryville.edu.

• What is the purpose of everyone who attends classes, lives or works on campus getting a flu vaccine?

  According to medical experts, the flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent illness caused by seasonal influenza viruses. We also know that many symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to flu symptoms, so by strengthening our community’s resistance to the flu, we will be better able to identify COVID-19 and quickly isolate exposed individuals and connect them to appropriate health resources.

• How do I submit proof of having received the flu vaccine from some place other than Maryville?

  Students will provide written evidence of receiving a flu vaccine between August 1, 2020 and November 1, 2020 to the Health and Wellness Office through the health portal. Students can submit proof of vaccination here.

• I have medical and/or have religious reasons for not getting a flu vaccine? May I request an exemption?

  Students requesting an exemption due to religious or medical reasons will have the option to do so through the Health and Wellness Office. Please understand, however, that per our policy students without written proof of a flu vaccine and/or other immunizations can be restricted from attending in-person classes or participating in University activities in the event of a communicable disease outbreak where a vaccine is available.

• How do I request an exemption to the flu vaccine requirement?

  The Health and Wellness Office will review request for exemptions. Information on how to submit your request was emailed directly to students. Students can submit exemption request through the Health Portal here.

• The pandemic is a lot to handle. What should I do if I’m concerned about my or someone else’s mental health?

  Maryville students always have access to counseling support. We offer a 24-7 Counseling Center Support Line for students. You can call the line to speak with a mental health professional free of charge anytime of the day or night. Reach the Counseling Center Support Line at 314-529-6630. At any time, if you or someone you know is in crisis, you can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 741741. Other mental health resources can be found at: https://www.maryville.edu/studentlife/services-programs/personal-counseling/.

• How will campus be cleaned and sanitized? How often will classrooms be disinfected?

  Enhanced cleaning protocols will be implemented throughout campus paying special attention to high-touch surfaces in high-traffic areas. Our sanitation staff has undergone professional coronavirus prevention training and are using CDC recommended disinfectants. We’ve added hand sanitizing stations across campus.

  To help limit disruptions, classrooms, labs and studios will be deep-cleaned each evening. Maryville is implementing a disinfectant wipe system in each classroom, along with gloves (as long as such supplies remain available) so students and faculty can disinfect their own seat and table. Helping to mitigate COVID-19 transmission is a shared responsibility so we expect all community members to do their part.

• Will students need to quarantine after traveling?

  Maryville strongly recommends quarantine after out-of-town travel, particularly where public transportation (air, rail, boat, bus) are utilized, but will not require it unless mandated by State or other health authorities. We encourage you to be mindful of your travel plans around holidays and during break periods, and consider that changing public health guidance and travel restrictions could impact your planned return to campus after you travel.

  We expect students to be responsible in limiting personal exposures and to adhere to health and safety practices, such as wearing a face covering, hand washing, and social distancing, while away from campus. All Community Members are encouraged to monitor the CDC Travel Health Notices before traveling domestically or internationally. CDC health notices as well as state or local health travel notices may change frequently and without advanced warning. The CDC recommends you avoid travel if possible and specifically nonessential international travel. If you choose to travel internationally, you may be required to remain outside the United States for an indefinite length of time.

  If you travel within the United States, follow any state or local travel restrictions currently in place. It’s possible some state and local governments may put travel restrictions or orders in place while you are traveling. The local government at your destination could also require you to quarantine or isolate for 10 days or more after traveling. Travel restrictions can change quickly, and students are responsible for monitoring and complying with any travel restrictions that are enacted and need to factor such contingencies into their planning. Similarly, failure to adhere to social distancing practices while at locations off-campus may lead to mandated quarantine. Students are also encouraged to check the CDC coronavirus page before traveling.

• How will you address members of the Maryville community who break social distancing and/or mask requirements?

  Helping to mitigate COVID-19 transmission is a shared responsibility. Public Safety representatives will be on campus to help with COVID-19 policy enforcement and education. Students who fail to adhere to health and safety policies may be subject to disciplinary action under the code of student conduct. If a member of the Maryville Community refuses to follow health and safety policies that person may be asked to leave campus in addition to disciplinary action.

  In the event you encounter a person on campus that is not adhering to our policies and protocols, such as not wearing a face covering, please notify the Community Engagement Officers.

  You may address the person with a statement such as, “wearing a face covering protects you and others and is a Maryville policy,” but it’s not a requirement.

  You can contact the officers and the Public Safety office in the following ways:

  • Submit a tip in the Guardian app (part of the Saints Alert program)
  • To access the Guardian app, visit: https://www.maryville.edu/publicsafety/saints-alert/
  • Call Public Safety at 314.529.9500

 
If you have additional questions, please contact our Health and Wellness staff at healthandwellness@maryville.edu.