2020-21
CAMPUS
Maize & Blueprint

Members of the Campus Health Response Committee are responsible for continuously monitoring real-time data on virus testing and new infections, as well as the university’s capacity to perform contact tracing and provide needed isolation and quarantine support to those who are infected. The observations and recommendations made by the committee are regularly communicated to leadership, enabling the university to make informed decisions for the health and safety of our community.

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The University of Michigan COVID-19 multi-tiered testing and monitoring strategy was designed based on detailed input from dozens of experts including several faculty members from the School of Public Health and Michigan Medicine. Testing helps us better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community and to respond to reduce further spread of the virus. Our most effective tool in controlling the spread of COVID is to practice preventative measures such as wearing face coverings, physical distancing, frequent hand washing and staying home when sick.

It includes:

• Baseline testing of nearly 6,000 students before they moved into Michigan Housing, as well as testing of residents of affiliated fraternity or sorority facilities.
• Asymptomatic testing through the voluntary U-M COVID-19 Community Sampling and Tracking program, open to students living on or off campus as well as faculty and staff, including those from Michigan Medicine, who work in-person on the Ann Arbor campus.
• Approximately 900 tests per week to student-athletes.
• Symptomatic testing of students through University Health Service and of faculty and staff through Occupational Health Services.
• Exposure testing for close contacts identified though case investigation, contact tracing or workplace exposure investigations.
• On-site, pop-up testing through University Health Service for students in their residence halls or off campus living facilities in response to identified clusters within their communal living community.
• Quarantine testing through University Health Service, in partnership with the Division of Public Safety & Security, to deliver test kits to students in quarantine through U-M Quarantine & Isolation Housing.
• Antibody testing for Michigan Medicine faculty and staff involved in patient care.
• Daily symptom tracking through the ResponsiBLUE health screening tool.
• Departure testing for students prior to returning to their permanent residences and surrounding communities.

Information on positive cases on campus is available on the U-M COVID-19 data dashboard.

Check out this PDF on How to get a COVID-19 test at U-M.

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Overall campus density has been significantly reduced through a variety of efforts, including:

• The majority of the (non-health care) U-M workforce continue to work from home.
• Density in residence halls reduced to 68 percent capacity.
• U-M Ann Arbor instruction is mostly remote with about 77 percent *of undergraduate student credit hours being taken remote (*as of Aug. 24).
• The few hybrid and in person classes are small and are ones that instructors and departments identified as deriving a substantial pedagogical benefit from that format, and similar to what peers also are offering in-person.
• Encouragement of unit leadership to work with anyone with concerns about returning to in-person work, teaching or learning to develop a plan and accommodate such requests.
• Adjusted academic calendar to move fully remote on after Nov. 20.
• Events on the U-M campus have been canceled, postponed or taken to a virtual format. There is no intercollegiate athletics and no performances. Buildings remain on keycard access.
• We have spent the past several months gradually ramping up campus in operations, beginning with our research enterprise, athletics and now a reduced number of undergraduates.
• Our health system has continued to operate throughout, as have some other essential staff members on campus.

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The university sought expertise and advice from dozens of faculty and staff who are leaders in their fields including experts in public health, medicine, innovative teaching, engaged learning, physical space use and much more. Student Life is engaging hundreds of our students in wide-ranging aspects of planning.

U-M's plan to conduct an in-person semester relies on research-based public health strategies including social distancing, minimizing out-of-area travel, wearing face coverings, washing hands frequently, symptom screening, clinical testing, contact tracing and quarantine that add up to a highly effective way to limit spread of this illness, allowing students to pursue their Michigan education.

From a public health safety perspective, U-M has public health and medical expertise not commonly found at other institutions. This includes a highly ranked academic medical center, Medical School, and School of Public Health, whose renowned faculty members are advising the State of Michigan leaders on their COVID-19 pandemic response.

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Case investigators identify and investigate individuals with a diagnosis of COVID-19.

U-M case investigators are individuals from EHS that are designated by Washtenaw County Health Department to conduct this work. If someone is diagnosed with COVID-19, a case investigator will call and provide education about isolation, criteria to complete isolation, and resources to successfully complete isolation. U-M case investigators will contact all U-M associated individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 either through self-report or who were tested at University Health Services or Occupational Health Services.

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Hear how case investigation lead to pop-up testing to respond to cluster concerns.

STUDENTS

If you have symptoms and/or test positive for COVID-19, contact University Health Services at 734-764-8320 and isolate.

If you believe you have had sustained close contact (within 6 feet of a case for more than 15 minutes) with a person who has COVID-19, you should quarantine and contact UHS for assessment. The CDC offers the following guidance on isolation and quarantine.

Check out the graphic for on-campus students or off-campus students on what to do based on potential COVID-19 scenarios. View this PDF on How to get a COVID-19 test at U-M.

FACULTY & STAFF

If you become ill with symptoms concerning for COVID-19, isolate and contact the Occupational Health Services hotline by calling (734) 764-8021 to arrange testing through Michigan Medicine. You can also seek testing through your medical provider. If you have tested positive contact OHS. Do not come to work. This applies to employees on all campuses and in Michigan Medicine.

Check out this PDF on How to get a COVID-19 test at U-M.

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What does it mean to Quarantine or Isolate?

Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.

• Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Students, staff, and faculty will be expected to follow the isolation and quarantine guidelines set forth by the CDC.

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The University of Michigan advises all students to practice enhanced social distancing and be tested before they leave campus to promote safety by reducing the likelihood of students infected with COVID-19 returning to their permanent residences and surrounding communities.

U-M students play an important role in helping to keep the U-M community - as well as their communities back home - as safe as possible.

Before you leave Ann Arbor, here are important things to plan to do:

• Practice enhanced social distancing before you intend to travel, ideally for 14 days, if possible.
• Get a COVID test within 7 days prior to departure.
• Quarantine for 14 days after arriving at your permanent residence.
• Travel safely.

More details are available here:

• Departure Testing & Protocol
• U-M Housing FAQ website
• U-M COVID-19 Community Sampling and Tracking Program