COVID-19 Resources

If you were exposed to COVID-19:

No quarantine

• You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.

Get tested

• Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

Watch for symptoms

• Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

If you develop symptoms

• Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Continue to wear a mask around others.

Take precautions until after Day 10

• Continue to wear a mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
• Avoid travel.
• Avoid being around people who are at high risk.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms:

Isolate

• Everyone who tests positive must isolate for five days. We have rooms available for residence-hall students and we encourage off-campus students to avoid any contact with others as much as possible. Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home.

After isolation

• Infected individuals with no symptoms or resolving symptoms and no fever may end strict isolation after 5 full days (isolation ending on day 6) but must wear a mask at all times when leaving their residence or around others. This means no dining with others and no other mask-free activities until after 10 full days (strict masking ending on day 11). 

 

Guidelines for students, faculty and staff

Note: All testing protocols are subject to change based on collaboration of UW System Administration, Public Health, and the University.

Currently, there are no testing requirements.

• Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can contact Student Health Services to schedule an appointment.
• Employees experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their health care provider for further instructions.
• Please don’t come to campus if feeling sick or have symptoms.

While supplies last, UWEC will be offering free “At-Home” test kits at the following locations:

(limit - one per person)

• Barron County Campus (students and employees)
• Student Health Services (students only)
• ASK Center (Schofield Hall 230) (employees only)

Additional testing recommendations and guidelines can be found at Testing for COVID-19 (cdc.gov).

New Program - Offering free At-Home COVID-19 test kits
Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced an expansion of access to free, at-home COVID-19 test kits through the Say Yes! COVID TEST program. It allows individuals to request an order of five rapid tests at no cost.

Mask information at UW-Eau Claire

Currently, masks are not required on UW-Eau Claire campuses. Please be respectful of an individual’s choice to wear or not wear a mask.

Disposable masks

UWEC provides free disposable masks at entryways of most campus buildings. Learn more on how to properly wear a mask from two UW-Eau Claire graduate assistants in this short video.

KN95/N95 masks

KN95 or N95 masks are available to all students and employees. Masks can be picked up at the ASK Center (Schofield Hall 230), Monday through Friday between 8 am and 4:30 pm. Masks will also be available at the Barron campus.

Voluntary fit testing can be requested by contacting safety@uwec.edu. These fit tests can be scheduled Tuesdays through Thursdays and take about 10-15 minutes.

N95/KN95 masks that are provided VOLUNTARILY, can do so without providing the training program. We do recommend clicking here for additional information to consider when using a N95/KN95 respirator.

Staff and faculty that are REQUIRED to wear these types of respirators must complete a training program and other regulatory requirements, see policy. 

According to CDC, it is advised to choose a mask that does NOT have exhalation valves or vents.

Help keep our community safe

Stay safe by getting your booster shot. The booster shot has proven effective at preventing hospitalization from COVID-19. Help keep yourself and your community safe by receiving a booster shot today. For more information, visit www.fda.gov/covid19vaccines.

Upload your vaccine records

Please upload all your vaccination records including your primary and booster records. This information is critical to understanding our population’s health and what resources are needed by our community. Students can use the updated Vaccination Upload eForm, which allows you to upload your primary vaccination series, your booster record, or both. Employees can upload their records through MyUWPortal (follow the directions on this tip sheet to ensure your profile is updated). Note that updates to this UWS-created form are in development to reflect references to the boosters. Once the form has been finalized, Finance and Administration will send a message out to all employees with an updated Tip Sheet providing detailed instructions on how to use the form.

If you have lost your vaccination card or don’t have a copy, contact your vaccination provider directly to access your vaccination record. If you cannot contact your vaccination provider directly, contact your state health department’s immunization information system (IIS). You can find state IIS information on the CDC website. Vaccination providers are required to report COVID-19 vaccinations to their IIS and related systems. 

All vaccination records are shared with the WI Department of Health Services.

Antigen Testing

The White House is expanding free COVID antigen test distribution, through the COVIDTests.gov website. US households can order a total of four tests to be mailed directly to them for free, with orders starting ready to ship. For more information or to see other elements of the White House’s COVID-19 Winter Preparedness Plan, see the official announcement here.    

Additional information on when and where to get a COVID-19 test can be found on the following websites:

• Eau Claire City-County Health Department
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services

If you have any questions, please be sure to follow up with your health care provider.