Information for the UVA Law Community About Health and Safety

Information for the UVA Law Community About Health and Safety

COVID-19

Vaccines and Boosters

Almost everyone in the Law School community is vaccinated against COVID-19, but if you have not been vaccinated yet, the University’s medical and public health experts strongly encourage you to do so. Updated boosters against COVID-19 are expected to be released beginning in September. The University’s medical and public health experts are preparing to make the updated boosters available to the University community as soon as they are released. More information about where to get vaccinated or boosted is available here and here.

Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality

Housekeeping continues to follow enhanced cleaning protocols for our facilities. More information is available here and here. Contact Building Services if you have questions about COVID-related supplies. Our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems continue to function well and are monitored, maintained, and tested regularly according to industry standards. All of our air handlers have been renovated and are in good working condition. The air handlers have multiple layers of filtration (typically a pre-filter, a main filter at MERV-13/14, and an air wash station—some have more), which are inspected and replaced/cleaned on a regular schedule. Outside air is introduced into the building on a regular basis, the exact percentage depending on outdoor conditions and other factors. A team of University HVAC experts meets regularly to review the latest public health guidance and to recommend changes to our HVAC operations and maintenance procedures. Some FAQs are available here.

If You Have Symptoms

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home and get tested immediately. During the week, students can get tested through UVA Student Health (434-924-5362), and employees can get tested (if you have symptoms) through UVA Employee Health (434-924-2013). On the weekend, you can consult the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) testing locator or Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) testing sites to find testing locations in our area (e.g., at outpatient clinics, pharmacies, or the BRHD). Rapid/at-home tests are another option; the CDC provides helpful information about them here.

If You Test Positive

If you test positive for COVID-19 — regardless of how you tested — please stay home, then contact UVA Student Health (434-924-5362) or UVA Employee Health (434-924-2013) for guidance about medical care and isolation protocols. Students should also inform Student Affairs, and employees should also inform their managers, so that the Law School can provide appropriate support. CDC guidelines about isolation protocols are available here. UVA Student Health has a helpful infographic for students here. As a general matter, you should isolate at home for five days after the day you tested positive. After that (and assuming you are feeling better), you can return to the Law School, but you should wear a face mask for an additional five days unless you test according to CDC guidelines. It is also courteous to notify those with whom you have been in close contact (closer than 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) if you happen to test positive at some point (e.g., they might want to test themselves or pay closer attention to potential symptoms).

If You Are Exposed

If you discover that you were in close contact (closer than 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, you should consult the CDC guidelines about exposure protocols here.  UVA Student Health has a helpful infographic for students here.  As a general matter, you will not need to stay home or quarantine.  Rather, you can continue normal activities, but you should follow CDC guidelines, which include wearing a face mask and watching for symptoms for 10 days after the day of the close contact.

Asymptomatic Testing Options

If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 but would like to test, rapid/at-home tests are likely your best option. The CDC provides helpful information about them here. You can also consult the VDH testing locator or BRHD testing sites to find testing locations in our area (e.g., at outpatient clinics, pharmacies, or the BRHD), however some of these locations limit testing to people with symptoms (although not always or consistently).

Face Masks

At the Law School and around Grounds, face masks remain optional both indoors and outdoors, which means that face masks cannot be required in classes, at events, or elsewhere. Anyone is of course free to wear a face mask or to request that someone else wear a face mask if they will be meeting together in an office. We continue to provide N95 and three-ply medical face masks for the Law School community at Student Affairs and the Law Library Circulation Desk.  As always, we encourage everyone to be considerate and understanding.

Discontinued Protocols

As a reminder, the previous restrictions involving eating and drinking, social distancing, teaching behind plexiglass barriers, etc., are no longer in force (see UVA policy SEC-045).

Please consult the ​UVA Coronavirus Information website and UVA Policy SEC-045 for more information.

 

Monkeypox

The University’s medical and public health experts are closely monitoring the latest developments concerning monkeypox and are prepared to update our health and safety protocols if necessary. More information about monkeypox is available here and here.