By Ana Ruiz Brictson | News Editor
After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced its new COVID-19 guidelines, Baylor has updated its recommendations for students, staff and faculty who may have tested positive or been exposed to the virus.
According to Baylor’s COVID-19 website, anyone who tests positive for the virus, regardless of vaccination status, should remain in isolation for five days and wear a mask around others.
“If you are fever-free for the prior 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicines) and your other symptoms are mild and improving, you can leave your home after the 5-day isolation period,” the website reads.
Baylor’s guidelines also say if exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, individuals should wear a mask around others for 10 days and test on day five.
Baylor spokesperson Lori Fogleman said via email that testing options and vaccine accessibility remain the same at Baylor. She said that if students are symptomatic or have been exposed to a positive case, they should schedule an appointment through the health portal for testing at the Health Center. She also said that employees at Baylor should contact their personal health care providers for testing or get an at-home test kit.
The Health Center vaccination clinic currently has a schedule for people to get vaccinated. Students, faculty and staff can make an appointment to receive either a COVID-19 vaccine or a flu vaccine through the Health Portal. The clinic only does vaccination appointments on Thursdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. at the Health Center in the McLane Student Life Center.
“Currently we have only Pfizer and Moderna, as our supply of Janssen and pediatric Pfizer expired,” medical director Dr. Sharon Stern said via email. “We would like to see if people have an interest in a different vaccine and what the interest is in getting their third and fourth shots.”
Although the mask policy has been lifted in all areas on campus, Stern said the CDC still requires masks to be worn in all health care areas.
