SAFE | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
TTUHSC students walking through Lubbock campus courtyard.

TTUHSC SAFE

TTUHSC safe logo image

 

CURRENT SITUATION

  • On March 1, 2024, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) updated their recommendations for the management of COVID-19 infection in non-health care workers. Accordingly, there are no further COVID-19 face mask or vaccination requirements for TTUHSC’s facilities. However, non-TTUHSC clinical facilities may still have related protocols in place. Please work with your program director and/or supervisor in the event you work or learn at a non-TTUHSC facility that may implement COVID-19 vaccination or related mitigation requirements to understand processes you may need to follow at those sites.
  • Please continue to reference TTUHSC SAFE page for current safety protocols, balancing increased campus operations with appropriate safety measures.
  • As a scientific community, we respect the data supporting that being fully vaccinated is the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We highly encourage everyone eligible to stay up to date on vaccinations. To find COVID-19 vaccine locations search vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 800-232-0233.

 

The priority of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is to provide and maintain a welcoming and safe environment for all official university operations, clinical settings, academic instruction and managed care units.

 

student self screening

To help limit the virus' spread on campus, if you do not feel well, stay off campus until your symptoms resolve. In the event you test positive for, suspect you have or had a known exposure to, or test positive for COVID-19, adhere to the following precautions:

For Health Care Workers

Testing positive for COVID-19. regardless of vaccinations status:

  • All students and team members who test positive for COVID-19 should stay off campus for five (5) days starting the count on the day symptoms start or the day they test positive. 
  • At the fifth (5) days, if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving, they may return to campus; however, they should wear a facial covering upon their return for five (5) days. 

Close contact* exposure to someone infected with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination** status:

  • Individuals may continue to be on campus; however, they should wear a facial covering for ten (10) days from exposure to the COVID-19 infected individual
  • If an individual begins to develop symptoms following exposure, they should immediately stay off campus and test for COVID-19.

* Close contact is determined by proximity and duration of exposure. If you were within approximately 6 feet of an individual known to be infected with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two (2) days before the individual tested positive - such as while caring for, living with, visiting with, or sharing an office with them - without using recommended precautions such as facial coverings. People who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 after they completed at least five (5) days of isolation are not considered close contacts.

** Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. Please see the CDC's guidance for more information.

For Non-Health Care Workers

Precautions for preventing and limiting spread of COVID-19:

  • Individuals experiencing symptoms should stay home until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-lowering medications like Tylenol or Motrin.