Total Rewards / COVID-19 Protocol

COVID-19 Protocol

What to Do if You Were Exposed to COVID-19

If you have been exposed to or believe you may have COVID, wear a high quality and well-fitting mask anytime you are around others, including at home, on-campus, and in public.

COVID-19 Symptoms

People with COVID have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from no symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID:

  • Fever or Chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

If you have symptoms, test immediately.

  • If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can use those funds to pay for the cost of over-the-counter tests.

  • If you use an antigen test, a positive result is reliable, but a negative test is not always accurate.

  • If your antigen test is negative, take another antigen test after 48 hours.

If you do not have symptoms but have been exposed, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before taking a test.

  • If you use an antigen test, a positive result is reliable, but a negative test is not always accurate.

  • If your antigen test is negative, take another antigen test after 48 hours

  • If your second antigen test is also negative, wait another 48 hours and test a third time.

What to Do if You Test Positive for COVID-19

Positive COVID results must be reported to Human Resources by emailing [email protected].

While Stevens is no longer conducting universal contact tracing, we remain committed to providing COVID-related support for the community. Human Resources can assist you in notifying your contacts once you report your positive case.

Self-Isolate

If you test positive, you are expected to self-isolate until you are no longer infectious. Do not enter Stevens buildings or participate in Stevens-sponsored in-person activities until you meet the criteria for no longer being infectious.

The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance from the CDC recommends that people with respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both resolution of fever AND the overall symptoms are improving. This recommendation addresses the period of greatest infectiousness and highest viral load for most people, which is typically in the first few days of illness and when symptoms, including fever, are worst. This is similar to longstanding recommendations for other respiratory illnesses, including influenza.

If you have to miss work due to COVID, you should use sick time to cover your absences. If you are absent for 3 or more days consecutively, you should contact the Benefits Team at [email protected] to discuss applicable leave programs. You may also be asked to provide a certification from your healthcare provider upon your return to work. You can find more information about Stevens’ sick leave policy in the Employee Manual.

Masking

After testing positive for COVID, Stevens requires an additional five days of mask-wearing after you are out of the infectious period if you return to campus. Five additional days of masking reduces harm during later stages of illness and protects people at higher risk of severe illness.

Seek Medical Care If You Need It

Employees who test positive for COVID should contact their healthcare provider. If you are a member of one of Stevens' Cigna medical plans, you can find more information about Cigna's COVID-related resources here.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 3911 on-campus or 911 off-campus.

Other Resources

Stevens Health Honor Code

Getting Vaccinated

Employees who wish to be vaccinated near campus should consider the local vaccination options in Hoboken and Jersey City.

All of Stevens’ Cigna medical plans cover vaccinations as preventive care at no cost to you when you go to an in-network provider. This is true even if you have not met your plan’s deductible. Cigna has a COVID resource page here, which includes information about getting vaccinated.

Many other health insurance plans also cover recommended vaccines at little or no cost to you. If you are not currently covered by health insurance, the HHS has a list of resources for free or low-cost vaccinations.

Report a Concern

Employees may also report their concerns through the University’s EthicsPoint Compliance Hotline at (855) 277-4065, or on the EthicsPoint website.