COVID-19 & the CU Anschutz Community
July 24, 2020
A Message from Chancellor Elliman
We know some students, faculty and staff have been weighing whether and how to travel this summer. While the university does not set standards for personal travel, we want to be certain that if you do choose to travel, you are aware of the CDC’s latest guidance and of other resources available for
assessing risk and planning ahead.
The nature of travel and self-quarantine restrictions may continue to change quickly. Be prepared to stay in your destination should you need to do so, as well as to self-quarantine upon return to Colorado
if state or national restrictions require it. Should you be required to self-quarantine after personal travel, be aware that you will need to get approval from your supervisor to work remotely or take leave to accommodate the requirement.
Thank you for considering the risks and potential impacts when making travel plans. By doing your part, you help keep our community safe.
Sincerely,
Don Elliman
Chancellor
Badging in to University Buildings
Please ensure that you are badging into university buildings at the exterior door badge readers every day after going through the screening check-in process, upon the start of your workday. Each individual entering a university building must scan their CU Anschutz badge independently to help ensure accurate information about on-campus activity within CU Anschutz facilities. This applies in all university-owned and university-leased buildings and spaces, including the Bioscience buildings, CU Medicine and the Leprino Building.If you are going directly to a hospital facility after screening at a university check-in location, please scan your CU Anschutz badge at the exterior door badge reader at the university screening check-in location before making your way to the hospital. For example, if you are checking in at the Hensel-Phelps screening location before heading to University of Colorado Hospital for the day, you would scan your CU Anschutz badge at the Research 1 North (RC1N) exterior door badge reader after screening, before heading to UCH.
Notifications of Exposure & Contact Tracing
As part of our safety efforts for those returning to campus, we will notify you if you are at risk for a potential exposure or in the case of an outbreak, and we will conduct contact tracing for all cases on campus.
- Our contact tracing team will work with public health officials when follow up is needed for individuals who may have been exposed.
- Exposure is currently defined as 15 or more minutes of contact within 6 feet or less with someone who is COVID-19 positive.
- If you are part of a potential exposure, this team will contact you directly. We will notify our community if there is an outbreak.
- An outbreak is currently defined as two or more linked positive cases known to have been transmitted while on campus.
- Off-campus exposures, such as known exposures to someone with COVID-19 at a birthday party in someone’s home, would not be considered an outbreak. However, if two employees or students are COVID-19 positive, and it was determined that they were exposed by someone on campus, this would be defined as an outbreak and we would inform the campus.
At this time, we are unaware of any COVID-19-positive employee or student exposed while working or learning at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. We do not track or handle employee health for any of our hospital partners: UCHealth, Children’s Hospital Colorado, the VA or Denver Health.
Due to privacy laws, CU Anschutz will not publish the names of staff, students or faculty who may test positive for COVID-19.
Report COVID-19 Exposure & Testing
We remind you that you must report your status through the confidential self-report form if exposed, awaiting test results or tested positive, or symptomatic.
If you fall into any of the following groups, please take the steps below:
If you fall into any of the following groups, please take the steps below:
- You have had prolonged contact of 15 or more minutes, in proximity of 6 feet or less, with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.
- You are under quarantine and/or awaiting test results for COVID-19.
- You have tested positive or are presumptively positive for COVID-19.
- You believe you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
Three steps for reporting:
- Let your supervisor/unit head or professor know immediately.
- Follow the recommendations of your public health agency or medical provider, including self-quarantining for 14 days if you have had prolonged contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19, or self-isolating for 10 days from the date of a positive COVID-19 test.
- Submit your confidential self report.
More information is on the coronavirus website. Contact Occupational Health Division Manager Cody Coburn, RN, at cody.coburn@cuanschutz.edu or 303-724-4663 if you have questions or need assistance.
Campus Resources & Reminders
- ColoradoSPH, Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Institute for Science & Policy are offering a free COVID-19 webinar series. “COVID-19: Mid-Summer Update" is Monday, July 27. Register and view past webinars online.
- The Anschutz Health and Wellness Center is open for general use by members. Reservations, screening and mask requirements are detailed on the AHWC COVID-19 Information and Updates webpage.
- The new Faculty and Staff Mental Health Clinic offers accessible, comprehensive and confidential mental health services. Additional tools and resources for students, faculty and staff are available on the Department of Psychiatry COVID-19 website.
- Keep up with Colorado’s latest guidance on the state’s COVID-19 website.