FAQs | University of Cincin

Frequently Asked Questions

For the most up-to-date information, please check the following resources -

College of Medicine information: Medical Education and Student Affairs Weekly Updates (every Saturday)

University of Cincinnati: UC COVID Careful Dashboard

Ohio status and regulations: Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Website

CDC guidelines and recommendations: CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website

Vaccination

When will medical students be getting the vaccine?

Right now, no decisions have been made about the specific timeline for students and if/how it will differ by class and other factors. Please know that medical students are absolutely being considered in ongoing conversations about distribution and that you will not be forgotten about! You will receive information by email as soon as we know more.

If I get the vaccine and then develop symptoms of COVID-19, what should I do?

Please follow UC Health's Post-Vaccine Symptom Guidance.

Post-Winter Break Testing

Do I need to get tested at the start of the spring semester, even if I have not traveled?

Yes. UC president, Dr. Pinto, is requiring that ALL students receive COVID testing upon return from WI break.

Are there any exceptions to this policy?

Students is on an LOA that extends through January (must obtain testing within the first week of their return)
An M4 student is out of town in January (must obtain testing within the first week of their return)
 A student is currently in quarantine or isolation
A student has disability that would preclude them from having the test done
A student is currently sick and unable to get to the testing facility
A student has a sincerely held religious belief
A student has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days

Please see here for more information.

When and when can I get tested?

UC will offer testing on January 5, 2021 on the east campus. After that date, testing will be available January 6-24 on west campus at the basketball court in the campus rec center.

Will outside testing be accepted?

Unfortunately, per UC policy, the testing MUST occur at UC and outside testing will NOT be accepted.

If I receive a COVID test and am negative prior to returning to January 4th, do I still need to get tested in January?
Yes. Tests, even through UC Health or UCCOM, will not be considered acceptable for this newest requirement unless they are performed on or after January 5th.

If I get tested on January 5th, can I continue to be in MSB/the hospital/the clinic while I'm waiting for my test results?

As one of the most critical members of our UCCOM family, we place our trust in you to abide by the Honor Code and to prioritize the health of those you learn with and learn from (inclusive of patients) as a priority. Therefore, you will be able to proceed with attending in-person curriculum activities, clinical rotations and entry into MSB while awaiting COVID test results (whereas undergrads must show green to be allowed to move into dorms, use dining halls, enter learning spaces, etc.). All students must download the COVID app, if you have not already done so. The app will show Yellow, in January, until you have tested negative at which time it will turn green. All students who have do not have a negative result by January 25th, will have their app turned to red.*

COVID Check

What is the COVID Check app?

The UC COVID Check app provides a simple way to conduct a required self-assessment before coming to campus and to report any symptoms to University Health Services. UC's COVID Check app is free and easy to use. It can be downloaded through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. A web-based REDCap survey is also available as an alternative to using the app.

Guidance on next steps, once you have test results, will vary between M1/2 ACADEMIC STUDENT and M3/4 CLINICAL STUDENT. M3/4 student guidance will align with UC Health algorithms (on The Link) EXCEPT that you use the App and not REDCap.

When do I need to use the app?

You should use the app or survey to conduct a self-assessment any time you will be coming onto campus.

Also use the app to report the following:

Anyone who has been diagnosed off campus with COVID-19, an off campus positive test result for COVID-19 or is being tested off campus due to symptoms suggestive of the infection.
Anyone with close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID-19 by laboratory testing or with a presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19, meaning not tested but diagnosed by a physician as likely to have the infection.
Anyone having symptoms consistent with COVID-19, including flu-like symptoms with chills, muscle aches, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath or fever. In addition, the sudden loss of the sense of smell or taste can be an early sign of COVID-19 and should be immediately reported.
Anyone returning from international travel, regardless of country traveled from.
Anyone returning from travel by cruise ship.
Anyone entering Ohio after travel to states reporting positive testing rates of 15% or higher for COVID-19.

Who can ask to see my app to verify?

Students attending in-person mandatory events will be asked at random by course directors to verify that they have completed their COVID check for the day by showing the "green pass" displayed on the UC COVID Check app. If a student has not completed their COVID check they will be asked to remain in the hallway until it is completed and will receive a warning. Subsequent infractions of not having completed the COVID check will result in a formative feedback form to the PAC.

Exposures and Symptoms

When do I need to quarantine?

Per CDC guidelines, quarantine is recommended for people who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19—excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

What counts as close contact?

You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
You shared eating or drinking utensils
They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

What do I do if I have a positive exposure? (last updated 11/25/20)

What do I do if I have symptoms?

Travel/Quarantine Guidelines

Please be sure you are closely monitoring the Ohio Travel Advisory Map for the most up-to-date information and guidance!

Do people staying in Ohio during break still need to quarantine before in-person activities in January?

While the 15% positivity rate indicates we should restrict movements and interactions to stay safe, the quarantine rule applies to travel. So if you haven't traveled outside of Ohio/to a hotspot state, you won't need to quarantine.

If Kentucky becomes a hotspot state, will students living in Northern Kentucky be permitted to attend in-person activities in January?

Commuters are excluded from the quarantine restrictions in place. That said, if you've traveled from a hotspot state, you will still be expected to quarantine for the recommended time period, and then can commute to campus as normal for mandatory activities.

If I've tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, do I still need to quarantine?

Nope! CDC guidance was recently updated to say that individuals with a positive test within the last 90 days can be waived from quarantine--UC policies will be updated to reflect this.

Are quarantine expectations going to change at all because of the recent CDC guidance of 7- or 10-day quarantines?

This is currently being discussed and updated guidance will be coming from the university shortly!

Will my absence be excused if I test positive for COVID-19 and have to miss mandatory activities in January?

Yes! Just fill out an MSSF and it will be treated as any other illness-related absence.

Will my absence be excused if I am exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 (ie a roommate, friend, etc.) and my quarantine causes me to miss mandatory activities in January?

Yes! Just fill out an MSSF and it will be treated as any other illness-related absence.

Will my absence be excused if I start my post-holiday quarantine too late and end up missing mandatory activities in January?

No! You are expected to plan your travel in a way that ensures you are able to abide by the mandatory quarantine guidelines shared above. If you fail to do so, your absence would not be excused and a formative feedback form would be submitted, as with any other unexcused absence.

Clinical Experiences

What PPE do I need to wear to clinical rotations?

Aug 31, 2020 - "You are required to wear eye protection at all times in patient care areas regardless of what clinical site you are at. At a minimum, this means whenever you enter a patient room (inpatient or outpatient) or are within 6 feet of a patient without another physical barrier (e.g. areas in the ED, etc.). Some sites may require you to wear eye protection in additional areas and in this case you must adhere to the stricter policy. Specifically, at CCHMC eye protection needs to be put on upon entering a patient-facing area (e.g. when entering an inpatient unit or entering an outpatient clinic hallway)."

What do I do if I need a new mask, face shield, or goggles?

PPE is available at nursing stations and in isolation carts throughout the hospital. These should be stocked regularly. If for some reason you are unable to obtain appropriate PPE, please ask your team or the charge nurse in the inpatient setting. For additional concerns, please contact Alex Maus.

Am I allowed to see patients who are infected with COVID-19?

Please see the attached document, updated 6/29/2020, regarding guidance for M3s and M4s surrounding providing care to patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 or patients under investigation (PUI) for this infection.

Volunteering

What are the rules for student volunteering?

We are no longer managing all student volunteering experiences and giving each opportunity a thumbs up or thumbs down. Instead, please look at the UCCOM Guidelines for Medical Student Volunteering During COVID-19 prior to participating in any volunteer experience. If you have any questions or want to discuss a potential opportunity for student involvement, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Study Spaces

What is the status of the UCCOM study spaces?

Please see the August 22 Memorandum from Dr. Filak entitled "Classroom/Lab/Study Space/Library Spaces and Clinical Care Experiences for Academic Year 2020-2021." This guidance is subject to modification as new information or directives come forth.

Do I need to reserve study rooms in advance?

Yes! The link to the reservation system can be found on MedOneStop under the “Academic Success” tab. The link is called “study room/lab access”. Enter the day and time of your reservation and then click "Search." Select the reservation you want to make and click reserve. Scroll to the top of the form to click “show my reserved seats” to see confirmation of each reservation. Please cancel a reservation if you won’t need it.

In order to accommodate as many people as possible the following procedures are in place:

Procedures for reserving a room

Room reservation is on a first-come, first-serve basis
Reservations can be scheduled on a weekly basis (reservation options will show one week out from the current day)
Rooms can be reserved in increments of one hour up to a maximum of 4 hours per day
If at the end of the 4th hour rooms remain open, an additional 2 hours can be scheduled for a maximum of 6 hours per day

Required safety protocols for room use

COVID room capacity must be observed at all times. Max COVID capacities are posted on the wall of each room and the reservation system is set to COVID capacity
Face mask is required the entire study period if at least one other person is in the room
Regardless of max capacity, 6 feet distance between individuals must be maintained at all times
Study space must be cleaned before and after use with the sanitization cleaner provided
If you need assistance, please email ome@uc.edu.

Health Sciences Library

HSL hours will be from 9am-7pm, Monday-Friday
Currently, E-Level (Computer lab will be the only space available)
Can accommodate 25 students on E-Level at one time
Currently we are limiting visitors to two hours

Curfew

Am I able to study at MSB past 10 pm given the recent 10p-5a curfew?

Yes! Studying after 10 pm is considered a "work" and is excused under the curfew.

What if I am on a rotation that necessitates traveling between the hours of the curfew?

This should also be excused as "work." Please see the 11/21 MedEd email for a link to your UC Health Verification Letter if needed.

Other questions or concerns? Please let us know!

M1/2 Feedback Form
M3/4 Feedback Form

Last updated 12/20/2020