Health and Wellness
UT has created a plan to keep our Longhorn family healthy on campus.
Taking Care of Yourself and Others
Masks are strongly recommended indoors regardless of vaccination status.
If you choose to wear a mask, be sure to:
Make sure your recommended protective face mask covers both your nose and mouth.
Take care when putting on and taking off your recommended protective face mask, washing hands after both.
Wash your recommended protective face masks frequently.
Supporting Mental Well-Being
The university has identified the services, programs and initiatives currently available for students, faculty and staff to help address their mental health and well-being during this pandemic. This guide has new and existing resources to support Longhorns.
Daily Symptom and Temperature Screening
Daily Symptom Screening
Daily symptom screening with the university’s Protect Texas Together app will be expected for all students, faculty, and staff coming to campus or living on campus. If you don’t have a smartphone, a phone-based application is also available. Guidance for Daily Symptom and Temperature Screening
Temperature Screening in Select Buildings
For select campus buildings and units, in-person temperature screenings will be required. One such building is Dell Medical School’s Health Transformation Building, home to UT Health Austin clinics.
Symptom Screening by Visitors
Visitors will be expected to complete a symptom screening to participate in campus meetings or other activities.
How the Virus Spreads
Learn more about how the virus is spread.
Wash Your Hands
Hand hygiene products and cleaning stations will be available across campus at building entrances, elevator lobbies and at the entrance of each Registrar-designated classroom.
The university will continue to educate the campus community about the importance of hand hygiene through posters and other communication tools. Guidance for Hand Hygiene and Personal Workplace Hygiene
COVID-19 Testing and Tracing
Robust and rigorous testing will be needed to monitor and limit the presence of COVID-19 on our campus and keep our community members as safe as possible as we continue to navigate the pandemic. Participation in all COVID-19 testing and contact tracing is completely voluntary, but we strongly encourage our community members to use these services as needed.
- If you are a UT student exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, you will be able to schedule a test with University Health Services.
- If you are a UT faculty or staff member exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, you will be able to schedule a test with UT Health Austin. You can also arrange a test with the health care provider of your choice.
- Proactive Community Testing is done at no cost to the individual being tested, who will be notified directly if they test positive. The university follows privacy requirements consistent with public health reporting and contact tracing guidelines, and results are confidential and departments and supervisors will not be notified.
- Learn more about UT’s plans for proactive community testing.
- All students, staff and faculty, regardless of vaccination status, are encouraged to participate.
- Contact tracing helps slow the spread of COVID-19 by identifying individuals who have been in close contact with those who test positive and recommending they quarantine and get tested as well. We have a robust team of experienced contact tracers on hand to identify and test close contacts in a timely manner.
- The university, through an agreement between Dell Medical School and Austin Public Health, will continue to conduct contact tracing for university community members who test positive for COVID-19.
Individual Behavior
The success of the community will depend on a combination of university action, outlined above, and individual behaviors. As a reminder:
If you are sick, stay home.
Wash your hands well and often.
Carry your own hand sanitizer and surface wipes.
Masks are strongly recommended but optional inside university buildings.
If not full vaccinated, maintain 6 feet of distance between yourself and others whenever possible.
Avoid touching your face and recommended protective face mask.
Keep your hands clean: Sneeze and cough into your elbow, and open doors without your hands if possible.
Special Circumstances
Employees needing accommodations for special circumstances should work with their supervisors or contact Human Resources.
Students needing ADA accommodations should contact Services for Students with Disabilities. All other students with special circumstances should contact Student Emergency Services.
Quarantine and Isolation
UT community members who test positive will be expected to self-isolate or quarantine, as directed by health care professionals.
Following CDC guidance, individuals who are exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 and are not fully vaccinated will be directed to self-quarantine.
Students should contact the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line for assistance 512-232-5050 if they can’t self-isolate or quarantine safely in their residence — whether living on or off campus spaces.
For information on self-quarantine and the return to work process for employees, visit the OHP COVID-19 webpage.
