Dear Students,
With the first week of classes behind us, I wanted to clarify information regarding the university’s quarantine and isolation procedures. First, it is important to clarify the terminology:
Terminology
A person who is positive for COVID-19 is required to self-isolate for at least 14 days. A medical health practitioner will be assigned to each student who has tested positive to assist with managing their care. The self-isolation period of 14 days begins at the date the test was taken.
A person who has been verified by a contact tracer to have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for the virus is required to self-quarantine for 14 days. The quarantine period begins at the last known point of contact. In addition, those students coming from a state identified in the City of Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order and those traveling internationally are also required to self-quarantine as per university policy.
Contact tracers will work with those who test positive to identify their close contacts. Close contact is defined as contact within six feet of other people for more than 15 minutes. Contact tracing begins when a person receives a positive COVID-19 test result. This means that a university official will work with the person who tested positive to identify people they may have come into close contact with.
Contact Tracing
Illinois Tech has set up a dedicated Contact Tracing Hotline for students to call to report a positive test result or possible close contact. The hotline number is 872.216.7440, and the email is contacttracing@iit.edu. Students, faculty, or staff members who receive a positive test or believe they may be a close contact and have not heard from a university official should call the hotline. A contact tracer is on call 24 hours each day.
Self-Quarantine and Self-Isolation
Not all accommodations are appropriate for self-quarantine/self-
When a student enters self-quarantine, they will be given information about their hotel assignment. When a student enters self-isolation, they are assigned a space in one of the reserved residence hall spaces. A team member in the Office of Residence Life will work directly with the student who needs to self-isolate to ensure that their self-isolation space is appropriate for the individual; this may, in the right circumstances, include facilitating the student’s ability to go home. The student will also receive information about how to arrange meal delivery and self-quarantine or self-isolation guidelines and expectations, which includes a phone number for a professional staff member who serves in a 24-hour on call rotation.
Testing Reminder
As a reminder, in-class instruction is expected to resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. All students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus are to show proof of a COVID-19 test by Friday, September 4. Students, staff, or faculty who expect to be on campus after September 8 are to report test results before coming to campus. There will be limited opportunities for testing on campus during the week of September 8. However, there are many state testing sites and Chicago Department of Public Health testing sites for you to visit, including Loop Medical Center. Travel costs up to $20 will be reimbursed.
Labor Day Weekend Gatherings
In anticipation of the upcoming long weekend, students, faculty, and staff are reminded to avoid large social social gatherings, per public health guidance.
Guest Policy
After Tuesday, September 8, only registered Illinois Tech students who have proof of a negative test will be allowed on campus and, therefore, in the residence halls and fraternity and sorority houses.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 you can contact COVIDconcerns@iit.edu.
Sincerely,
Katherine Stetz
Vice Provost, Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Illinois Institute of Technology