COVID-19

FAQs

• Will faculty be notified which of their students are not vaccinated?

  No. Because the mask mandate remains the most effective mitigation procedure we have, enforcing it for all students will not only be a matter of equity, but it will also protect us all, regardless of vaccination status.

• Can I put something on my syllabus about Covid-19 and Monmouth College protocols?

  Yes. We suggest something such as:

  Monmouth College strongly encourages students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated (with a booster if eligible) against COVID-19. The College also requires students, faculty, and staff to wear a face mask while in indoor spaces on campus (except offices, a student’s residence hall, their room, and while eating in the cafeteria). 

• Do we still have to do the symptom tracker?

  Yes, we do, whether vaccinated or not. The symptom tracker allows us to keep a record of those who might be symptomatic, and recommend testing and treatment. Moreover, it is a way to keep our overall records clear on the health of the community.

• Will faculty be notified which of their students are not vaccinated?

  No. Because the mask mandate remains the most effective mitigation procedure we have, enforcing it for all students will not only be a matter of equity, but it will also protect us all, regardless of vaccination status.

• Can I put something on my syllabus about Covid-19 and Monmouth College protocols?

  Yes. We suggest something such as:

  Monmouth College strongly encourages students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated (with a booster if eligible) against COVID-19. The College also requires students, faculty, and staff to wear a face mask while in indoor spaces on campus (except offices, a student’s residence hall, their room, and while eating in the cafeteria). 

• Do we still have to do the symptom tracker?

  Yes, we do, whether vaccinated or not. The symptom tracker allows us to keep a record of those who might be symptomatic, and recommend testing and treatment. Moreover, it is a way to keep our overall records clear on the health of the community.

• Can we ask students their vaccination status?

  No. Students’ medical information is, finally, theirs to control. However, we encourage you to ensure students are aware of the College’s rules and the reasons for them.

• What do I do if a student refuses to wear a mask?

  First, remind them that this is a mandatory policy of the College and that they are required to comply. If they continue to refuse in a class, let them finish the period, but let them know that you are reporting them to Student Life and Academic Affairs. If they aren’t compliant in another public space, try to find out who they are and report the incident to Student Life and Academic Affairs. We will work with them regarding compliance, and consequences of not complying.

• Are masks required still?

  Yes, in all indoor spaces with the exception of a student’s residence hall and their room. Thus, any time we are in classrooms, hallways, breakout rooms, study rooms and the like, we should be masked. At the dining hall wear your mask in line and when you’re away from your table; you may remove it to eat, but it should go back on when you’re not eating.

• Is testing still available on campus?

  It is. Testing is available from 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Weekly testing is ongoing for those who are unvaccinated. However, our free testing is available to any community member any time the testing site is open and we encourage anyone to use it anytime they feel the need. 

  Students who are displaying symptoms can also go to the Student Health Center to get evaluated. They’re open while classes are in session, Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm and are located on the main floor of McMichael Hall.

• Am I required to be vaccinated?

  No. However, Monmouth College strongly encourages each of its community members to be fully vaccinated (with a booster shot for those eligible), to protect their own health and to reduce risk on campus. Vaccines continue to be available at no cost to students and employees and are easily accessible. 

• How accurate is this saliva test?

  Scientists report this test is highly accurate, approaching 100% when samples are duplicate tested (see Ranoa, Holland, Alnaji, Green, Wang, Brooke, Burke, Fan, & Hergenrother, 2020).

• What should I do if I get a result that says “Invalid” or “Inconclusive?”

  You will need to take another test ASAP and quarantine until you receive a negative result.

   

• What should I do if I get a positive test result?

  You should isolate from other people immediately, and contact either the Student Affairs Office (at scotshealth@monmouthcollege.edu if you are a student) or the Personnel Office (if you are an employee).

   

• I’ve recently received the vaccine. Do I still have to take a test? How will the vaccine affect my test results?

  If you have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 person you should test 5 days after your last exposure if you are asymptomatic or test immediately if you are showing symptoms. The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and how easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms. 

• I recently had COVID-19. Will I test positive, even though I’m recovered?

  It is not uncommon for tests to remain positive or be intermittently positive for several weeks following a COVID illness and these individuals are not infectious to others. When a positive test occurs less than 3 months after the person’s symptom onset of their most recent illness, it is possible that the positive test represents a new infection, or a persistently positive test associated with the previous infection. Students who display new symptoms during this time period should be evaluated at the Student Health Center.

• I had COVID-19 in the past. Do I still have to take a test?

  Yes. It is still possible to have and spread the virus, even if you already had COVID-19. The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and how easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

   

• Who will receive my results aside from me?

  Monmouth College will receive your results. Results will also be reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

   

• What should I do before my test?
  • Fast for 60 minutes prior to providing a saliva sample. No food, drinks (including water), gum, tobacco products, mints, mouthwash, toothpaste; nothing should be in your mouth.
  • Schedule an appointment with your SHIELD Illinois account. If you don’t yet have an account, you can create a SHIELD Illinois account online. If you encounter issues, you can call the SHIELD patient support line (217-265-6059) or allow the testing site staff to walk you through account and appointment creation on-site.
  • Scheduling an appointment will create a QR code in your patient account. Bring it with you to your appointment (printout, screenshot, or the confirmation email).

• I’m having trouble activating my SHIELD Illinois account. Where can I get help?

  The SHIELD Illinois patient support number is 217-265-6059. This number can be used for patients for help setting up their accounts and viewing results.

• When and how will I get my results?

  Results will be made available through your SHIELD Illinois portal within 24-48 hours. You will receive an email and text message with instructions to view your results as soon as they are available.

• How long will it take to be tested?

  It should take less than five minutes to check in, provide your sample and check out.