COVID Prevention, Testing, Reporting

The health and wellness of the Valdosta State community remains our first priority. During this health crisis, the Student Health Center remains open for face-to-face visits from walk-ins, scheduling, to delivery and follow-up appointments. Effective Monday, August 10, 2020, the center hours will be 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday thru Thursday (last walk-in appointment 4:30 PM) and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (last walk-in appointment 2:00 PM) on Friday. All services will be available. If you are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms or have been exposed to someone with symptoms, please contact the student health center at 229-333-5886 prior to arrival.

For appointments, please call 229-219-3200 or schedule your appointment online. Additional details about appointments can be found on the Appointment page. 

COVID-19 Health Information

  • Student Health Safety Procedures

    For the safety of our Blazer community, the following procedures have been established. 

    • Until directed otherwise by CDC/GDPH, all patients will be screened for fever, COVID-19 symptoms and will be required to wear a face covering upon entry. Persons who do not have a face covering will be provided a disposable facemask. If you are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms or have been exposed to someone with symptoms, please contact the student health center at 229-333-5886 prior to arrival.
    • The Student Health Center will manage the number of students in the waiting room to ensure social distancing. Only the student needing services will be allowed in the building.
    • Telehealth will remain an option for those appointments for which it is deemed appropriate. 
    • The pharmacy now offers curbside pickup for over the counter medications and prescription refills. Please call the Pharmacy at 229-219-3205 when needing this service.
    • Examination rooms are cleaned by Health Services staff after each patient encounter in a manner consistent with CDC recommendations for healthcare facilities. Additionally, for examination rooms in which a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient has been evaluated, following the evaluation the room is closed and not used until an appropriate duration of time has elapsed as determined by the defined air exchange rate for that room. Routine cleaning of the Health Services facility is also provided by Facilities custodial staff and is performed in a manner consistent with the CDC guidance.
    • All staff are required to wear masks, and all front-facing service areas have plexiglass installed to promote social distancing.

  • Prevention

    Prevention

    For members of the Valdosta State community, the best prevention measures for any respiratory virus, including Covid-19, are:

    • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    • Stay home when you are sick.
    • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

    covid-social-d-1.jpg

    Daily Self-Checklist

    Another simple way Blazers protect Blazers is by paying close attention to their own health. Each day, you can use the COVID-19 Daily Self-Checklist to help you take a quick “self-inventory.” You should do this everyday before arriving on campus or leaving your residence. Use the link below to download the checklist. 

    COVID-19 Daily Self-Screening Checklist 

    Additional Helpful Resources

  • Testing and Contact Tracing

    Students: Valdosta State will provide testing for our students through VSU Health Services. Based on individual patient preference and circumstances; several testing solutions are available. These include Rapid testing (24 to 48 hrs.) and Saliva testing (72 to 96 hrs.). The Health Center may also refer students for testing through GDPH stand-up sites available in our local communities, or other local primary care providers. Additionally, specimens can be collected at Health Services and sent to reference labs. Although these options are not point-of-care or rapid, results are currently being returned within a reasonable time frame.

    Faculty & Staff: Faculty and staff should seek tests through their primary care physicians and other local health systems, in addition to Georgia Department of Public Health testing facilities.

    Contact Tracing and Notification

    Contact tracing and notification programs will be done in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). Through the program, VSU will make initial rapid notifications of close contacts in the VSU community based on information gathered from the individual who tests positive. Close contact is defined as:

    • anyone who was within 6 feet of the person who tested positive for 15 or more minutes
    • anyone who had physical contact with the person
    • or anyone who was coughed or sneezed on by the person.

    Isolation Verses Quarantine

    Here are some important definitions: 

    • Isolation is the separation of those who have tested positive for Covid-19 or been diagnosed with Covid-19 by symptoms.
    • Quarantine is the separation of those who have been exposed to someone with Covid-19, but who are  not ill.
    • Infectious period is the period during which someone with Covid-19 can transmit the infection to others. The infectious period is defined as starting two days before symptoms begin and ends when the person has recovered.  

    In all cases, during the notification process, the identity of the person who tested positive will be kept confidential.

     

     

     


     

     

     

  • Off Campus Testing Sites

    The following locations in the Valdosta area have COVID-19 testing.

    CVS Pharmacy

    • 2205 N. Ashley St.
    • Make appointment online for drive-up testing
    • Free testing available if no insurance
    • Weekend testing available

     SGMC Urgent Care

    • 4280 North Valdosta Rd.
    • No appointment needed
    • Drive through testing Monday - Friday 8 AM to 4 PM
    • Closed on Weekend
    • Symptoms required for testing

    Lowndes County Health Department 

    • Call for Free testing -844-955-1499
    • Lowndes County is open Monday- Saturday (8:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
    • Testing site is at the Civic Center - 2108 East Hill Avenue

     

  • What to do if you have tested positive

    Student Testing Positive

    You should isolate at your permanent home, if possible. If you live in on-campus housing and cannot return home, VSU will provide a space for you to isolate until you meets criteria for ending isolation. If you live in off-campus housing, you will need to isolate in your off-campus residence. 

    If the testing was done at Student Health, we will initiate the contact notification process. If the testing was done somewhere off campus, the student will need to self-report the result. That will initiate contact notification by VSU and contact tracing by the Georgia Department of Public Health. 

    Report a Positive Covid-19 Test

    If you have received a positive test for Covid-19 at a site off-campus, report it through MyVSU. Click on COVID Self Reporting within MyVSU. 

    During Isolation  

    A daily self-monitoring form can be download to help you keep track of your symptoms. Use the link below to download the self monitoring guide. 

    Self- Monitoring Guide 

    During isolation a Student Health staff member will follow-up with you to monitor your welfare and progress.

    When to Return

    If you tested positive with symptoms, these steps should be followed.

    Stay home until after:

    • At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
    • At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
    • Symptoms have improved

    If you tested positive, but do not have symptoms, these steps should be followed.

    • Stay home until after 10 days have passed since your positive test

    If you live with others, stay in a specific "sick room" or area and away from other people or animals, including pets. Use a separate bathroom, if available. 

     

     

     

  • What to do if you have been exposed

    If a student was exposed to someone who has tested positive and needs to quarantine and lives in on-campus housing, VSU will provide space for the student to quarantine for 14 days from contact. If the student lives in off-campus housing, the student will need to quarantine in their off-campus housing.

    Close contact is defined as:

    • anyone who was within 6 feet of the person who tested positive for 15 or more minutes
    • anyone who had physical contact with the person
    • or anyone who was coughed or sneezed on by the person.

     If you had close contact with a person who has COVID-19, follow these steps.

    • Stay home until 14 days after your last contact 
    • Check your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of COVID-19
    • If possible stay away from people who are at higher-risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. 

    If you start to develop symptoms, contact the Student Health Center at 229-333-5886 or your primary care physician.