COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free, and are available to anyone age 12 and over. We do not require vaccination, but we strongly encourage everyone who is able to get vaccinated and help protect our campus community. We are providing our Max the Vax vaccine incentive program through Oct. 15, 2021. Students and employees who provide their immunization record showing that they have gotten a one-dose vaccine like Johnson & Johnson, or both doses of a two-dose vaccine like Pfizer or Moderna, can win prizes up to $5,000 in cash.

For the purposes of Missouri Western’s physical distancing and face coverings policies, we are following the CDC’s guidance:

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

Testing

• Those experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 should consult with a healthcare provider about whether testing is needed and if so, direction for where to obtain a test.
• Those determined to be close contacts (per CDC guidance) of a confirmed COVID-19 case should also be tested to the extent feasible in the local context. (See below regarding contact tracing.) If testing is not feasible for all close contacts, the CDC recommends 14-days of quarantine, mask-wearing, and self-monitoring.
• At the current time, and in line with CDC advice to institutions of higher education, the University does not plan to mandate COVID-19 testing or antibody testing for all employees or students in order to return to campus.
• Missouri Western offers rapid result tests through the Esry Health Center every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon by appointment only. Call 816-271-4495 to make an appointment. You can also talk to your local health care provider or the City of St. Joseph Health Department for assistance in determining where testing may be available.

Contact Tracing

It is critically important that we identify potential COVID-19 cases on campus. Any student or employee who has been on campus and tests positive for COVID-19 must report their cases to the appropriate campus contact immediately:

• Students may report through the Online Student Reporting Tool.
• Employees may report through this link Online Employee Reporting Tool
• Student athletes should notify their Athletic Trainer. Read the Athletics COVID-19 Policy

Please note that employees and students should not report positive cases on behalf of others.

If you are traveling to Missouri Western from outside the U.S., please exercise caution to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19. After you arrive in the U.S., fully vaccinated individuals must get tested within three to five days. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must be tested within three to five days and stay home for seven to ten days. See this Global Health Alert from the CDC for more information.

Face coverings are encouraged but no longer required in all indoor public spaces.

This University masking policy change reflects several indicators reviewed by the COVID-19 Response Team every week and is in line with CDC guidance on masks.

Handwashing – critical: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands after touching your face.

Coughing/Sneezing Hygiene Etiquette – critical: If you are in a private setting and not wearing a cloth face covering, please remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Alternatively, you can cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow. Throw any used tissues in the trash and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizers with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol.

Gloves: According to the CDC, gloves are not necessary for general use and do not replace good hand hygiene. Washing your hands often is considered the best practice for common everyday tasks. 

Cleaning/Disinfection – Team Effort: Physical Plant / Custodial staff will do their best to keep campus common areas, public spaces, and office areas clean based on CDC guidelines and protocols for disinfection. However, we all need to be vigilant to help keep our surroundings clean. Cleaning and disinfection requires the cooperation of everyone.   Of note, 

• Hand sanitizer stations will be provided in high traffic areas and near building entrances.
• Cleaning supplies will be available for students and faculty to wipe down classroom areas (e.g. desk and chair surfaces) on a self-serve basis between sessions once classes begin. 
• Departments may request additional cleaning supplies if they wish to do additional self-serve cleaning during the work day, for example to wipe down commonly used surfaces.  You can request supplies here.
• It may be noted that the latest CDC guidance indicates that the virus is not easily transmitted via surfaces.

Keeping your distance:

If you feel sick, you must stay home and away from others on campus.

Taking your temperature, monitoring symptoms:

Employees and students who will be on campus must conduct symptom self-monitoring every day before reporting to work, class or any other campus activity. Employees must be free of ANY symptoms potentially related to COVID-19 or have had evaluation and clearance by a health professional in order to be on campus.

These are all matters of personal responsibility; we are not requesting or requiring any reporting or documentation of these actions.

COVID-19 symptoms:

At this time, symptoms include one or more of the following:Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever above 100.4, chills, repeated shaking with chills, runny nose or new sinus congestion, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, fatigue, new gastrointestinal symptoms, new loss of taste or smell.

CDC Symptom Checker

We have returned to normal capacities in classrooms, laboratories and other indoor spaces on Missouri Western’s campus. We strongly recommend that individuals who have not been fully vaccinated keep a minimum physical space of six feet between themselves and others whenever possible.

More information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is available here.

Positive cases – communication

• Any member of the university community receiving a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 should immediately notify the following office, as applicable: 
  • Students: Esry Student Health Center – Students may use this online reporting tool.
  • Employees: Human Resources – Employees may use this online reporting tool.
  • Athletes: Notify your Athletic Trainer.

Positive cases – isolation

• Any member of the campus community testing positive for COVID-19 who is not in need of hospitalization should be isolated at their permanent address if at all possible.  
• If that is not possible, several rooms will be set aside on campus for isolation.  Priority will be for residential students who do not have other housing options. Depending on the circumstances, the University may make rooms available to other members of the campus community.

Close Contact with a Positive Case

• People who are not fully vaccinated and who have been determined to be close contacts (per CDC guidance) of a confirmed COVID-19 case should quarantine for the designated time period specified by the local public health department and communicated by the contact tracer. The length of quarantine is recommended to be 14 days, but testing results may allow a reduction in the length of time. If an individual is vaccinated, they will not need to quarantine unless they have symptoms.

Compliance – Failure to comply with these protocols may result in removal from campus and potential discipline.