Vaccine update: Frequently asked questions

Q: I received the COVID-19 vaccine, but am a close contact of someone who has tested positive. Do I need to quarantine?

A: Vaccinated people with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Are fully vaccinated (i.e., at least two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a two-dose series, or at least two weeks after receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine), and
• Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure.

NOTE: Vaccinated individuals still must follow all safety precautions including wearing a face mask and social distancing, regardless of exposure. If symptoms develop, vaccinated individuals must follow the isolation protocols outlined in the “What to do if you’re sick” section of the UI’s COVID-19 website.

Q: If I’ve been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and am considered a close contact of someone who has tested positive, do I need to fill out the self-reporting form?

A: Faculty, staff, and students who HAVE been fully vaccinated (i.e. it’s been at least two weeks since the final required dose of vaccine) should fill out the self-reporting form ONLY if they develop symptoms, in which case they are required to isolate as described in the “What to do if you’re sick” section of the UI’s COVID-19 website.

For detailed information on what to do if you’re sick or exposed to COVID-19, see the UI Coronavirus website.

Mental health resources: Movement can help improve your mood

Physical movement and exercise are not only good for your physical health, but also can help improve your mood and stress level.

The university has several resources to help you get started, even though it can be challenging during the winter months:

• The Recreational Services team has worked hard over the last year to provide opportunities for the UI community to continue their health and fitness journeys while practicing social distancing. Check out the at-home resources page to see a list of all of the recreation opportunities available.
• Download the Rec Serv app to learn everything you need to know about current programs and facilities, including hours, group fitness schedules, current visitor counts, and access to online program registration.
• Student Wellness has several online wellness resources for students, including Koru Mindfulness workshops through Zoom, online fitness consultations, study break exercises, and nutrition consultations. To learn more, see the Student Wellness COVID-19 resources page.
• University Human Resources has curated a variety of online resources to help support your health and well-being, including videos about nutrition and stretches you can do in any setting.

For more information about mental health resources, see mentalhealth.uiowa.edu.

For counseling and support, the Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling at no cost for UI employees and their families; or University Counseling Service offers confidential counseling and support for students. Participate in Kognito Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Training.

Campus operations

The university continues to monitor self-reported COVID-19 testing data on campus, while also tracking state, region, and national COVID-19 infection rates.

University of Iowa self-reported COVID-19 testing

These data reflect new cases since Feb. 22, 2021.

The University of Iowa has published an updated snapshot of self-reported positive COVID-19 tests from faculty, staff, and students.

Number of self-reported cases of COVID-19

Students

• New cases: 4
• Total cases: 3,001

Employees

• New cases: 3
• Total cases: 441

These numbers reflect only self-reported positive or presumed positive COVID-19 tests from UI faculty, staff, and students on the academic campus since Aug. 18, 2020. These data will not match data reported by UI Hospitals & Clinics or by the Iowa Department of Public Health for several reasons, including different testing time intervals and geographic scope. Students who also are employees of the university are only reported in the student number to avoid double counting. The UI has more than 30,000 students and nearly 30,000 employees. Many employees continue to work remotely but have self-reported to authorize sick leave.

Number of residence hall students in quarantine: 1*

Number of residence hall students in self-isolation: 1**

*Quarantine: Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.

**Self-isolation: Isolation is used to separate people infected with the virus (those who are symptomatic and those with no symptoms) from people who are not infected.