Stetson Nears 70% Vaccination and Isolation Questions Answered

John B. Stetson statue wears a mask

John B. Stetson statue wears a mask as Stetson answers questions about isolation

Safer Campus Task Force Update 

Overview

  1. Campus Vaccination Milestones
  2. Isolation Guidance
  3. Face Masks Reminder
  4. On-Campus COVID-19 Testing
  5. Latest Test Results
Isolation is not required if a person is fully vaccinated, unless they develop symptoms or test positive
Students get vaccinated on the DeLand campus during the Spring 2021 semester.

70% Here We Come!
As the University nears 70% vaccination of the Stetson community, Stetson’s Safer Campus Task Force, in consultation with the Department of Health and AdventHealth partners, recognizes the impact of the Delta variant on our mitigation efforts. The highly contagious nature of the variant and its broad impact on younger populations and local hospitalizations does not allow the University to move to reduced mitigation tiers at this time. The College of Law has achieved a 74% overall vaccination rate (83% of employees and 72% of students) and the DeLand campus has reached a 66% overall vaccination rate (81% of employees and 62% of students), as of Wednesday, Sept. 1! These are significant milestones in the University’s steps to achieve a healthy campus, and they demonstrate your commitment to the safety and well-being of our community. We applaud the community for its work toward this initial goal and expect continued progress toward an even higher rate of vaccination on all campuses.

Don’t wait! Find a vaccine near you now by visiting find my vaccine.

Do I Need to Isolate?
Based on Florida Department of Health and CDC guidelines, members of the Stetson community should isolate:

  • If they had “close contact” with someone who is COVID-19 positive and are unvaccinated. A negative COVID-19 test does NOT remove the need for isolation if close contact occurred. If vaccinated, isolation is not required unless they develop symptoms or test positive. Unvaccinated close contacts can end isolation after 7 days with a negative COVID-19  PCR test taken on day 6 or after. Close contact is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more.
  • For 10 days from the onset of sick symptoms matching our criteria, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. (See Health Response Protocol)
  • For 10 days from the date of a COVID-19 test if they receive a positive test result, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated.
  • After return from international travel to an area that requires isolation by Florida Department of Health guidance.

Fully vaccinatedbottle of COVID-19 vaccine (two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after the one-dose vaccine) individuals do not need to test or quarantine if exposed to someone positive for COVID-19 if no symptoms develop. Testing is recommended 3-5 days after a potential exposure with mask wearing in all public places for 14 days or until a negative test result.

As COVID-19 conditions and variables continue to develop and protocols evolve, we will attempt to keep you up to date with the most current information. If you test positive, Stetson is working to ensure you have the resources you need. For DeLand, visit the resources at Healthy Hatters. For the College of Law, students, faculty and staff can visit their resources page on Safer Stetson.

What do I do if someone else or myself is sick or fears exposure?
Please consult Stetson’s Health Response Protocol. Any members of the Stetson community who have been to campus in the past 14 days and feel they may have come into direct contact with the virus causing COVID-19 — or are experiencing flu-like symptoms (fever over 100.4, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting) — should alert Stetson immediately. Fill out this online Stetson University: COVID-19 Report a Health Concern form.

I am fully vaccinated, but I live or work closely with someone who has recently tested positive for or was exposed to COVID-19.  I do not have any symptoms. Do I need to isolate?
No. Fully vaccinated individuals who are asymptomatic do not have to isolate if exposed to someone positive, but they must fill out a Report-It form to be entered into our tracking system. A member of the contact tracing team will call to advise testing 3-5 days after exposure and to wear masks in all public places for 14 days or until a negative test result, but will clear them after the call. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should isolate for a period of 10 days from the onset of symptoms and fill out a report at www2.stetson.edu/reportit.

I am not vaccinated, and I live or work closely with someone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19. I do not have any symptoms. Do I need to isolate?
Yes. Unvaccinated individuals who are directly exposed to COVID-19 need to isolate for a period of 10 days from the last date of exposure, but can end isolation after 7 days with a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken on day 6 or after. This isolation is required even if asymptomatic.

I work in the same office as someone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19. I do not have any symptoms, and our desks are more than 6 feet apart.  Do I need to isolate?
Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to isolate, but should monitor closely for development of symptoms. Unvaccinated individuals will need to isolate if they are determined to be a close contact, which means cumulative contact time of at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of each other. Even if the desks are 6 feet apart, parties may have other interactions at a closer distance that will qualify as close contact. If unvaccinated individuals do not qualify as a close contact that needs to isolate, they should still monitor closely for development of symptoms.

I am fully vaccinated, but I am exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Do I need to test and/or to isolate?
Yes. An individual can be infectious even if they are vaccinated. Anyone exhibiting symptoms should isolate and work with a contact tracer to determine when it is safe to return to campus or to end isolation. A negative viral test can be used to rule out that the symptoms are caused by COVID-19 infection and the need for isolation.

I am fully vaccinated and have no symptoms, but I recently tested positive for COVID-19. Do I need to isolate?
Yes. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 could be infectious, even if vaccinated. A COVID-positive individual should isolate and work with a contact tracer to determine when it is safe to move about campus or to end isolation.

Two students walk in Palm Court with facial coverings.
Facial coverings are required in all indoor situations with limited exceptions and outside if distancing is not possible.

Face Coverings Reminder
As a reminder, facial coverings are required in all indoor situations with limited exceptions and outside if distancing is not possible.

  • Face coverings should be multi-layered and cover the nose and mouthNeck gaiters, face masks with exhalation valves, and face shields (unless used in conjunction with an acceptable cloth face covering) are not sufficient as a facial covering.
  • Reusable masks should be washed at the end of every day. Free face coverings are available at the Hollis Center for Stetson undergraduate students!

Learn more information on cleaning face coverings. For more information regarding Tier 2.5 or face coverings requirements, please visit the Safer Stetson website.

On-Campus COVID-19 Testing
SalivaDirect PCR-based testing is free for students, faculty and staff with a Stetson ID and no insurance is required. Below is an upcoming testing date and registration link. Testing will be provided 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Hollis Center Rinker Field House. Please make a note of your registered testing date and time as appointment verification is only provided upon registration and via email 24 hours prior to your test.

Latest COVID-19 Test Results
Asymptomatic On-Campus Testing

  • Aug. 13-19 – Fall 2021 Gateway Testing results: 1,345 tests, 2.38% positive
  • Aug. 26 – Ongoing Athletics testing: 178 tests, 1.12% positive

A full list of Stetson University’s test result statistics is available on our test results page.