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What protocols involving employees are in place as faculty and staff return to work on campus?
Daily health monitoring, submitting illness, exposure or travel notifications; and completing UTC Reintegration Safety Training.
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What’s involved in daily health monitoring?
Using criteria from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UTC has developed a self-check health survey for employees to complete before they report to work each day.
It involves taking your temperature before leaving home and answering basic COVID-19 health questions at https://selfcheck.utc.edu/. For convenience, UTC employees also can download to smart phones or computers a special app that contains the survey. A guide for doing so and completing the survey from smart devices or personal computers is here: UTC COVID-19 Selfcheck User Manual.
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When does the self-check survey become required of employees?
It is required when faculty and staff return to campus, no matter when that is.
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Where is the “Daily Self-Check Health Survey” found, and who is supposed to use it?
The brief survey is at the link provided. All employees are required to complete the information prior to leaving home for work each day.
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What happens when I take the health check survey?
Upon completion of the survey, an email notification is sent to your supervisor to confirm participation and if any negative health indicators were reported. It does not share information on specific symptoms and responses.
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What about employees whose work doesn’t involve a computer and who may not have internet access? How do they meet the daily health check requirement?
Paper versions are being provided to supervisors for employee populations whose work may not involve computers. Employees will be required to review the survey questions each day before reporting to campus for work and to report to supervisors any symptoms or possible exposure as outlined in the survey.
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What are the expectations for supervisors around employees completing the daily health check survey?
Supervisors are to confirm that employees are using the self-check daily and encourage employees to stay home if they are sick.
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What if I report having fever or symptoms of illness?
If you have a temperature of at least 100.4 degrees or answer “yes” to any of the health check survey questions, you are not to report to work. Instead, you are to:
- Notify your supervisor
- Contact your primary health care provider for guidance on whether you should report to work or seek medical attention
- Submit the COVID-19 Illness/Travel Form and await word on next steps from University Health officials
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What if an employee has been asked to self-observe, self-monitor or to monitor symptoms compatible with COVID-19?
If a UTC employee reports:
- having been asked to self-observe, self-monitor, or actively monitor symptoms compatible with COVID-19
- having been in close contact with someone who has symptoms consistent with or a diagnosis of COVID-19
- having symptoms compatible with COVID-19
- having been tested for COVID-19 for any reason
- having traveled to or through an area with widespread ongoing community transmission of COVID-19, having traveled by cruise or traveled internationally
The employee must notify the University of a COVID-19-related absence by informing his or her supervisor. The employee then should notify the University via the online COVID-19 Illness/Travel Form. Upon notification, University Health Services will contact the employee and supervisor to confirm appropriate next steps. UTC Emergency Services will be notified of confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses or suspected case/exposure when applicable.
Guidance on whether an employee is to self-quarantine or self-isolate will come from the Office of Human Resources, which also will provide information on paid leave for employees unable to work remotely. Symptom-related absences may require a doctor’s note before paid leave can be approved (per University policy HR0380 – Sick Leave).
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Are employees required to have a doctor’s note to be excused from work for a COVID-19 absence?
A doctor’s note for COVID-19 absence may be required.
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What if I am ill but I don’t have an established primary care provider?
You can call the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department COVID-19 hotline at 423-209-8383.
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What should employees do if a spouse or child is exhibiting symptoms but the employee is not?
If you have been in close contact with someone who has symptoms of or who has been diagnosed with COVID-19:
- Do not report to work.
- Seek guidance from your primary health care provider or the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.
- Submit the COVID-19 Illness and Travel Notification form.
- Await further instruction.