Dear UT Community,

First, we hope this email finds you all safe and warm. As our campus recovers from a challenging week of weather-related disruptions, we want to share our plans for reopening our health-related operations and share some tips for staying safe over the coming days.

Proactive Community Testing

Proactive Community Testing will resume on Monday and we strongly encourage asymptomatic members of our community to get tested as soon as possible, especially if the weather conditions resulted in close interactions with individuals outside your residence.

Health Services and Symptomatic Testing

For Students:

University Health Services plans to reopen on Monday for both in-person and telehealth visits, including testing for students who have symptoms of COVID-19. Schedule your appointment online or by calling 512-471-4955.
If you are symptomatic, remain isolated until you can get tested on Monday.
The Counseling and Mental Health Center will resume telecounseling appointments on Monday. To schedule an appointment or if you are experiencing a crisis, call 512-471-3515 (select option 3) M-F 8-5. After hours, you can use the CMHC Crisis Line at 512-471-2255.

For Employees:

UT Health Austin is hoping to resume symptomatic testing on Monday through their drive-through service. Please refer to the UTHA website for further information. You may also get tested at the provider of your choice.

It is important that employees and managers report symptoms and testing regardless of test results to the Occupational Health Program (OHP) as soon as possible.

Call 512-471-4647 or email healthpoint.ohp@austin.utexas.edu to report COVID-19 symptoms or COVID-19 tests regardless of test results.

OHP helps slow the spread of COVID-19 by performing contract tracing, providing health and leave guidance, and helping employees determine when it’s safe to go back to work.

Vaccine Operations

COVID-19 Vaccine Operations will continue on Monday in Gregory Gym as planned.

Individuals whose vaccine appointment was canceled due to the weather Friday, February 19^th should refer to the UTHA website for further instructions.
If you are scheduled to receive your 2^nd dose on Monday, February 22^nd, please go to Gregory Gym at your appointed time.
For scheduled appointments on or after Tuesday, February 23^rd, please pay close attention to the UTHA website for further instructions. We are currently waiting for additional shipments of our vaccine allocation.

If your second dose was delayed due to the closure, you are still within Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended timeline for receiving it. It is not necessary to start the series over again, but be sure to receive both doses for maximum effectiveness. Our vaccination teams are capable of expanding capacity to meet the demand when vaccine supply is available.

Injury Prevention

As our local hospitals deal with repercussions of this winter storm, we need to do our part to prevent injury and stay out of the Emergency Rooms. If you drive, please remain vigilant on the roads as some areas remain icy. Watch out for ice on sidewalks, stairs, or falling from buildings and trees as it starts to thaw. Further, as a citywide boil notice continues in Austin and other parts of Texas, bring water to a rolling boil for at least two minutes before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing your teeth or handwashing. Let the water cool before using.

As always, continue to heed public health guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Double mask, keep your distance, and practice hand hygiene.

Stay well.

Terrance Hines, M.D., FAAFP

Executive Director & Chief Medical Officer,
University Health Services

Amy Young, M.D.

Vice Dean of Professional Practice, Dell Medical School Chief Clinical Officer, UT Health Austin

Protect Texas Together

protect.utexas.edu

This communication is from Leadership – Official.
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The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 78712 US