Loyola Community,

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. In order to help protect our loved ones and those who may be more vulnerable to coronavirus, it’s so vital that you restrict your interactions and reduce your risks for two weeks leading up to your planned travel date. Here are some tips to prepare for safe holiday travel this year.

Reduce Your Risks

Now is the time to limit your activities and be extra vigilant about following COVID-19 safety precautions. Try to stick to just the essentials—going to class and medical appointments, getting groceries, and picking up personal care items. Closely monitor how you are feeling using the #CampusClear app so you can take action quickly if you start to feel sick. You’ll be able to enjoy your holidays a lot more if you know you’ve taken the necessary precautions.

Whether you plan to drive or fly home, each mode of travel requires a little extra preparation this year. In either case, do NOT travel if you have tested positive or are waiting for results, have symptoms, or know that you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days prior to your travel date. Take a look at our Travel Tips for more guidance on traveling by plane or car.

Keep in mind that some states may have travel restrictions in place. Talk with your family and check your state or territory’s Department of Health website to make a plan for your arrival.

Student Health Services (SHS) will offer COVID-19 testing for all students, with or without symptoms, available through November 20. The cost of the test is covered by most insurance, or $5 out-of-pocket. Call 504.865.3326 to make an appointment.

Testing is available Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
SHS will also offer testing on Saturday (11/14) and Sunday (11/15) from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
SHS will be closed November 21 – 29

Testing is voluntary and should never be a substitute for carefully following our safety protocols. If you are a resident student and test positive or are identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive, you will have to complete a 10-day isolation or 14-day quarantine period on campus before traveling home for Thanksgiving break. That means that if you are not careful about masking, social distancing, and handwashing, you could miss Thanksgiving with your family. Please continue to follow all COVID-19 safety protocols to avoid a lonely Thanksgiving in our residence halls.

Learn more about testing and preparing for your trip home on our Travel Tips page.

COVID Testing for Loyola Employees

Faculty and staff can now access rapid COVID testing at Student Health Services. Tests cost $5 and take 15 – 30 minutes for results. Testing is only available for symptomatic faculty and staff, and available by appointment only, as time permits. Please call Student Health at 504.865.3326 if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and would like to be tested. Student Health Services is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and closed for any university closures.

Get Your Flu Shot

It’s especially important to get your flu shot before you leave for the holidays. Getting your flu shot is an important step to prevent additional illness and increased burdens on our health system. Both the flu and coronavirus pose risks to vulnerable populations, and we don’t want either being passed around our Thanksgiving dinner tables.

Flu shots are available at your nearby pharmacy. Preservative-free flu shots are offered at Walgreens locations, and Castellon pharmacy on Oak St. is offering flu shots for $27 self-pay without insurance. If you would like help finding a location to get your flu shot, please sign up for our emergency coaching program offered in partnership with InsideTrack.

Correction: Flu shots are not currently available through Student Health Services. You should plan to get your flu shot through a local pharmacy or find a provider through your insurance.

As we prepare to travel for the holidays, it’s extra important to use the #CampusClear daily assessment to keep your health top of mind. Everyone should do a daily assessment unless you are studying or working remotely with no chance of visiting campus during the semester. It will help you identify any new symptoms and monitor how you’re feeling before you leave.

Students, faculty, and staff can use the Reportline if they see anyone on campus disregarding our safety policies. File through the Reportline website or call the toll-free number at 855.312.9257.

COVID-19 testing is available for all students, with or without symptoms, at the Student Health Clinic through November 20. Call 504.865.3326 to make an appointment. Learn more about testing before you plan travel.

COVID Connections is a round-up of important information to help keep everyone in our campus community informed and safe. It arrives in your inbox every Tuesday, with special editions on other days if needed. Explore our archive on the FAQ website to see previous editions.

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