Employee Health and Student Health have adjusted their policies and protocols related to COVID-19 testing and isolation for faculty, staff and students at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.
Now, COVID-19 isolation, return-to-school and return-to-work guidance align with other respiratory illnesses. Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID are encouraged to refrain from coming to campus, test for COVID-19 and follow the COVID-19 isolation guidelines below:
COVID-19 testing
- Employees wanting COVID-19 testing can use a home test, pursue testing through their primary care provider or be evaluated by the Virtual Care Clinic.
- Students in Omaha can contact the Nebraska Medicine UNMC Student Health Clinic at 402-559-7204 for testing. Students in Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk and Scottsbluff can contact Student Health at their campus to request a telehealth appointment or testing.
COVID-19 isolation guidance
- Individuals may return to work and educational environments post respiratory illness when the following criteria have been met:
- Temperature less than 100°F for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and
- Symptom improvement for at least 24 hours.
- Individuals should wear a mask upon return from any respiratory illnesses when at work or in educational environments until symptoms have improved and are minimal.
- Individuals returning from a COVID-19 infection should mask at work or in educational environments for 10 days. (Day 0 is day of symptom onset or date of test, whichever occurred first.)
- Absences due to COVID-19 will follow typical call-in/illness procedures and attendance policies.
- Employees with questions about returning to work after illness should call the Employee Health Nurse Line for guidance: 402-552-3563, option 2.
During the pandemic, the med center analyzed its building air handling systems and either increased filtration or added UV light treatment within the air handlers consistent with the general recommendations of Nebraska Medicine’s Infection Control group for non-patient care spaces.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects 2024-25 vaccines to be available this fall. UNMC and U.S. public health experts encourage individuals to get their flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines when available. Watch for updates on the CDC webpage.