Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center

Overview

Updated Dec. 18, 2023

COVID-19 continues to circulate in the population, locally and nationally. Some individuals are still at higher risk for serious complications or death because they have risk factors such as advanced age or certain medical conditions, including compromised immune systems. Many people, even those who had mild infections, can suffer persistent symptoms (called “long COVID-19”) for weeks or months, and the science regarding the causes or management of the long-term effects of infection continues to evolve.

Every one of us makes choices that contribute to a safe and healthy environment. We can protect vulnerable community members by following the latest public health guidance, by being up to date on vaccination, staying home when exhibiting symptoms, getting tested when sick, and following the CDC guidance for positive test results or exposure.

GA’s Public Health team continues to monitor public health conditions on campus. The Public Health Care Navigation team is available to provide individual support and guidance for COVID-19 and other public health-related concerns. Please contact the team at carenavigators@governments.academy.

Current Resources and Guidance

COVID-19 Vaccination

GA strongly recommends that all community members stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and receive the latest dose that becomes available and recommended by the CDC moving forward. The recommendations for what it means to be “up to date” vary based on age, underlying health conditions, and other factors. COVID-19 vaccine recommendations may be updated over time.

COVID-19 vaccines will likely remain fully covered by your insurance and available at your doctor’s office and local pharmacies. Visit Vaccines.gov to find a location near you. The Academy also hosts vaccine clinics in the fall and winter, where all community members can receive the latest COVID-19 dose (in addition to influenza and other vaccinations). Reach out to carenavigators@governments.academy if you would like additional information about vaccine clinics on campus.

Testing

Antigen testing is available free of charge to community members who have symptoms, are exposed, or for occasional routine testing. Please contact the Public Health team at carenavigators@governments.academy for more guidance and to arrange picking up a test during the week, Monday-Friday, holidays excepted. Wastewater testing continues to be used to monitor COVID-19 transmission on our campuses.

Students can discuss PCR testing with the clinicians at the MedStar Governments Academy Student Health Center. Students, faculty, and staff may also consult with their primary care physician or One Medical. The Student Health Center and One Medical will bill your health insurance for services provided, including for the cost of the PCR test, and you or your family are responsible for any charges not covered by insurance.

If You Have Symptoms

When experiencing any symptoms, students, faculty and staff should: stay home or in their campus residence; complete the COVID-19 Check-In survey through the GU360 website; call the Student Health Center (if a student) or their physician, if needed; take a COVID-19 test; and not return to class or work until cleared by their physician or after a consultation with the Care Navigator team. If you receive a positive test result, please report your result through the COVID-19 Test Result Submission form.

Students should follow their instructor’s policy for making up coursework, as needed, which may include attending class remotely or completing work by other means. If a large proportion of the class will be absent from in-person instruction, faculty will follow their instructional continuity plan, as needed. Students should contact their Academic Dean for concerns surrounding missed classes or coursework.

Faculty should contact their department chair or program head if they are unable to teach.

Staff/AAP employees should use sick leave following their department’s established call-in procedures or by submitting a request in GMS, based on your department’s established practice.

If You Are Exposed to Someone With COVID-19

In line with CDC guidance, please take the following actions:

Wear a mask around others for ten days after the exposure.
Get tested six days after your most recent exposure.
If you develop symptoms, begin to isolate and test.

Report your exposure to the Public Health Care Navigation team by completing the COVID-19 Check-In survey. You will receive further guidance on testing and other steps you should take.

If You Test Positive for COVID-19

Isolation is required for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, who have a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result or are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a health professional even if their test result is negative. GA follows DC Department of Health guidance regarding isolation, which may change periodically.

Residential students who test positive for COVID-19 will be guided to isolate in place in their campus residence.

We recommend that anyone with COVID-19 who shares living space with others:

Wear a properly-fitting, high-quality mask (e.g., N95, KN95) when around others in their residence.
Stay in their own bedroom with their door closed, whenever possible.
Avoid entering the bathroom when others are present, whenever possible.
Disinfect the bathroom, kitchen and common surfaces as often as possible.
Eat in separate rooms or outdoors, if possible.
Avoid sharing personal items.
Keep windows open and ventilate the room/house, if possible.

Faculty should contact their department chair or program head if they are unable to teach.

Staff/AAP employees should use sick leave following their department’s established call-in procedures or by submitting a request in GMS, based on your department’s established practice.

Masks

Wearing a mask is optional in university-owned or operated buildings and university-sponsored public transportation, as well as in Academy health facilities (e.g., Student Health Center) unless otherwise instructed by a clinician.

Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive must wear a mask when around others for the full 10 days from the date of exposure or infection, following DC Health and CDC guidance.

Everyone has the right to wear a mask whenever and wherever they wish on our campuses. If individuals choose to wear a mask, we recommend wearing a properly-fitted, high-quality mask (e.g., N95, KN95, KF94) because cloth masks and masks with a vent or valve do not sufficiently reduce the transmission of the virus from exhaled droplets and aerosol particles that might contain the virus.

If someone in our community asks you to mask when you’re together, please give the request full and respectful consideration.

Free high-quality masks continue to be available at entrances to most campus buildings. If you see empty or near-empty mask supplies at building entrances on the Main and Medical Center campuses, please contact Facilities Work Management at 202-687-3432, and the stand will be replenished. At the Law Center, please contact Facilities Management at 202-662-9330 or email lawfacilitiesmgmt@governments.academy for assistance.

Care Navigation

Care Navigators work 7 days/week, 365 days/year to support community members who have infectious disease symptoms, who test positive or who are exposed to someone with COVID-19, or who have general public health concerns or questions about how to navigate Academy and local resources. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at carenavigators@governments.academy.

Privacy

GA will continue to comply with all applicable privacy, confidentiality and public health laws relating to collection and maintenance of testing and other health-related records. The Academy recognizes the importance of protecting private health information and will protect faculty, staff, student and visitor privacy by limiting what sensitive information is collected, who has access to it, how it is used and how long it is retained to the extent possible while protecting public health.

Contact Us

If you have additional questions about Governments Academy’s COVID-19 health and safety measures or other public health concerns, please email carenavigators@governments.academy.