Hunter
08/01/22
As of today, the University of Iowa is discontinuing its online COVID-19 self-reporting tool.
According to a release on the school’s COVID site, coronavirus.uiowa.edu, Johnson County Public Health suspended contact tracing earlier this year, and its believed that self-reported data no longer provides an accurate snapshot of cases on campus.
On July 1st, the university returned to pre-pandemic leave policies in compliance with the state Board of Regents, lifting the COVID-19 State of Emergency in 2021. This decreased the need for a self-reporting tool.
The release goes on to say that if you test positive for COVID-19 it’s still important to follow the self-isolation instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Johnson County’s transmission rate is currently rated as high. The CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public and taking additional precautions if you are at high risk of illness. Those that have symptoms or an exposure to the virus should stay home.
University of Iowa Health Care employees who test positive for COVID should continue to contact the University Employee Health.
With the fall semester beginning three weeks from today, the university does not require the use of masks indoors, but asks students to wear one if they have symptoms, test positive, or are exposed to someone with COVID-19. Policy also dictates that the university community be respectful of one another and to not pressure a student, visitor or employee to wear, or not wear, a mask.
The University of Iowa encourages students faculty and staff to get vaccinated.