Coronavirus Information

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The pandemic is reaching a new stage as vaccination, testing availability, treatments and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to evolve. Being up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations remains the best protection against serious disease and death. 

 

Recommendations and Notices for All: 

  • All staff, faculty and students are encouraged to follow CDC guidance if you test positive, have COVID-19 symptoms, or have had close contact with a positive case.
  • Stay home if you are ill, tested positive, or are awaiting test results. Follow CDC guidance for isolation, quarantine, testing and mask wearing.
  • The University of Missouri System’s HR-702 policy requirement was updated in May 2022 and no longer requires students, faculty and staff to inform the university if they test positive for COVID-19. Since this requirement is suspended, the data-tracking dashboard will no longer be updated.
  • We encourage everyone to follow the latest guidance on the CDC website.

 

Recommendations for Students:

 

Recommendations for Employees: 

  • Employees should manage their own personal health measures for COVID-19, similar to other contagious illnesses: stay home and contact your health care provider if you are ill.

1. Get vaccinated

To continue to protect yourself, the S&T campus and local community, S&T urges all students, faculty and staff to become fully vaccinated. Booster doses are highly recommended to those who qualify. 

Local pharmacies and the Phelps/Maries County Health Department offer COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment.  Please visit their websites for more information. 
Visit vaccines.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you by searching for vaccine offered, zip code, and search radius.

If you receive any COVID-19 vaccinations, please let us know by voluntarily providing your information.

Faculty and staff should use the COVID Vaccine Uploader in myHR to report status. You will need to upload a photo of your vaccination card as proof of vaccination. 

Students are encouraged to upload their vaccination record via S&T’s Student Health Patient Portal, mst.studenthealthportal.com. 

 

2. Get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot

If it has been 5 months since you received your second dose of an mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna) vaccine or 2 months since you received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, you are eligible to get a booster.  On December 27, 2021, the CDC updated its guidance on isolation and quarantine and you are not considered up-to-date unless you have received a booster vaccination, if eligible, or have had COVID-19 in the preceding 90 days and would be advised to quarantine if considered a close contact to a positive case. 

If you were vaccinated outside of the U.S. with a World Health Organization listed vaccination, the CDC recommends you receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) booster dose(s) when eligible.

 

3. Get tested

If you have common cold-like symptoms (nasal congestion, sore throat, cough), fever, loss of or change in taste or smell or are worried you might have COVID-19, isolate and get tested. Student Health offers COVID-19 testing to students by appointment or online through your Patient Portal. Call 573-341-4284 to schedule an appointment.  Student Health prefers you be evaluated if you are ill as there could be other reasons for illness, but if you have a home COVID-19 test, follow the manufacturer’s directions. If you have symptoms, the recommendation is to continue to isolate and repeat a home test in 24-48 hours if the first test is negative and you still have symptoms. 

Local pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens also offer COVID-19 testing by appointment.  Visit their websites for more information.  Local urgent care clinics at Phelps Health Immediate Care, Mercy Convenient Care, Rolla Family Clinic, Four Rivers Community Health Center offer COVID-19 testing, but you may incur an office visit charge.

Locate a COVID-19 testing site here.

 

4. Masks

Masks can help protect you and others from COVID-19. You may choose to wear a mask or respirator in certain situations, such as when you are with people at higher risk for severe illness, if you are at higher risk for severe illness, if community transmission is high, and of course, if you have symptoms of illness. Learn more about different types of masks and respirators here. 

In accordance with CDC guidance, masks are still required in health care facilities such as Student Health Services, athletic training rooms, campus vaccination clinics, first responder situations.

 

5. When not to come to campus

If you tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation. View a helpful document here: Isolation Information

If you have symptoms of or are worried you might have Covid-19 (these are typically mild common cold-like or allergy symptoms).  Isolate and get tested.

 

6. Get a flu shot

Influenza cases typically occur November through March and can cause prolonged fever and missed academics.  Student Health Services offers the influenza vaccine to students by appointment and can bill insurance for this.  Pharmacies and clinics also offer influenza vaccines.  Influenza vaccines are typically given starting in September through February, but best to get by November each year.

 

Any Questions

Email mstshs@mst.edu or call Student Health Services 573-341-4284.

General Travel Guidance

  • All travelers (university-related and/or personal) and those leaders approving travel should closely review and follow the below guidelines based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Domestic Travel: CDC recommendations for domestic travel
  • International Travel: CDC recommendations for international travel
  • Travelers are encouraged to be up-to-date (which includes booster doses to those eligible) on COVID-19 vaccinations prior to any travel and may be required for certain destinations or for returning to the U.S. if traveling internationally. 

 

International Travel

  • Guidance for travel is continually changing. Be sure to review the CDC and the US. Department of State requirements and recommendations for before and after international travel. 
  • Travel health information and travel advisories about locations throughout the world are provided by the CDC and the U.S. Department of State. 
  • As of June 12, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer requires air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the U.S. to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. The CDC still recommends COVID-19 testing no greater than 3 days before and 3-5 days after international travel, and if any symptoms develop.
  • The CDC advises not to travel if you are ill, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the 10 days prior to travel, or have had close contact to a person who tests positive for COVID-19 in the 5 days prior to travel. If this applies to you or you have questions or concerns, please email S&T Student Health Services.
  • Since Nov. 8, 2021, non-U.S. citizens who are non-U.S. immigrants seeking to enter the U.S. by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an FDA approved or emergency use authorized or a World Health Organization emergency use listed Covid-19 vaccination. There are limited exceptions to this requirement. Individuals granted an exception and any unvaccinated U.S. citizens must follow more stringent requirements.  Review CDC’s travel assessment section to find out what is needed to board a flight to the U.S.  Being up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations which includes a booster dose (additional dose after completing the primary series when eligible and if available) is highly recommended prior to any travel, but not required for travel to the U.S.  Only proof of completing the primary vaccination series is required.  If you were vaccinated outside of the U.S., you may receive a booster dose in the U.S. with an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna)
  • During travel: Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is recommended on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.

 

Study Abroad and Student University-Related International Travel

 

Student COVID-19 testing for travel or events

  • If you are a current student needing testing for travel or an event, you will need to research the specific Covid-19 testing requirements for your destination and for your return to the U.S., if travelling internationally.Covid-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged, especially prior to any travel and may be required for certain destinations or for returning to the U.S.  Travelers are encouraged to be up-to-date (which includes booster doses to those eligible) on COVID-19 vaccinations prior to any travel and may be required for certain destinations or events. 
  • Many international destinations may require specifically PCR/NAAT Covid-19 testing with results usually within 72 hours of travel.You need to review with your destination and the airline on your specific needs and plan accordingly.  Some destinations or events will accept rapid antigen testing which can be scheduled at Student Health with results in 15 minutes.
  • Student Health Services works with the Phelps Health and Quest labs for PCR testing with results typically within 48 hours. You will need to call and make an appointment at Student Health for this testing. Insurance information is submitted to the lab with the testing, but there is no guarantee that insurance will cover testing for travel.
  • Student Health Services is not open on Saturdays, Sundays, or campus holidays/closures, so if your travel plans require your testing to be done during those times, you will need to make other arrangements.
  • Walgreens and CVS offer COVID-19 PCR/NAAT/Rapid Antigen testing by appointment.  There could be charges incurred for this testing.  Locate a COVID-19 testing site in the U.S. 
  • Phelps Health Immediate Care located at 603 S. Bishop Avenue (573-364-4411) and Rolla Family Clinic located at 416 S. Bishop Avenue (573-426-5900) also offer PCR/NAAT testing, but may include an office visit charge as well. You may call them to discuss their fees and services. 
  • There are rapid PCR/NAAT testing sites near the St Louis and Chicago airports. Appointments are usually required, and their websites review costs and scheduling.

 

Additional resources

If you are coming to Missouri S&T from outside of the United States, please review the International Student section of this website.

If you are a visiting scholar, please review the Visiting Scholars section of this website.

Indoor gathering sizes for non-academic events and meetings returned to 100% capacity beginning Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.  S&T encourages following CDC recommendations on prevention steps to take which are based on community transmission levels.

Planners of all non-academic events can find information about room capacities at these webpages:

CDC Data Tracker U.S.

Missouri Weekly COVID-19 Data Report

CDC Wastewater Surveillance Data

Missouri Sewershed Surveillance Project

Worldwide Data