COVID-19 Student Guidelines

In-person classes: Classes will continue in-person as scheduled.

Masks: Effective March 1, 2022, individuals are no longer required to wear a mask indoors in non-clinical care settings, including meetings, classrooms, and didactic settings. This is irrespective of vaccine status. This change in masking policy does not apply to hospital-based locations/departments and other patient care settings.

Booster shots: COVID-19 vaccines are available by appointment at Student Health Service. Schedule your appointment by calling 909-558-8770 or using My Turn.

Positive test: If you test positive for COVID-19, please inform the student health team by email.

Testing: COVID-19 tests are available to all students through Student Health Service. Additional testing is available from San Bernardino County.

University prevention strategies: Loma Linda University will continue to utilize the following prevention strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Offering and promoting COVID-19 vaccination
• Contact tracing combined with isolation and quarantine
• Increased ventilation
• Increased cleaning
• Maintaining communication
• Promoting health equity

CDC and CDPH guidance changes often. Protection strategies are affected by the level of community transmission, COVID-19 vaccine coverage, local outbreaks, and increasing trends. In substantial to high transmission of COVID-19, LLU may implement physical distancing and mask use indoors for all students, regardless of vaccine status.

We expect all of our students to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Students who were vaccinated in California may obtain a digital copy of their COVID-19 vaccine record through the CDPH.

Students who need a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster dose should contact Student Health Service at 909-558-8770, use My Turn, or visit our vaccine page. Appointments are required. No walk-ins available.

Shuttle services are available to most vaccine sites. For more information, please view the Shuttle Service Map or contact Transportation Services at (909) 651-3020 or ext. 53020.

International students vaccinated outside of the United States should refer to Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States for the need for vaccinations upon arrival in the United States.

Student Health Service provides care for students who are located in the state of California.  Students located outside California should consult their primary care provider in their home state. 

Symptoms

Students should stay home if they have any of the following symptoms (not including a chronic medical condition such as migraines, asthma, IBS/colitis, or premenstrual syndrome):

• Fever (temperature ≥ 100.0˚F) or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nasal congestion or runny nose/sneezing
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat 
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nausea or vomiting
• Soft stools or diarrhea
• Not feeling well

If you have COVID-like symptoms, Student Health Service serves as your primary care location. Please call the office at  909-558-8770 for a video visit.  Do not come in person for symptom assessment. Be sure to proactively limit your contact with others until you have contacted Student Health Service for determination of whether isolation is needed. 

• If you have mild symptoms: call our office during regular weekday hours to be scheduled for a video visit.
• If you have severe symptoms: Call 911 or go to emergency services to be evaluated. If possible, notify them ahead of time of possible COVID-19 infection. Severe symptoms include, but are not limited to trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds.

Required Notification for a Suspected COVID-19 Infection

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued new guidance on reporting suspected COVID-19 infections for students enrolled in clinical rotations. We are required to report this information to CDPH on an ongoing basis.

• If you are isolating because of a suspected COVID-19 infection that has not yet been confirmed, please email Student Health Service at COVID19_Student_Health@llu.edu.
• Please include the location where you complete your clinical rotation/field work.

Exposures

LLUH’s COVID-19 exposure definition has been updated. The definition of close contact (in the context of exposure) is as follows:

• In indoor spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor (such as clinic waiting rooms, etc.), close contact is defined as sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period with a COVID-19 positive case.
• In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor* (such as open-floor-plan offices, warehouses), close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.”
• The student was present during an aerosol-generating/high hazard procedure for a COVID-19 positive case and 

1. was not wearing a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR); or
2. did not use a hood or other ventilated enclosure on the patient that effectively contained the patient’s aerosols while the employee was wearing a respirator other than a PAPR, regardless of the length of time.

*The following are sites on campus that are greater than 400,000 cubic feet:

• 125 Warehouse space
• 195 Warehouse space
• 243 Warehouse space (IT side only)
• 197 Third Floor open office space
• Drayson Center Gymnasium
• Centennial Complex Atrium/Lobby-Corridor areas

All students who suspect they have been exposed should follow Student Exposure to COVID-19 Algorithm (12/05/2022).

Student Health Service is responsible for case investigation and contact tracing for all students. When Student Health Service is notified that someone has tested positive for or been diagnosed with COVID-19, Student Health Service communicates exposure locations on our website: llu.edu/covid-19-info-cases.

COVID-19 testing is available to all students through Student Health Service. Free testing is available through San Bernardino County.

Check for symptoms: Students should perform daily health screenings for infectious illnesses (including COVID-19) before they arrive to campus and/or clinical rotations. Students with signs or symptoms of infectious illness should stay home, isolate away from others, and call Student Health Service to schedule a video visit at 909-558-8770.

Keep track of exposures: Students who have had close contact with a known/suspected COVID-19 case should contact Student Health Service by calling 909-558-8770 or emailing COVID19_Student_Health@llu.edu and follow the Student Exposure to COVID-19 Algorithm (12/05/2022).

Consider your medical conditions: Students with certain medical conditions identified by the CDC may be more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Students with high-risk conditions are encouraged to make an appointment with Student Health Service at 909-558-8770.

International Students

International Students (meaning non-citizens on LLU-sponsored student visas) should inform the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) of their arrival date in the U.S. as soon as their travel itinerary has finalized. Please contact ISSS by emailing intlstdsrv@llu.edu or calling 909-558-4955. For more information related to travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic, please monitor CDC and CDPH guidance.

International travelers living on-campus in the residence halls should contact and inform their facility dean of their arrival date to the U.S (or provide a copy of their flight itinerary).

International students vaccinated outside of the United States should refer to Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States for the need for vaccinations upon arrival in the U.S.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance for isolation and quarantine is divided into different categories for clearance, including consideration for whether you are in the general public OR working in a healthcare setting (this applies to students on clinical rotations).

• Non-clinical - Student Return Criteria (03/13/2023)
• Clinical - Student Return Criteria (12/15/2022)

Please report symptoms and confirmed COVID-19 infections, and high-risk exposures to Student Health Service. Email us at COVID19_Student_Health@llu.edu or call 909-558-8770.

We expect all of our students to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.

Masking and proof of vaccination: Students in a clinical or patient care setting may be expected to show proof of vaccination at each site and will need to wear a face covering regardless of vaccination status. Surgical masks and/or other appropriate PPE (based on level of interaction) are required in patient care and clinical areas.

Preventive measures: All students are encouraged to practice the following preventive measures:

• Frequent and appropriate hand hygiene
• Utilize proper cough/sneeze etiquette
• Self-screen daily for symptoms and exposures
• Consistent and correct use of masks, for those who meet criteria
• Physical distancing, for those who meet criteria
• Assist with frequent disinfection of common and high traffic areas and surfaces

Quarantine is not required for high-risk or international travel. For specific questions/concerns regarding your travel, please contact Student Health Service at 909-558-8770 or via email at COVID19_Student_Health@llu.edu.

If you're traveling to or from California, follow the CDPH travel guidelines.