Campus Healthcare Services
Belmont’s Health Services team remains in close contact with local and state health officials and continues to follow guidance issued by the CDC and the American College Health Association (ACHA). Current protocols on our campus include:
- The Belmont Health Clinic on the first floor of McWhorter Hall will remain available at regularly scheduled campus hours for wellness visits, immunizations, allergy injections and non-COVID-related visits.
- A satellite clinic established on the second floor of the Gabhart Student Center is available for potential COVID-related concerns. The CDC maintains a current list of COVID-19 symptoms.
- Testing will be available on campus for symptomatic individuals and any campus member determined by Health Services to require testing.
- Belmont will augment its campus health and safety plan by utilizing a COVID-19 mitigation strategy – a voluntary sentinel surveillance testing program for asymptomatic students, faculty and staff.
- A Belmont Contract Tracing Team, trained and supervised by nurses and nurse practitioners, will be conducting contact tracing for the campus community in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health using a confidential, web-based form customized for Belmont University.
- Belmont’s Campus Pharmacy, also located on the first floor of McWhorter Hall, will continue to operate at regularly scheduled hours.
- All students are expected to abide by our "Staying Healthy, Together" pledge.
- If you have questions, please contact covid19response@belmont.edu.
Reporting Illness
Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker
All active students, faculty and staff will be asked to complete a daily self-screening for symptoms of and exposure to COVID-19. The Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker form through Belmont’s Health Portal must be completed every morning, except for students who are conducting their studies 100 percent online for the semester. This process is HIPAA and FERPA privacy and security compliant. All faculty, staff and students will receive email and optional text reminders to complete the form every morning. The form includes the following questions:
- In the last two weeks did you live or have close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with someone diagnosed with COVID-19? Exception: you can check "NO" if you have been in a clinical setting wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Have you tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 10 days, or are you currently experiencing any of the following:
- *Fever of 100.4 or higher
- *Cough
- *Shortness of breath
- *Sore throat
- *Body aches
- *Vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
- *New loss of taste or smell
Belmont’s Health Services team will be alerted to any potential concerns that arise from screening responses and can determine next steps based on the protocols outlined below. An FAQ on the Symptom Tracker can be found at the bottom of this page.
Employee Reporting Protocols
Employee reporting protocols can be found on the Working On Campus page.
Student Reporting Protocols
Like employees, all students will be required to complete the Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker for symptoms and exposure. Belmont’s Health Services team will be alerted to any potential concerns that arise from screening responses and can determine next steps based on the protocols outlined below.
Updated
Off Campus Student with Symptoms of COVID-19 or Positive COVID-19 Test- If an off-campus student has symptom(s) of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19, the student should update the Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker within the Belmont Health Portal as soon as possible. Health Services will be notified of the concern through the symptom tracker and reach out directly to determine next steps. (Any student who receives a positive test result from an off-campus testing site should follow the steps above and also upload the test result to their Health Portal.)
- The student will be required to stay off campus and self-isolate until they are contacted by Health Services.
- Health Services may contact the student by telephone or secure messaging through their Health Portal regarding testing and plan for isolation as indicated.
- Both rapid antigen and PCR testing are available at the Gabhart Clinic located on campus. The medical provider will discuss medically appropriate testing options with the student during their appointment. All appointments MUST be scheduled through Health Services as due to infection control measures. NO WALK-IN appointments are permitted.
- If the student tests positive for COVID-19, they will be given instructions regarding self- isolation and symptom management at their off-campus residence. Prescription/ non-prescription medications as well as medical supplies will be available through the Gabhart Clinic.
- If the student tests negative for COVID-19 but is symptomatic, the clinician may make a presumed diagnosis of COVID-19 and/or perform a confirmation PCR test. It will be at the clinician’s discretion for continuation of self-isolation protocols and additional testing/treatment.
- For medical emergencies, students should call "911" if off campus or Campus Security if on campus at 615-460-6911 to assist with identifying transport for immediate care at a local hospital. Local urgent care clinic and testing site information for After Hours care can be found on the Health Services website.)
- The Belmont Contact Tracing team will follow-up with the student after the positive test result to obtain close contacts that need to be notified and establish a communication plan throughout the isolation period. The Health Department is notified of positive test result and may also contact the student.
- Student will be required to complete the Daily Symptom Monitoring Questionnaire in their Health Portal.
- Health Services will contact Student Care and Support who will reach out to the student and advise of supportive services and connect them to necessary resources during their isolation period including food, tele-counseling, Learning Centers, etc.
- As a reminder, students who are placed in isolation are asked to notify professors of expected length of absence. Upon a student’s request, the Student Care and Support Team will provide notification of isolation/positive test to professors and are available to assist with academic needs.
- Isolation will be discontinued:
- 10 days after symptoms began (or 10 days after positive test if asymptomatic) AND
- At least 24 hours with no fever of 100.4 or higher (without the use of fever-reducing medications) AND
- Other symptoms are improving.
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For more information: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation-QuarantineRelease.pdf and to use Tennessee Department of Health’s Quarantine Date Calculator: https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/quarantine-isolation-calculator/
Updated
Residential Student with Symptoms of COVID-19 or Positive COVID-19 Test- If a residential student has symptom(s) of COVID-19 or has received a positive test result, the student should update the Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker within the Belmont Health Portal as soon as possible. Health Services will be notified of the concern through the symptom tracker and reach out directly to the student within 24 hours to determine next steps. (Any residential student who receives a positive test result from an off-campus testing site should follow steps above and also upload the test result to their Health Portal.)
- The student will be required to stay in his/her room, wear a face covering, avoid contact within 6 feet from others and clean any surfaces he/she touches until an isolation room is assigned. The student should only attend classes online until assessed by Health Services.
- Health Services may contact the student by telephone or secure messaging through their Health Portal regarding testing and plan for isolation as indicated.
- Both rapid antigen and PCR testing are available at the Gabhart Clinic located on campus. The medical provider will discuss medically appropriate testing options with the student during their appointment. All appointments MUST be scheduled through Health Services as due to infection control measures. NO WALK-IN appointments are permitted.
- If the student tests positive for COVID-19, Health Services will develop a treatment and isolation plan with the student. Isolation can be at the student’s permanent residence, at another appropriate off campus location, or in one of Belmont's pre-determined isolation rooms. Prescription/ non-prescription medications, as well as medical supplies will be available through the Gabhart Clinic.
- If the student tests negative but is symptomatic, the clinician may make a presumed diagnosis of COVID-19 and/or perform a confirmation PCR test. It will be at the clinician’s discretion for continuation of self-isolation protocols and additional testing/treatment.
- For medical emergencies, student should call Campus Security at 615-460-6911 to assist with identifying transport for immediate care at a local hospital. Local urgent care clinic and testing site information for After Hours care can be found on the Health Services website.)
- The Belmont Contact Tracing team will follow-up with the student after the positive test result to obtain close contacts that need to be notified and establish a communication plan throughout the isolation period. The Health Department is notified of positive test result and may also contact the student.
- Student will be required to complete the Daily Symptom Monitoring Questionnaire in their Health Portal.
- Health Services will contact Student Care and Support who will reach out to the student and advise of supportive services and connect them to necessary resources during their isolation period including food, tele-counseling, Learning Centers, etc.
- As a reminder, students who are placed in quarantine due to exposure are asked to notify professors of their situation and expected length of absence. Upon a student’s request, the Student Care and Support Team will provide notification of quarantine /positive test to professors and are available to assist with academic needs.
- Isolation will be discontinued
- 10 days after symptoms began AND
- At least 24 hours with no fever of 100.4 or higher (without the use of fever-reducing medications) AND
- Other symptoms are improving.
-
For more information: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation-QuarantineRelease.pdf and to use Tennessee Department of Health’s Quarantine Date Calculator: https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/quarantine-isolation-calculator/
Updated
Off Campus Student with Exposure to COVID-19 (Asymptomatic)- If an off-campus student has had a known exposure to COVID-19, the student should update the Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker within the Belmont Health Portal as soon as possible. Health Services will be notified of the concern through the symptom tracker and reach out directly to the student to determine next steps.
- The student will be required to stay off campus and self-quarantine.
-
Health Services may contact the student by telephone or secure messaging through their Health Portal regarding testing and plan for quarantine as indicated. If a student is identified as a close contact of a positive case, the Belmont Contact Tracing Team will notify the student of an exposure.
- Note: If after further investigation, student is not considered a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, they will resume normal activity and will continue to complete symptom tracker daily.
- The Belmont Contact Tracing team will develop a quarantine plan and will provide instructions regarding self-quarantine at the student’s off-campus residence and establish a communication plan throughout the quarantine period. The Health Department may also contact the student.
- Students in quarantine are required to self-screen for symptoms and temperature and report this to Health Services by using the Daily Symptom Monitoring Questionaire in their Health Portal. Belmont Contact Traceing can schedule an appointment for clinic or telehealth visits as needed. If student develops symptoms, they should follow protocol for "Off Campus Student with Symptoms of COVID-19" to be scheduled for testing.
- Health Services will contact Student Care and Support who will reach out to the student and advise of supportive services and connect them to necessary resources during their isolation period including food, tele-counseling, Learning Centers, etc.
- As a reminder, students who are placed in quarantine are asked to notify professors of their situation and expected length of absence. Upon a student’s request, the Student Care and Support Team will provide notification of quarantine /positive test to professors and are available to assist with academic needs.
- 10 Day Quarantine: If you do not develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and you choose not to be tested, you may resume normal activities after Day 10 (resuming normal activities on Day 11).
- 7 Day Quarantine: If you do not have symptoms and if you test negative by PCR or antigen test after Day 5, you may resume normal activities after Day 7 (resuming normal activities on Day 8). *You should continue to monitor yourself for COVID symptoms through Day 14. Mask wearing is especially important though Day 14 and should also continue beyond your quarantine period.
- Anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and who meets the following criteria does NOT need to quarantine.
- Has proof of a positive COVID-19 test within the previous 3 months and
- Has recovered and
- Remains without COVID-19 symptoms (for example, cough, shortness of breath)
- For more information: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation-QuarantineRelease.pdf and to use Tennessee Department of Health’s Quarantine Date Calculator: https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/quarantine-isolation-calculator/.
Updated
Residential Student with Exposure to COVID-19 (Asymptomatic)- If a residential student has had a known exposure to COVID-19, the student should update the Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker within the Belmont Health Portal as soon as possible. Health Services will be notified of the concern through the symptom tracker and reach out directly to the student within 24 hours to determine next steps.
- The student will be required to stay in his/her room, wear a face covering, avoid contact within 6 feet from others and clean any surfaces he/she touches until a quarantine room is assigned. The student should only attend classes online until assessed by Health Services.
- Health Services may contact the student by telephone or secure messaging through their Health Portal regarding testing and plan for quarantine as indicated. If a student is identified as a close contact of a positive case, the Belmont Contact Tracing Team will notify the student of an exposure.
- Note: If after further investigation, student is not considered a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, they will resume normal activity and will continue to complete symptom tracker daily.
- Health Services will develop a quarantine plan with the student. Exposed but asymptomatic residential students may quarantine at their permanent residence, at another appropriate off campus location, or in one of Belmont's pre-determined quarantine rooms. If roommates and suitemates are all close contacts, they will quarantine as a “family group” in their suite.
- The Belmont Contact Tracing team will follow up with the student to establish a communication plan throughout the quarantine period. The Health Department may also contact the student.
- Students in quarantine are required to self-screen for symptoms and temperature and report this to Health Services by using the Daily Symptom Monitoring Questionaire in their Health Portal. Belmont Contact Traceing can schedule an appointment for clinic or telehealth visits as needed. If student develops symptoms, they should follow protocol for "Residential Student with Symptoms of COVID-19" to be scheduled for testing.
- Health Services will contact Student Care and Support who will reach out to the student and advise of supportive services and connect them to necessary resources during their isolation period including food, tele-counseling, Learning Centers, etc.
- As a reminder, students who are placed in quarantine are asked to notify professors of their situation and expected length of absence. Upon a student’s request, the Student Care and Support Team will provide notification of quarantine /positive test to professors and are available to assist with academic needs.
- Quarantine will be discontinued 14 days after the last contact with the person infected with COVID-19 (resuming normal activities on Day 15). There are two alternative, but less effective, quarantine release options outlined by CDC and the Tennessee Department of Health that the Belmont Contact Tracing team may utilize when determining a student’s release date:
- 10 Day Quarantine: If you do not develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and you choose not to be tested, you may resume normal activities after Day 10 (resuming normal activities on Day 11).
- 7 Day Quarantine: If you do not have symptoms and if you test negative by PCR or antigen test after Day 5, you may resume normal activities after Day 7 (resuming normal activities on Day 8). *You should continue to monitor yourself for COVID symptoms through Day 14. Mask wearing is especially important though Day 14 and should also continue beyond your quarantine period.
- Has proof of a positive COVID-19 test within the previous 3 months and
- Has recovered and
- Remains without COVID-19 symptoms (for example, cough, shortness of breath)
- For more information: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation-QuarantineRelease.pdf and to use Tennessee Department of Health’s Quarantine Date Calculator: https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/quarantine-isolation-calculator/.
Belmont Contact Tracing Program
Belmont University conducts contact tracing for our campus community to ensure the highest degree of health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. The Belmont Contact Tracing Program is not a replacement for contact tracing performed by public health organizations but aims to assist and reinforce public health guidance within the unique context of our educational institution. The program will continuously monitor only members of our campus community to connect them to healthcare services and decrease potential exposure and risk of transmission of COVID-19 at Belmont University.
For any student who tests positive, Belmont’s contact tracing team will conduct regular check-ins to ensure the student is doing well, does not need to seek additional medical attention and is compliant with isolation. Health Services will be available for telehealth visits as needed. Belmont contact tracers will also identify close contacts within the Belmont community for prompt notification and appropriate cleaning/disinfecting measures. The contact tracing team will educate students on time period for isolation in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Asymptomatic Testing
Belmont will utilize a COVID-19 mitigation strategy – a voluntary sentinel surveillance testing program for asymptomatic students, faculty and staff. By routinely testing asymptomatic individuals in our campus community, we can contribute to slowing the spread of COVID-19 on campus and persist in our commitment to Defend Our Den. Through this program we will test a small group of our on-campus faculty, staff and students who live off-campus each week.
Because Belmont’s Gabhart Clinic prioritizes testing individuals who are symptomatic or have known exposure, as well as subsequent treatment and contact tracing, we encourage those who are asymptomatic and do not have a known exposure, to volunteer for this free sentinel testing, or to seek testing at one of the following options near campus.
Free asymptomatic COVID testing continues to be available through the Metro Nashville Health Department's drive-thru locations, with results typically received in 1-4 days. In addition, CareNow urgent care clinics offer COVID testing billed to insurance with results typically received in 1-2 days. Same day appointments are made online at CareNow.com.
Isolation/Quarantine
Belmont University has worked in tandem with public health officials and communicable disease experts to develop comprehensive policies and procedures to mitigate COVID-19 risks on campus and provide high quality support services to all students, so they may continue work towards their academic success. Isolation housing will be available in the event a residential student becomes ill with COVID-19, and University Health Services, Dining Services, Student Life and faculty will partner to ensure each student's needs are met.
FAQ for Daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker
- How often will I receive the daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker email and text?
- Can I control what time I receive my daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker reminder?
- How do I sign up for a daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker text reminder?
- Log into your MyBelmont account
- Click “Health Services” on left side of screen
- Click “Health Portal”
- Click “Go to Health Portal”
- Click your name located in blue in the upper right corner
- Click Edit Profile
- Verify or add your cell phone number
- Select your cell as your preferred number
- Check the box verifying that you would like to receive the text messages
- Click “Save”
- Can I opt-out of the e-mail and text daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker reminder?
- Why didn’t I receive my morning COVID-19 Symptom Tracker e-mail?
- Can I access the daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker link anywhere else besides the link sent in the e-mail or text?
- If I stay at home on a particular day but come to campus on other days, is the daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker still required?
- Do I need to fill out the daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker if I am going to classes or teaching 100% on line?
The e-mail will be sent every morning including the weekend. All faculty, adjuncts, staff and students are required to complete the daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker form each morning, unless you are conducting your studies or teaching 100% remotely this term.
The text reminder will be sent ONLY if you elect to sign up for that option. Due to some cell provider processes, you may receive your text reminder later than your e-mail notification.
No, the e-mail is automatically generated every morning to arrive around 7am. You are able to STOP the text message reminder at any time if you selected to opt-into that notification. The daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker form can always be accessed at this link https://belmont.medicatconnect.com/
STEPS FOR OPTING INTO TEXT MESSAGING FOR YOUR DAILY COVID-19 SYMPTOM TRACKER FORM:
It is NOT possible to opt of the daily e-mail notification. You are able to STOP the text message reminder at any time if you selected to opt-into that notification.
Be sure to check your Junk or Clutter folders. If it is in the Junk folder, you should be able to right click the message, scroll down to Junk Mail in the popup menu, then select Mark as Not Junk. This will prevent it from going to that folder in the future. If it is in the Clutter folder, you can move it to the Inbox. In the event that the message is not in the Junk or Clutter folders, the daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker form can always be accessed at this link https://belmont.medicatconnect.com/
Yes, the daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker form can always be accessed at this link https://belmont.medicatconnect.com/
Yes, All faculty, staff and students are required to complete a daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker form each morning, unless you are conducting your studies or teaching 100% remotely this term. We do ask that you complete the tracker if you plan to be on campus in any capacity.
All faculty, staff and students are required to complete a daily COVID-19 Symptom Tracker form each morning unless you are conducting your studies or teaching 100% remotely this term. We do ask that you complete the form if you plan to be on campus in any capacity.