Until further notice, the University of Houston requires face coverings for all students and employees while on-campus, in the following areas:

• Indoor public areas on campus, except where marked, even if you are alone. This includes all non-private office or residential spaces, such as lobbies, restrooms, classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, common spaces in residence halls, conference rooms, and break rooms; and
• Outdoor spaces where six feet or more of physical distancing is difficult to reliably maintain.

Face coverings are not required in the following limited circumstances:

• When in your own residential space
• When working alone in a single office
• When engaging in physical activity outside
• When doing so poses a greater mental or physical health, safety or security risk
• While operating outdoor equipment if not appropriate from a safety standpoint
• When consuming food or drink
• When engaging in personal hygiene activities

Exceptions will be made for those individuals who, due to a specific medical condition, cannot wear a face covering and have received an accommodation. Requests for an exception due to a medical condition for students will be handled by the Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center and requests for employees will be handled by Equal Opportunity Services.

For more information and answers to questions about the use of face coverings, please see Face Covering FAQs.

1. What if I live with a roommate?
   Face coverings are not required when students are in their personal on-campus residence hall rooms/suites or apartments (including private and suite-style bathrooms). When you and your roommate first come together at the start of the semester, you should have a discussion around face-covering expectations.
2. Do I need to wear a face-covering in the hallways and other areas of my residence hall?
   Face coverings are required when students and visitors are in residence hall/apartment hallways or while visiting other students’ rooms/apartments. Face coverings are also required while in common areas and community bathrooms, except for while showering or engaging in personal hygiene activities.  If residents have sinks in their rooms, then they should perform activities that require touching of the face (brushing teeth, washing face, etc.) at those sinks instead of at the sinks in the community bathrooms.
3.   If I have already had COVID-19, do I have to wear a face-covering? 
   Scientific understanding of COVID-19 is still evolving, and currently, it is not known if those who have had the disease can be re-infected and become contagious again.
4. What if I encounter a scenario that is not clear on if I should wear a face covering?
   You should use your own knowledge and select the option that best protects and comforts those around you.  A good standard to follow is to wear a face-covering in public settings, especially where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
5. How will the University ensure compliance with the face-covering directive?
   Compliance with the face-covering directive will be handled like any other University policy, standard, or guideline. The person refusing or failing to comply with the face-covering will be asked to comply, and if refusal continues may be documented through our student code of conduct and/or asked to leave the common area space.
6. How should I raise a concern about someone not adhering to the face-covering requirement? 
   Please contact the Student Housing and Residential Life staff person in the area where the infraction occurred.  The staff member head will ascertain whether the person has an exemption and, if not, politely direct the person to wear a face-covering or vacate the public area.
7. Can students or employees be directed to vacate University property by a supervisor if they refuse to wear a face-covering? 
   Yes, unless they have received an exemption, or the area or position has been granted a waiver from the face coverings policy.  If individuals are not wearing a face-covering in a public area, then the first response should be a collegial reminder. If the individual refuses to wear a face covering, a staff member overseeing the area may direct the individual to leave the public area. 
8. Are there limits to the design of the face-covering?
   The policy on Freedom of Expression (SAM 01.D.15) states: “Activities that are unlawful or that materially and substantially disrupt the normal operations of the university’s campus are prohibited.”

Limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19:   

1. Put distance between yourself and other people. Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people. 
2. Avoid gathering in groups. However, if a group is meeting, meet in a public place where 6 feet of social distancing can be maintained. Wearing masks is mandatory unless a resident has accommodation on file.
3. Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
4. Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick 

Can I have guests or visitors in my room if I am not sick?  

1. Guest is defined as anyone not assigned by SHRL to the space in which they are present.
2. SHRL advises residents can not have guests in the building.  
3. Residents are required to limit guests to only 1 at any time and only in community spaces where social spaces of at least 6 feet (2 meters) are maintained such as lounges.  
4. Guests are not allowed in residential rooms.  Guests may again be allowed once the pandemic improves and/or successful treatment/vaccines become widely available. 
5. Prior to entering the building, guests will need to confirm with a resident host that they are not sick and have no COVID-19 symptoms.  
6. Guests must always be accompanied by a resident host.
7. Given the level of social distancing Student Housing and Residential Life reserve the right to further limit guests within the residential spaces.  

Can I have guests or visitors in my room if I choose to isolate/self-quarantine on campus? 

No. Guests and visitors are not permitted if you choose to isolate/self-quarantine on campus.

Students residing in university housing are required to report to the institution if and when they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 under the University of Houston COVID-19 guidelines. More information can be found at https://uh.edu/covid-19/.  

What do I do if I feel sick, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, have been diagnosed, or am waiting for test results? 

1. If you have a fever, cough or any of the other Coronavirus Symptoms you might have COVID-19.
2. Do not go to class or work; do not participate in any campus activities. If you are off-campus, do not come to campus. 
3. If you are currently on campus, it is strongly recommended that you return home or seek off-campus housing in the event of COVID-19 related isolation or self- quarantine. This will assist in maintaining the health and wellbeing of all residents living on campus.  
4. Notify appropriate Student Housing and Residential Life personnel and fill out pertinent forms as soon as possible. This information can be found directly below on the next FAQ.  
5. Contact the  Student Health Center  or your health care provider for diagnosis, treatment options , and/or recommendations on testing, as necessary. Avoid using public transportation or leaving your isolation or self-quarantine location unless it is for an immediate medical or a building emergency. 
6. Follow the  Self-Quarantine/Isolation protocols and do not return to campus or leave your isolation or self-quarantine location until written approval is received. See Completion of Self-Quarantine/Isolation. 

*Continue to keep track of your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19. 

Who should I notify if I feel sick?  

During business hours, notify your Desk Assistant (DA) or Residence Advisor (RA). If your DA/RA is unavailable, contact your Residence Life Coordinator (RLC). Contact information for your RLC can be found here: https://uh.edu/housing/about/meet-our-staff/ . Outside of business hours, call the DA for your residence hall: 

• Bayou Oaks - 713-743-6594
• Cougar Place - 713-743-6994
• Cougar Village I - 832-842-6020
• Cougar Village II - 713-743-6432
• Moody Towers North - 713-743-6057
• Moody Towers South - 713-743-6056
• The Quad - 713-743-6044
• University Lofts - 832-842-5638

*Please provide the following information in your communication: your first and last name, student ID number, room and bed space booking number, best estimate of the time of exposure/ date, and time of positive COVID-19 test result. 

What mandatory forms should I fill out if I feel sick? 

• If you are diagnosed with or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, complete the form Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms. 
• If you think you have/ have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 complete the Reporting Potential Exposure Form.   
• If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must also notify the COVID-19 Response Coordinator. 

What mandatory forms should I fill out if I have traveled internationally? 

• If you have traveled internationally, complete the Reporting Potential Exposure Form.   
• If you traveled internationally in the last 14 days: 
• Stay home, monitor your health, and practice social distancing for 14 days after you return from travel. Social distancing means staying out of crowded places, avoiding group gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible. 

What do I do if my roommate or someone I have been in contact with shows symptoms, or has been exposed to COVID-19? 

1. If you think you have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, complete the Reporting Potential Exposure Form.
2. If you are diagnosed with or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, complete the form Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms. 
3. Contact Student Health or your health care provider for diagnosis, treatment, and/or testing, as necessary. 
4. Continue to keep track of your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately. 
5. Notify your RA if living in residential housing or the COVID-19 Response Coordinator if living off-campus. 
6. Stay home and continue to monitor your symptoms
7. Follow CDC Guidance 
8. If, at any time, you test positive for COVID-19, notify the COVID-19 Response Coordinator.
9. Follow the Self-Quarantine/Isolation protocols and do not return to campus until written approval is received. See Completion of Self-Quarantine/Isolation. 

When can I return to campus if I choose to isolate/ self-quarantine off-campus? 

If you have been self-quarantined or self-isolated, you must receive written approval to return to campus before resuming your normal school, work and related activities. 

To do so, complete the form Request to Return to Campus. 

Your request to return will be evaluated based upon your unique circumstance. 

Written approval is required before any UH community member may return to campus after self-quarantine or self-isolation. 

Isolation vs. Quarantine 

What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?

• Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.
• Isolation separates sick people confirmed to have a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
• For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/index.html.

To protect the safety and wellbeing of all residents living in our residence halls, it is strongly recommended that you return home or seek off-campus housing in the event of COVID-19 related self-quarantine or isolation.  

If you choose to stay on campus, you may be required to move to a designated isolation/ quarantine space on campus for a length of time depending on CDC Guidelines. For safety purposes, residents will arrange for the transportation of their own belongings.  

Can I leave my room if I choose to isolate/ self-quarantine on campus?  

If you have chosen to isolate/ self-quarantine on campus, you must remain inside your space with the door closed for the entire duration of time. You must receive written approval to leave your room before resuming your normal school, work, and related activities. 

To receive written approval, complete the form Request to Return to Campus. 

Residents’ request to discontinue isolation or quarantine will be evaluated based on individual circumstances. These circumstances may be found here: https://uh.edu/covid-19/information/completion-self-quarantine-isolation/   

Exceptions include urgent medical appointments and building emergencies. 

Can I remain in my SHRL designated isolation/ quarantine space after I am done self- quarantining / isolating? 

Residents who have been moved to another space outside their assigned room will be asked to return to their assigned housing space for the duration of the semester.  

What services will Student Housing and Residential Life provide to me during my time in Isolation/ Quarantine Housing? 

Services will be limited if you choose to stay on campus as you self-quarantine, or isolate. Student Housing and Residential Life staff will help coordinate services for you such as dining, mail/package delivery and garbage disposal. Residents will not have access to shared laundry rooms during their time in self-quarantine/isolation. Instructions will be provided on how to do laundry manually. Information about dining options can be found here https://www.dineoncampus.com/uh/opening-safely.

1. https://uh.edu/covid-19/ 
2. https://uh.edu/healthcenter/
3. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html 
4. Texas Medical Center COVID-19 Testing Trends: https://www.tmc.edu/coronavirus-updates/covid-19-testing-trends/?fbclid=IwAR3k7zuqQcEDck5IqZNEsgGpWMA-WiIwwdZV6MU-_f78fo0W9TFgT7rAacU