Latest Information on COVID-19

Fall 2021 Update

During the past year, community members worked tirelessly to ensure our educational opportunities kept going. We were able to do this…AND keep people safe.  As we move into the future, we have the same intent in an increasingly post-pandemic world – to provide the best educational experiences AND keep the full Bastyr community as safe and healthy as possible. This is a balancing act, and we will continue to monitor and adapt as needed or mandated by local public health requirements.  Moving forward, we will adopt the following practices:

Vaccinations

We will continue to strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccinations to all community members. We recognize some individuals in our community have medical, religious, or other concerns that will guide their decision to forego vaccines. While some community members have pressed for a vaccination mandate, it’s unlikely that mandates have any more power than recommendations since even mandates provide exceptions and exemptions.  A policy of strong recommendation versus a policy of mandate with exception/exemption will likely result in similar outcomes. 

In-person activities

Students, please note that we will have classes primarily in-person for Fall 2021 unless your program is designed to be online. While there may be a few classes offered in a remote or hybrid manner, Bastyr University is returning primarily to full-time, in-person programming. Students and Faculty should plan to be on campus and at clinics for most classes and shifts. Any variations will be made clear to students through the academic departments. In the coming days, more information will be available regarding course schedules for student planning purposes.

Staff members will resume working on campus in the fall, with some remote work opportunities as appropriate.  More information on Bastyr’s future remote-work policy will be shared in August.  Employees who wish to return to work onsite in advance of the Fall Quarter may use the summer as an optional transition period, as further described below.   

Masks

At ALL locations associated with Bastyr University, you will be required to wear a mask in ALL indoor locations. The only exception will be if you are in an office, alone, with your door closed. This includes dormitories. You will not need to wear a mask if you are outside of a building.

Additionally, everyone is asked to continue to observe physical distancing where possible. 

In closing, we'd like to again thank everyone and again emphasize all guidelines are in place to continue with our mission of education, service and research while maximizing the health and safety of our greater community.  Please continue to support each other, and be considerate of those around you.  We have all gone through a challenging year and have done a great job of staying healthy as a community.  Now it is time to forge a new path together. It is exciting that we are moving toward new opportunities to be together this fall.

Summer 2021 and Travel Policy

Summer 2021 - Didactic Programs – mostly online – with some labs/clinical skills courses in-person

Didactic courses for Summer 2021 will be delivered remotely/online, however, some labs and clinical skills courses will be held in-person. Our faculty are continually developing increasingly robust, remote/online curricula. Academic departments can be contacted for more information regarding in-person courses.

Clinical Shifts at BCNH and BUC

Bastyr has resumed limited, in-person patient shifts. We are also continuing to conduct telehealth video visits.  If you are scheduled for a clinic shift, plan to be available to attend shifts in-person at the clinic. We will work with students who have needs or circumstances that would make this challenging. 

 

The travel policy varies for domestic vs. international travel, and on the basis of vaccination status.  

Domestic Travel Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated* Travelers

Individuals who are Fully Vaccinated* are no longer required to quarantine for 10-days after out-of-state travel

  • It is still recommended ALL individuals follow the steps listed below for travel to protect others:
  • wear a mask over your nose and mouth on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and train stations 
  • avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet from anyone who is not traveling with you
  • wash your hands often, or use hand sanitizer
  • self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after travel and isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms
  • follow all state and local recommendations and requirements

 

Domestic Travel Recommendations for Unvaccinated Travelers

Travelers are advised to delay travel until fully vaccinated*.  Travelers not fully vaccinated*, who must travel out-of-state, are required to quarantine for 10-days after date of return.

To help protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19, the following is recommended:

  • get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip
  • wear a mask over your nose and mouth while traveling on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and train stations  
  • avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet from anyone who is not traveling with you
  • wash your hands often or use hand sanitize
  • avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days after travel
  • self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after travel and isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms
  • follow all state and local recommendations and requirements

DO NOT TRAVEL IF you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, you test positive for COVID-19, or you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.  Don't travel with someone who is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19.

 

International Travel Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated* Travelers

Before you travel:

  • Make sure you understand and follow all airline and destination requirements related to travel, testing, or quarantine, which may differ from U.S. requirements. If you do not follow your destination’s requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return to the United States.
  • Check the current COVID-19 situation in your destination.

During traveling:

  • Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
  • Follow all recommendations and requirements at your destination, including mask wearing and social distancing

Before you arrive in the United States:

  • All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.

After travel:

  • Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel.
  • Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
  • Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.

 

International Travel Recommendations for Unvaccinated Travelers

Travelers are advised to delay travel until fully vaccinated*.  Travelers not fully vaccinated*, who must travel out-of-state, are required to quarantine for 10-days after date of return.

If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, take the following steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:

Before you travel:

  • Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.
  • Make sure you understand and follow all airline and destination requirements related to travel, testing, or quarantine, which may differ from U.S. requirements. If you do not follow your destination’s requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return to the United States.
  • Check the COVID-19 situation in your destination.

While you are traveling:

  • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
  • Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you.
  • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).

Before you arrive in the United States:

  • All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 viral test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.

After you travel:

  • Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
  • Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 10 days.
  • If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
  • Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
  • Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
  • Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
  • Visit your state, territorial, tribal, and local external icon health department’s website to look for the latest information on where to get tested.

 

*FULLY VACCINATED

Individuals are considered to be fully vaccinated:

  • 2 weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
  • 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine

If you do not meet these requirements, regardless of age, you are NOT fully vaccinated

 

Statement of Facts and Values

COVID-19 AANMC Statement of Institutional Facts and Values

Archived Updates

For previous website and email communications regarding Bastyr University's response to COVID-19, please see Archived COVID Updates.

Covid-19 Vaccination Eligibility and Access

It has been announced in both Washington State and California that individuals aged 16 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination beginning on Thursday, April 15, 2021. 

Both states have been following a tiered eligibility system beginning with those most at risk of hospitalization and death in order to balance federal guidance with the unique needs of each state.  It is currently unclear how this eligibility changes the distribution of the vaccines or how quickly individuals can become vaccinated. 

  • Washington:  Individuals interested in receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine can locate appointments using the Washington Department of Health Vaccinate WA website: https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/
  • California: California Department of Health MyTurn website:  https://myturn.ca.gov/
  • Seattle/King County:  Individuals who reside or work in Seattle or King County (WA) may pre-register to receive a vaccination at one of the City-affiliated vaccination clinics here: City of Seattle COVID-19 Vaccination Notification List
  • City of Seattle - affiliated vaccination clinics:
    • The Lumen Field Event Center (330 S Royal Brougham Way, Seattle, WA 98134)
    • North Seattle College Community Vaccination Hub (9600 College Way N, Seattle, WA 98103)
    • Rainier Beach Community Vaccination Hub (8702 Seward Park Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118)
    • West Seattle Community Vaccination Hub (2801 SW Thistle St, Seattle, WA 98126)

Additional information about the COVID-19 Vaccine can be found at

Your personal actions create an impact on others.  We should continue doing everything possible to keep cases down and following those measures that have been put in place over the past year, including the wearing of face coverings, distancing, and basic hygiene - even after receiving vaccinations.

We appreciate all that you are doing to keep your community safe, and thank you for considering others as you make plans and continue to help in ensuring the safety and health of those around you.

Should I Self-Quarantine

Decision Making Flow-Chart

COVID-19: Decision Making Flow-Chart 

Above is a flowchart designed to help you decide if you should self-quarantine based on recent interactions and travel. 

Information on how to decide whether to self-quarantine

Below is further information on how you, as an individual, should deal with your own decisions around self-quarantine. The response to COVID-19 is somewhat dependent on your individual circumstances. Below we are offering, based on CDC and public health agency advisement, a plan that addresses when and how to apply self-quarantine.

These directives apply to students, faculty, and staff at BU Kenmore, BU California and all clinics.

 

What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 - symptoms can include fever, cough, or shortness of breath:

You should stay in isolation at home and not come to school or clinic. Please CALL your medical provider to talk through your options. You must stay away from campus/clinic for SEVEN (7) days OR until you have been fever free and symptom free, without the aid of medications, for a period of 72 hours whichever is longer.

 

You have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) and have NOT been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19:

You should stay in isolation at home and not come to school or clinic. You must stay away from campus/clinic until you have been symptom-free and fever-free, without the aid of medications, for a period of 72 hours.

 

You were potentially exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19 OR COVID-19 like symptoms:

Potential exposure means that you have a member of your household with symptoms or you have been within 6 feet for longer than 10 minutes to someone who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (cough, fever and/or shortness of breath). You must stay away from campus/clinic for FOURTEEN (14) days. If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, then you begin following the procedure above (7 days/72 hours). The reason this category is longer than the others is due to potential incubation periods before symptoms begin.

 

The above information is a distillation of a longer set of recommendations from King County Public Health. The full set of information can be found HERE.

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