Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a list of testing locations and websites to schedule testing appointments. 

• Walgreens
• CVS including Minute Clinics
• Rite Aid
• Kaiser (for those with Kaiser insurance)
• Local Urgent Care or Primary Care Physician (check with your insurance regarding coverage)
• Visit the website for CA testing options
• Visit the Testing Solutions website for other options

As of Friday, March 4, 2022, masks were no longer required indoors for anyone regardless of vaccination status per the county. The County of Los Angeles and Cal-OSHA modified their indoor mask mandates — they are now strongly encouraging indoor masking, but not requiring it. Masks will be optional for all faculty, staff and students, regardless of vaccination status, except when visiting the Student Health Center and when two or more people are occupying a Biola-provided vehicle such as Campus Safety vehicles, the Biola shuttle and mail services vehicles. 

In our commitment to the health and safety of our community, we will continue to ask students and employees to self-monitor for COVID symptoms and stay home if they are feeling sick. 

Students, faculty and staff are not presently required to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to campus, but they are encouraged to get it. However, there are some student groups who are required to get the vaccine and booster such as nursing students in the clinical program.

The CDC and L.A. County Department of Health states that being vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, is still the best protection against COVID-19 and significant health issues related to COVID.

Yes, the Health Center has vaccines available and free of charge. Feel free to contact the Health Center to schedule an appointment.

Students can voluntarily wear face coverings outdoors for their own comfort, health and safety. At this time, all students, regardless of vaccination status are required to wear a face covering indoors. 

We will have students from all over the country and the world coming to campus, living and learning in close proximity. Some will be vaccinated and some will not, and students will have differing opinions regarding face coverings. We are a community that promotes respect and kindness to one another regardless of our thoughts on COVID. We want to promote an environment where those in our community who desire to wear a mask outdoors can do so without being shamed. Biola will not tolerate any form of bullying and staff will engage in allegations of bullying or harassment with appropriate measures.

We have a team who will care for our residential students who may need to go into isolation. Our plan includes:

1. Students will have their meals delivered to their room, which is handled by the Resident Director in partnership with the Manager of the Cafeteria.
2. A 24/7 Student Care Support Team will provide general care and time sensitive emergency response. This team is comprised of the Resident Directors and Campus Safety personnel. 
3. Daily medical check-ins will be conducted by the Health Center team. The purpose of this team is to monitor the student’s progress and address any current or emerging health issues.
4. The Biola Learning Center will work directly with the student's professors to help manage the student's academic needs.
5. The Biola Counseling Center will be available to walk-alongside students, as needed.
6. Lastly, we have a Pastoral Care Team that will be in touch with the students to encourage and pray with them.
7. Visit the Quarantine and Isolation Care page for more details.

International students returning to the United States for the spring semester will not need to quarantine, but they will need to be fully vaccinated. As of November 8, 2021, the government will require all foreign, non-citizen, non-immigrant, national travelers to the United States to be fully vaccinated, this includes international students (some exceptions are available).

Any student, regardless of vaccination, who is experiencing symptoms should contact the Health Center for next steps including possible testing. All students, staff or faculty are encouraged to be tested at local testing sites such as CVS, Walgreens, local urgent care or primary care providers. Costs range from $30 to $125 or may be covered by health insurance. Students may see a healthcare provider at the Student Health Center free of charge, regardless of insurance. Services such as COVID-19 testing (apart from the free surveillance testing), other lab work, immunizations and medications are available for a fee.

Employees or students who tested positive during the Christmas break need to upload their positive test results to the confidential, secure Medicat portal and email the Health Center for further instructions on clearance to return to campus. Employees or students who have tested positive in the 90 days prior to the Christmas break need to upload documentation of their positive test result via Medicat before returning to campus. Employees or students who test positive prior to returning to campus need to immediately notify the Health Center at 562-903-4841 and stay home.

Contact Olivia Sorenson at covidcarecoordinator@biola.edu and we will coordinate with staff to get additional water.

Find instructions for adding or changing your meal plan on biola.edu/dining-services/meal-plans. Should you like to add funds to your student account, go to biola.edu/id-card-office/faqs.

Leave it outside your room; facilities will be checking for trash regularly.

Unfortunately, no. If you have a major issue that needs cleaning, please let us know and we’ll do what we can to help!

Yes, definitely. Make sure you are wearing your mask and that you keep at least 6 ft distance from others. Return immediately to your room upon the building being cleared. You will probably need the RA or Campus Safety to unlock your room.

You definitely can! Please let us and the Health Center know ASAP if that is your plan.

Please contact the Health Center about this.

Unfortunately no. We can provide packets of sink detergent for you to use to wash any clothes in your sink. Let covidcarecoordinator@biola.edu know if you would like one.

Unfortunately no; you’ll need to stay in your assigned room.

Unless it is absolutely essential to your health/well-being or academics, it will need to wait. If it is essential, see if a friend could coordinate with your RA to gain access to your room to get what you need.

The nasal swab tests provide results within 15 minutes which allows us the opportunity to very quickly identify and isolate COVID-19 infections, something which is of utmost importance, especially since we are a residential campus.

We understand some have concerns about the use of Ethylene oxide (EO) as a sterilizing agent on some of the swabs in some of the available COVID test kits Biola uses. The scientific data shows that EO is used on a wide variety of medical supplies to keep people safe from harmful bacteria. At the conclusion of the sterilization process, EO gas is removed from products, and we understand that the FDA monitors this process to ensure safety. The Safety Data Sheet for the nasal swab provided by the manufacturer reports there is no carcinogenic effect. Additionally, we recently reached out directly to the CDC who provided the following statement. “Ethylene oxide sterilization is an important sterilization method that manufacturers widely use to keep medical devices safe. Manufacturers follow strict standards, regulated by the FDA, to ensure that any residual ethylene oxide on medical devices, such as swabs, is within safe limits for use. Long-term and occupational exposure to ethylene oxide have been linked to cancer”. The occasional testing for COVID is not considered long-term exposure.

At this time Los Angeles County does not require quarantine for asymptomatic, well students who have been exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. However, we are asking for students to continue to report known exposures to the Student Health Center. A nurse can offer guidance on testing timelines, temporary masking and symptom monitoring.