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Isolation Process

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Overview

Biola is committed to providing the best possible care for our students during isolation. If you need anything during your isolation/quarantine, please contact Olivia Sorenson at covidcarecoordinator@biola.edu or for immediate assistance, call 562-903-6000. Below you will find step-by-step information on Biola’s isolation and quarantine process.

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Isolation Process for COVID Positives

When a student tests positive for COVID, the Student Health Center notifies Housing and Residence Life of the need to isolate the student. The student will need to take the following steps below:

Steps for Isolation Process

  1. Check their email for a message from the COVID Care Coordinator. The email will include details on where your isolation room is located, residence hall and room number.
  2. Students who tested positive for COVID will be required to isolate for 10 days. There is NO option for a shorter isolation period for COVID positive patients per LACDPH/CDC guidelines.
  3. Respond to phone calls from Rapid-Trace, Biola's contact tracing company, and provide a clear and accurate information in response to their questions. Biola is working with Rapid-Trace to stop the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Quick and effective contact tracing is critical to mitigating spread on campus.
  4. Contact Campus Safety at 562-903-6000 or dial "0" on any campus phone to gain access to the building in which their quarantine room is located.
  5. When they arrive at their isolation room, they will receive an isolation packet that will include things that will help them during their isolation. They can email Olivia Sorenson, the COVID Care Coordinator, at covidcarecoordinator@biola.edu with questions about their isolation and if they want to talk to her about their experience in isolation.
  6. Fill out the meal form immediately after they receive the email from the COVID Care Coordinator. It is important to remember what building and room the student is staying in because inaccurate information means mis-delivered meals. The Caf will be able to provide students with the number of meals designated in their meal plan. We strongly suggest students request a full 7 days of meals. Be sure to submit another order on that seventh day and order meals up until your quarantine end date. If a student does not have a meal plan or wants to add more meals to their meal plan, instructions for adding or changing a meal plan can be found on biola.edu/dining-services/meal-plans. Should a student want to add funds to their student account, they can do so at biola.edu/id-card-office/faqs. The Caf staff will be leaving the Caf with meals at the following times;
    1. During the week you can expect deliveries within the hour:
      1. Breakfast: 7–8 a.m.
      2. Lunch: 11 a.m.– 12 p.m.
      3. Dinner: 4–5 p.m.
    2. On the weekends, you can expect deliveries within the hour:
      1. Lunch: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
      2. Dinner: 5–6 p.m.
    3. If a student is released from quarantine early, they should contact steve.rall@biola.edu and roxanne.thomas@biola.edu to cancel any remaining meals on their order.
  7. Trash should be left outside the door and will be picked up by facilities regularly.
  8. Students should pack enough clothing and supplies for a 10 day quarantine, and should not rely on possibly being released early. Sheet, soap, towel and water bottles will be provided but students are welcome to bring their own bedding if that will make them more comfortable. Students will not have access to a microwave or fridge.
  9. Some items to pack for a comfortable quarantine include:
    1. Clothes for 10 days
    2. All class books and homework
    3. Computer and chargers
    4. Toiletries and medications
    5. Water bottle and/or cup
    6. Snacks
    7. Things that make you feel cozy and comfortable in a new room
    8. Favorite blanket and pillow
    9. Socks and slippers
    10. Pictures from home
    11. Coffeemaker and/or electric kettle
    12. Self-care items
    13. Art supplies
    14. Things that will help you pass the time (i.e. games, books, bible and journal)
  10. Class work and attendance: Students are expected to attend remote classes and complete assignments unless otherwise instructed by your health care providers or professors. Students should talk with their professors if they need extensions on assignments. Students can also contact the Learning Center regarding accommodations if their learning is greatly impacted during this time.
  11. Students should not leave their room at all during their isolation, including going into the room adjacent to their suite, as facilities might be cleaning. Here are the exceptions on when a student can leave their isolation room:
    1. Need medical care or they have medical appointments.
    2. If there is a fire alarm, wear a mask and practice physical distancing at all times.
    3. Fresh Air and Sunshine – Students in Sigma and Thompson can sign up to spend an hour in a park-like outdoor on-campus space as you spend your time in isolation/quarantine. The outdoor space is located just off of the La Mirada entrance of Biola’s campus, and is a pleasant five-minute walk up the horse trail from Thompson Hall.
  12. A clearance with the Student Health Center triage nurse is needed to ensure your symptoms are improving and that you've been without fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducers. Students will receive a phone call from the Health Center to discuss their clearance from isolation. A student can also call the Health Center if they have not heard anything close to their estimated clearance date.
  13. When the student is released from isolation, the COVID Care Coordinator will email them instructions on “what to do after clearance.”

If phone calls or emails receive no response from the student, the Health Center will report the student to Student Development and Campus Safety for accountability actions to take place. These messages are sent to their Biola email and state they have an important message from the Health Center. They need to click on the link in the email and read the message for them. This is our primary way of notifying students of COVID exposures on campus. The Health Center staff may also attempt to connect with students via Campus Safety and at times through phone calls labeled "No Caller ID.”

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Quarantine Process for COVID Exposure

When a student has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, the following will need to take place.

Those who have been exposed and are feeling well are advised to monitor themselves for any illness symptoms for 10 days following their last exposure, wear a mask while around others for 10 days following their last exposure, and test 3-5 days following their last exposure regardless of vaccine status. If symptoms develop and/or there is a positive test, please report to the Student Health Center immediately by calling 562-903-4841.

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Who to Contact

  • Health Center: Students can call the Health Center at (562) 903-4841 if they are experiencing worse symptoms, need medical care or have questions on how to access test results.
  • Quarantine/Isolation Helpline: Students can call (562) 903-6000 if they need immediate assistance while they are in quarantine/isolation. A Housing & Residence Life staff member is available to help with any immediate assistance (i.e. need additional water bottles needed, etc.)
  • Covid Care Coordinator: Olivia Sorenson at covidcarecoordinator@biola.edu.
  • Pastoral Care: Students can sign up for Pastoral Care if they want to process something that has been on their heart.
  • Spiritual Direction: Students can sign up for free spiritual direction. They may feel like some "stuff" is stirring in their relationship with God as they are in this time of isolation. It’s normal — many of your defenses are down and you are more vulnerable and raw. It might be a great idea to process this with a professional.
  • Learning Center: For students who have tested positive for COVID and need accommodations or assistance communicating with their faculty, they can email the LC team directly at learning.center@biola.edu.

Read the FAQs about isolation and quarantine.

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