Riverland Community College

Individual COVID-19 Response and Mitigation

The COVID-19 virus continues to circulate globally and in our communities. Yet, high levels of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity and the availability of effective treatment and prevention tools have substantially reduced our risk for medically significant COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and death.

Riverland goals remain focused on safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of our faculty, staff and you students allowing you to continue toward your personal educational goals.

Riverland has transferred pandemic efforts to what the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health call Individual COVID-19 Response and Mitigation.

We look to students, faculty and staff to stay up to date on vaccinations, including COVID-19.

• Stay home when sick or not feeling well and work with your instructors and supervisors to keep them informed. 
• Get tested for COVID-19 based on symptoms and recommendations from healthcare providers. If you test positive. 
• Exercise sound hygiene by washing hands often,
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• Wear a mask or face covering as desired. Masks are currently optional, but we support and encourage anyone who chooses to wear a mask in any of our campus buildings.

In other words, we are asking you to take care of yourself and others throughout the upcoming academic year.

What to do if you are Exposed To Covid-19: (Updated Aug. 24, 2022)

After Being Exposed to COVID-19:

• START PRECAUTIONS Immediately.
• Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed.
• Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.
• Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.
• CONTINUE PRECAUTIONS 10 Full Days.
• You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public
• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.
• Take extra precautions if you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
• Watch for symptoms, if you develop symptoms isolate immediately.
• GET TESTED Day 6.
• Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure.
• Test even if you don’t develop symptoms.
• If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.
• IF YOU TEST negative, continue taking precautions through day 10.
• Wear a high-quality mask when around others at home and indoors in public.
• You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.

CDC Quarantine and Isolation Calculator

A tool to help determine how long you need to isolate, quarantine, or other steps to prevent the spreading of COVID-19. People with COVID-19 and close contacts should follow the recommendations outlined on link below. These recommendations do not change based on COVID-19 community levels.

GET STARTED 

 

Test Kits

Minnesotans may order two test kits (for a total of four tests) per home through an online ordering system. 

How To Get a Test

Minnesotans have other options to access COVID-19 testing:

• Through the federal government, Minnesotans can order free rapid at-home tests at CovidTests.gov. Food banks, local public health agencies, community groups, and other community health organizations may also have free tests available.
• Costs for over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests are now required to be covered by health plans offered by insurance companies, employers, and groups under actions taken by the Biden Administration. In some circumstances, Minnesotans can receive free tests by showing their insurance card at a store. Minnesotans should check with their health plan prior to purchasing at-home tests to ensure they are following the steps necessary to have costs covered.
• Anyone can walk in or schedule an appointment for a test at one of the state’s free COVID-19 Community Testing sites or find a testing option near them through the state’s Find Testing Locations map.

Resources

• Vaccines.gov (Use Vaccines.gov to find a location near you, then call or visit their website to make an appointment.)
• Minnesota COVID-19 Response (Find Covid 19 Vaccine Locations)
• Walk in or Make an Appointment 

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