The Student Health Center staff is here to help answer your COVID-19 questions and provide you support with testing, vaccinations and medial care. All services are currently available in-person.

COVID-19 Health Information

Currently, the Student Health Center is no longer carrying Covid Vaccines.

Additional information and other vaccination locations can be found on 国产AV Vaccination Plan web site. 

 

Prevention

Guidance for unvaccinated people

For members of the Valdosta State community, the best prevention measures for any respiratory virus, including Covid-19, are:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

When you've been fully vaccinated

  • , you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
  • Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. 

 

  POST-VACCINATION PRECAUTIONS

           

    

 Additional Helpful Resources

For the safety of our Blazer community, the following procedures have been established. 

  • All patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should wear a face covering before entering the building. If you do not have symptoms and have not been vaccinated, face coverings are highly encouraged. 
  • Our staff will continue to wear face coverings while seeing patients. 
  • All patients will be screened for fever, COVID-19 symptoms as part of their exam.

Students: Valdosta State will provide rapid antigen or PCR testing for our students through 国产AV Health Services.

Faculty & Staff: Faculty and staff should seek tests through their primary care physicians and other local health systems, in addition to Georgia Department of Public Health testing facilities. Options can be found below under Off Campus Testing sites.

Isolation Changes

Recently, the CDC updated its guidance regarding isolation, and the USG is following that recommendation. For those who test positive, they should isolate for 5 days, and if the symptoms are improving and they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours and haven’t used a fever-reducing medication, they can leave isolation after 5 days, but they should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for an additional 5 days to minimize potential transmission.

 

Quarantine Changes

Current  state that you do not need to quarantine following exposure – regardless of vaccination status – but you should:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days when around others in public indoor spaces.
  • Test on Day 5 and thereafter:
    • Recent guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding use of at-home rapid antigen tests suggests that if you are not having symptoms and your initial test after exposure (Day 5) is negative, you should repeat the test in 48 hours and repeat the test again after another 48 hours (for a total of 3 tests).
    • Again, quarantine is only required if you test positive for COVID.

 

Here are some important definitions: 

  • Isolation is the separation of those who have tested positive for Covid-19 or been diagnosed with Covid-19 by symptoms.
  • Quarantine is the separation of those who have been exposed to someone with Covid-19, but who are  not ill.
  • Infectious period is the period during which someone with Covid-19 can transmit the infection to others. The infectious period is defined as starting two days before symptoms begin and ends when the person has recovered.  

Reporting Cases

国产AV students should report their positive results to Student Affairs through the absentee notification form link below. 

/administration/student-affairs/absentee-notification-form.php

The following locations in the Valdosta area have COVID-19 testing.

AppleCare Urgent Care 

  • 3200-C North Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA 
  • Offering rapid test
  • Appointments recommended, will take limited walk-ins
  • Appointment
  • Open weekends

CVS Pharmacy

  • 2205 N. Ashley St.
  • Make for drive-up testing
  • Free testing available if no insurance
  • Weekend testing available

 South Health District

  • Rapid tests available for individuals who are symptomatic. Asymptomatic individuals or those with no symptoms may register for PCR testing.
  • For details, appointments and locations, use this .

Walgreens (multiple locations)

  • All locations are offering testing.
  • For details as to type of test and to schedule an appointment online, use this .

Testing Positive

If you live in on-campus housing, isolate in your room.

  • Wear a mask when you are around roommates and try to remain 6 feet apart.
  • Practice good hand washing.
  • You can go to the cafeteria to pick up a meal and return to your room.

If you live in off-campus housing, you will need to isolate in your off-campus residence. 

Report a Positive COVID-19 Test

If you have received a positive test for Covid-19 at a site off-campus, report it through the absentee notification form link below. 

/administration/student-affairs/absentee-notification-form.php

 

During Isolation  

A daily self-monitoring form can be download to help you keep track of your symptoms. Use the link below to download the self monitoring guide. 

Self- Monitoring Guide 

When to Return

If you tested positive with symptoms, these steps should be followed.

Stay home until after:

  • At least 5 days since symptoms first appeared and
  • At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
  • Symptoms have improved
  • After leaving isolation, you should wear a well-fitted mask for additional 5 days around others to minimize potential transmission. 

If you tested positive, but do not have symptoms, these steps should be followed.

  • Stay home until after 5 days have passed since your positive test, and then wear a well-fitted mask for additional 5 days around others to minimize potential transmission.

If you live with others, stay in a specific "sick room" or area and away from other people or animals, including pets. Use a separate bathroom, if available.  

Close contact is defined as:

  • anyone who was within 6 feet of the person who tested positive for 15 or more minutes
  • anyone who had physical contact with the person
  • or anyone who was coughed or sneezed on by the person.

Current CDC guidelines state that you do not need to quarantine following exposure - regardless of vaccination status - but you should:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days when around others in public indoor spaces.
  • Test on Day 5 and thereafter:
    • Recent guidance from U.S. Food Drug Administration regarding use of at-home rapid antigen tests suggests that if you are not having symptoms and your initial test after exposure (Day 5) is negative, you should repeat the test in 48 hours and repeat the test again after another 48 hours (for a total of 3 tests).
    • Again, quarantine is only required if you test positive for COVID.