Dear RVU Community,

It’s been a busy and exciting week with Orientation and White Coat Ceremonies for our RVUCOM Class of 2026 and we are so glad to see the passion and enthusiasm associated with the start of a new academic year. It’s also, however, been a busy week for the spread of COVID-19. There has been a distinct uptick in the number of infections in the counties where our Colorado, Utah and Montana campuses are located. Due to this uptick and in an effort to avoid a mask mandate, we are urging you all to take some precautions as we head into the new semester.

If you feel ill or are experiencing symptoms, we ask that you stay home.

• Preclinical students who are ill or test positive for COVID-19 should contact the appropriate program director and complete the appropriate excused absence form as directed.
• Clinical students who are ill or test positive for COVID-19 should contact their coordinator and the appropriate contact at their rotation location and make arrangements.
• Employees who are ill or test positive for COVID-19 should notify their immediate supervisor and their HR representative and make arrangements for this.

If you test positive for COVID-19, complete the COVID Positive Case Reporting Form. Completing this will help the CRT investigate our own internal community spread and determine if additional safety measures are necessary.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, wear a mask while on campus and outside a personal office or study room. We have an ample supply of masks at RVU and you can ask for these at the front security desk at either of our Utah or Colorado campuses.

Wash and sanitize your hands.  We know you’ve heard this many times over the past few years but we want to emphasize this again. There are hand sanitizing stations throughout the campuses, and we ask that you please sanitize your hands frequently.

As an additional reminder, if you are sick or test positive, isolate. Stay home for at least five days and isolate from others. End isolation after five days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving. Take precautions until day 10 by wearing a well-fitting mask for the full ten days while around others.

If you have questions or concerns, you are welcome to email the COVID-19 Response Team or email Dr. Dennis Kinder at dkinder@rockyvistahc.com or Kristine Jenkins at kjenkins@rvu.edu.

Professionally yours,

The COVID-19 Response Team