UT Austin Will No Longer Notify For Positive COVID-19 Cases

Austin TX

27 September, 2021

1:03 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas at Austin will no longer notify students and staff when a positive COVID-19 case is confirmed, according to a letter sent Thursday. The letter states the university would no longer send a notification to all students and instructors in a class when a student or instructor tests positive. Previously, that was the practice, even if some of the classmates or instructors were not considered to be in close contact with the person who tested positive. Live in Austin? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. "We have found, however, that the guidance many people receive through these notifications is the same as the advice we give all community members regardless of exposure, which is to test weekly, wear a mask indoors, get vaccinated, socially distance where possible," the letter read. "Given the repetition, we will discontinue this practice." UT said it will also stop notifying everyone in University Housing and student organizations when a student or instructor tests positive. The letter said that if a pattern of cases necessitates notification to additional people outside close contacts, they will be notified. According to UT's website, contact tracers will continue to call close contacts of a person with a confirmed positive test. Instructors are urged to assist with contact tracing by uploading seating charts to the school's website or by encouraging students to submit their seating locations in all classrooms using the Protect Texas Together mobile app. Close contact is considered being in close proximity for a cumulative of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period, regardless of masking, UT said.