II. Personal Safety Practices
These guidelines are interim only and are subject to revision, until we can complete consultation with the unions.
Update 5/17/2023
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo requires the following personal safety practices for all employees, students and invited visitors.
On this page:
A. Not Permitted on Campus
- If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, stay at home except to get medical care. Follow the COVID-19 protocols described below.
- If you are sick at all, stay at home, even if you only have mild symptoms of illness that could be COVID-19, which include the following:
- Fever (100.4 F or greater) or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- The CDC encourages people to get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccinations. People are considered "up to date" if a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. "Fully vaccinated" means a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
Effective August 12, 2022, the University has adopted the following policies in line with the CDC and DOH
If you are COVID-19 positive or sick with COVID-19 symptoms pending test results:
- Isolate for at least five (5) days and until you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms are improving.
- After the isolation period has ended, you may return to campus and must wear a well-fitting mask (e.g., KN95 or KF94) around others, in all settings, for an additional 5 days; do not go to places where you cannot wear a mask; avoid travel and being around people who are at high risk.
- If you were severely ill with COVID-19 or symptoms last for more than a week, you should consult your healthcare provider.
If you are exposed to COVID-19:
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.
- You must: (1) wear a high-quality mask and monitor for symptoms for 10 days following the last close contact with the positive individual, and (2) get tested 5 days following the last close contact with the positive individual.
- You should wear a high-quality mask whenever you are around others in your home or indoors in public
- Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as gyms and restaurants.
- You should refrain from being in travel or public transportation settings.
- Take extra precautions around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
- If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate immediately, get tested, and stay home until you know the result.
While in Isolation: Do Not Travel. Take precautions until Day 10. If you must travel during days 6-10 of protocols, take precautions.
"Exposed" follows the definition of "close contact" which is someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes.
- If you are an employee required to stay at home under these guidelines, contact your supervisor or departmental HR representative regarding available leave.
B. Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:
- after wiping or blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;
- after returning from a public place or shared common area/space (e.g., classroom, conference room, break room or lunch room);
- after touching trash or objects frequently used by others (such as handrails, door handles, and elevator buttons);
- after using the toilet;
- before, during, and after preparing food; and
- before and after work breaks and work shifts.
- Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Do not touch your face with your hands.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a disposable tissue or cloth.
- Avoid sharing or using communal items (such as office supplies) and objects that are not easily cleaned or disinfected (such as fabric).
C. Masks
Effective 9/17/22, masking requirements have been lifted. Please respect the choices of every individual to wear a face mask and please abide by signs that may be posted outside individual offices requesting that masks be worn for the protection of others. We have many in our community at higher risk due to personal health and underlying conditions, and we want to keep them safe and feeling secure on our campuses. In addition, masking is still strongly encouraged in crowded indoor spaces.
KN95, KF94 or N95 masks are not required but encouraged where possible.
All masks should be well-fitted, which means the mask: - Has a nose wire to crimp down on top of the nose - Has at least 2 or more layers of washable fabric (for cloth masks) - Covers both the nose and mouth entirely - Fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps
Indoors: Masking is still encouraged indoors when around people during crowded events, especially for those who are not vaccinated or who are immunocompromised. If there are signs requesting masks posted outside a space or office, honor those signs.
Outdoors: Masks are optional for outdoors and outdoor events; however, they are still recommended for certain large, crowded events where participants are in close proximity to each other.
Note: County and State guidelines providing further restriction take precedence over UH Hilo Interim Guidelines.
Housing: Face masks are highly recommended in indoor and outdoor areas in the residence communities.
D. Practice Physical Distancing
Physical distancing and maintaining space between individuals is not required; however, it continues to be a tool to avoid exposure to the virus. Indoor and outdoor spaces (classrooms, advising spaces, special venues) may adjust distancing in consultation with their respective Deans, Directors, and Vice Chancellors as well as the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs, consistent with these guidelines.
E. Non-Essential Travel
- Consult local and national travel advisories for any travel restrictions.
- Employees shall additionally consult the university’s travel FAQ.
F. Stay Up-To-Date with COVID-19 Vaccinations and Boosters
COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19, especially severe illness and death. COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.
G. Get a Flu Shot
Getting a flu shot will not protect against COVID-19, but may help reduce your chances of catching the flu or another influenza-like illness which may be mistaken for COVID-19 and/or hinder a diagnosis.