Coronavirus (COVID-19)

All recent and current patients at TCU’s Brown-Lupton Health Center are being screened for travel history information.

One of TCU’s priorities is a clean and safe environment that promotes optimal health for our students. Note that this time of year, infection control efforts to prevent flu and other communicable illnesses are in already place. Other proactive measures to ensure the safety of our campus community include:

• Implementing increased cleaning protocols, including extra cleaning and disinfecting in high contact areas
• Additional clinical staffing in the Brown-Lupton Health Center
• Campaigns to educate students, faculty and staff on important preventative measures

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to use the hand sanitizer, wipes and disinfectant soap offered across campus.

The TCU Health Center is distributing prevention kits for residential students to be delivered to residence halls after Spring Break. These kits include:

• thermometer
• sanitizing wipes
• hand sanitizer
• facial tissues
• pack of Emergen-C

Practice good cough etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands because subsequent contact with surfaces or other people may spread the infection.

Wash hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often—and always after contact with surfaces touched by others.

Avoid touching the face, eyes, nose, and mouth prior to washing hands thoroughly or using hand sanitizer.

Don’t share drinks or eating utensils. Avoid contact with sick people.

Call your health care professional if you feel sick with fever, cough, or have difficulty breathing; and/or if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19; and/or you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

Your health care professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested.

For residential students, the Brown-Lupton Health Center is fully staffed and is prepared to increase staffing if patient demands increase. The Health Center’s current hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Phone: 817-257-7940

If the Health Center is closed, there are two urgent care centers close to the TCU campus:

• University Urgent Care, 3107 Greene Ave. Phone: 817-439-9539
• Pediatric & Family Urgent Care, 3100 South Hulen St., Suite 180 Phone: 817 302-9231

These areas are cleaned and disinfected each workday for most buildings, and on Saturday/Sunday for the buildings used on weekends, such as the Brown-Lupton University Union, Mary Couts Burnett Library and University Recreation Center. Telephone handsets are wiped down daily when offices are cleaned.

Hand sanitizers are in place at most building entrances, including multiple ones at the BLUU, King Family Commons, Mary Couts Burnett Library and University Recreation Center. They are checked daily by custodial staff and refilled if needed. The best way to prevent the spread of disease is by frequent handwashing, covering your nose and mouth when sneezing.

TCU will follow the protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the direction of health authorities. Those who have had close contact with the patient will be contacted and monitored by the Tarrant County Public Health Department. The University Health Center will fully support those efforts.

Should the need arise, TCU will send information about any necessary closures through TCU Alerts, the university’s communication response tool, delivering alerts to all students, faculty and staff through texts, calls and emails, and post updates on the TCU website.

• TCU’s Director of Emergency Management participates daily in a phone call with the Texas Department of State Health Services and coordinates routinely with both the City of Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management and Tarrant County Public Health. The TCPH receives updates several times per day that help our county plan for the potential spread of the virus.
• TCU administrators meet daily to work through potential issues and plan for possible scenarios regarding the spread of the disease.
• We are addressing the specific issues and changing dynamics in regions where TCU students are studying internationally. We are in consistent communication and supporting our students studying abroad.

We continue to carefully monitor travel recommendations from the U.S. State Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. TCU currently has students in study abroad programs in several locations throughout the globe, including Seville, Madrid, London, Belize and South Africa, and we are in frequent communication with them. TCU is working closely with students, faculty and their families to ensure their safety and develop contingency plans should they desire to return from study abroad programs.

Every semester and throughout the summer, TCU students study abroad. Additionally, faculty often travel abroad to conduct research, attend conferences or pursue other academic endeavors. TCU students and employees also travel for personal reasons. The university follows all local, state and federal health and travel guidelines when planning official international trips.

Not at this time. We have plans to continue all overseas programs as offered. However, we are reviewing all travel daily as we learn more about the spread and containment of Coronavirus.

As a practice, TCU monitors and follows international travel recommendations issued by the U.S. State Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization.

Social distancing means keeping approximately six feet from others in order to avoid infectious contact. The Center for Disease Control has introduced a number of terms we should be familiar with.

Here are CDC's most current definitions:

Self-observation Be alert for fever (subjective or measured), cough and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms: take your temperature, isolate yourself, limit exposure to others, and call your healthcare provider or your local health department to determine if medical evaluation is needed.

Self-monitoring Take your temperature twice a day while staying alert for cough and difficulty breathing. If you develop any of these symptoms, isolate yourself, limit exposure to others, and call your healthcare provider or your local health department to determine if medical evaluation is needed.

Self-monitoring with delegated supervision Certain occupational groups (like lab workers or airline crews) may conduct self-monitoring with oversight by an appropriate occupational health or infection control program in coordination with the health department of jurisdiction.

Self-monitoring with public health supervision When public health authorities assume the responsibility for oversight of self-monitoring for certain groups of people.

Active monitoring State or local health authorities establish regular communication with potentially exposed people to assess fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. For high-risk exposures, CDC recommends daily communication. The state or local public health authority determines the mode of communication, which may include phone calls or electronic communication.

Close contact
a) Being within approximately 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time. Close contact can happen while caring for, living with, visiting, or being in a room with a COVID-19 case

b) Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on)

Public health order A legally enforceable directive issued under the authority of federal, state, or local entities in order to protect public health. Restrictions (such as movement restrictions) may be made on a person or group’s activities. People or groups may be required to be monitored by a public health agency. Federal, state, or local public health orders may be issued to enforce isolation, quarantine or conditional release. A list of quarantinable communicable diseases for which federal public health orders are authorized is defined by Executive Order. COVID-19 meets the definition for “severe acute respiratory syndromes” as set forth in Executive Order 13295, as amended by Executive Order 13375 and 13674, and, therefore, is a federally quarantinable communicable disease.

Isolation Separating a person or group known or reasonably believed to be potentially infectious from those who are not infected to prevent spread of the communicable disease. Isolation for public health purposes may be voluntary or compelled by federal, state, or local public health order.

Quarantine The separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease but not yet symptomatic, from others who have not been so exposed, to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease.

Conditional release Legally enforceable conditions under which a person may be released from more stringent public health movement restrictions, such as quarantine in a secure facility. These conditions may include public health supervision through in-person visits by a health official or designee, telephone, or any electronic or internet-based means of communication as determined by the CDC Director or state or local health authority. A conditional release order may also place limits on travel or require restriction of a person’s movement outside their home.

Controlled travel Exclusion from long-distance commercial conveyances (e.g., aircraft, ship, train, bus). For people subject to active monitoring, any long-distance travel should be coordinated with public health authorities to ensure uninterrupted monitoring. Air travel is not allowed by commercial flight but may occur via approved noncommercial air transport. CDC may use public health orders or federal public health travel restrictions to enforce controlled travel. CDC also has the authority to issue travel permits to define the conditions of interstate travel within the United States for people under certain public health orders or if other conditions are met.

Congregate settings Crowded public places where close contact with others may occur such as concerts, movie theaters or stadiums.

Social distancing Avoiding congregate settings and maintaining a distance of approximately 6 feet from others when possible.

For the most up-to-date information on TCU Admissions and campus tour information, visit the Admissions COVID-19 FAQ page.

The U.S. State Department issued a Global Level 3 Health Advisory and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 3 Warning for Europe late March 11. Accordingly, TCU has discontinued all TCU study abroad programs and requested all students, faculty and staff to return to the U.S. as soon as possible. For questions about current and future study abroad programs, contact the Center for International Studies.

TCU’s Center for International Studies is working with our partners around the world to monitor the coronavirus situation and is in direct and frequent contact with students and emergency contacts to make contingency plans.

Please contact the Center for International Studies at studyabroad@tcu.edu if you have specific questions related to planned or current international programs.

TCU does not have students or faculty in China. Following the recommendations from the U.S. State Department, on January 29, 2020, TCU suspended all current and future programs to China through August and pending further review. As a practice, TCU monitors and follows international travel recommendations issued by the U.S. State Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization, among other sources.

On Feb. 28, 2020, TCU notified all students traveling in Italy to return to the United States due to elevations to the U.S. State Department and CDC travel advisories. We are working directly with our students to ensure they have academic support and to minimize the impact on their academic process.

We have instructed students returning from Italy or any country with a Level 3 CDC travel advisory to stay home and not come to campus until they have completed 14-days of self-observation, and practice social-distancing, per the recommendations from the Tarrant County Health Department, Texas Department of State Health Services and CDC.

As you prepare for travel during Spring Break, stay informed of travel risks by checking the CDC’s website. Countries that may not pose a risk today may become a country of concern within days.

TCU will adhere to the guidance of the Tarrant County Health Department and require anyone who has traveled to a country considered Level 3 Widespread Sustained Transmission by the CDC to stay home and not come to campus until they have completed 14-days of self-observation and are symptom-free.

Self-observation includes remaining alert to symptoms including fever, cough or difficulty breathing. It also requires that you practice social distancing, meaning that you must avoid places and events where others congregate, public and ride share transportation, and maintain distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others for 14 days. View information from the CDC on guidelines for self-observation.

Students needing more information may contact Campus Life at 817-257-7926. Faculty and staff should visit the TCU HR website to view faculty and staff communications in both English and Spanish and email askhr@tcu.edu if they have questions.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus. First detected in China, the disease has been found in about 70 locations internationally, including the United States.

For most of the American public — who are unlikely to be exposed to the virus at this time — the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and difficulty breathing. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the most up-to-date information on the coronavirus to the public, public health officials, schools, universities and news outlets.

Visit the Ramping up Rapidly Online page of TCU Online.

TCU IT has developed a Keep Working page with detailed information about how to stay productive while working off-campus.

Read the Employee Travel Reimbursement Memo from Kim Adams, Associate Vice Chancellor and Controller.

TCU Human Resources has additional information available in both English and Spanish on their COVID-19/Coronavirus Updates page.

El Departamento Estatal de Servicios de Salud de Texas está reportando otro caso más de la enfermedad del nuevo coronavirus, COVID-19, relacionado con viajes, lo que eleva el total en el estado a 13. Todos estos casos están relacionados con viajes a zonas de las que se sabe que existe propagación comunitaria de COVID-19, ya sea en los EE.UU. o en el extranjero. Enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19)

TCU Human Resources has provided a list of FAQ related to Use of Leave and working remotely.

Read the Employee Travel Reimbursement Memo from Kim Adams, Associate Vice Chancellor and Controller. We are collected additional resources and documentation related to travel. Updates will be provided on this site.

In following university policy of no public events on campus due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, and consistent with recent Big 12 and NCAA decisions, all TCU home athletics events until April 3 are closed to fans and available only to essential personnel and a limited number of family members of participating student-athletes.

Essential personnel are student-athletes, coaches, trainers, team and medical personnel, game officials, operational and administrative staff, student-athlete families, credentialed media and TCU recruits.

The affected contests include the following:

Baseball
Maryland, March 13-15
Sam Houston State, March 17
Oklahoma, March 27-29

Men’s Tennis
Columbia, March 21
Oklahoma State, March 27
Oklahoma, March 29

Women’s Tennis
Kansas, March 27
Kansas State, March 29
Baylor, April 1

Beach Volleyball
Houston Baptist, April 3
Pepperdine, April 3

Track and Field
TCU Invitational, March 21

Additionally, the March 28 open spring football practice and scrimmage has been canceled, while the dedication of the Legends Club & Suites will be rescheduled.

The March 13 and March 28 baseball games versus Maryland and Oklahoma, respectively, will be televised on FOX Sports Southwest Plus, while the March 29 Oklahoma contest can be seen on ESPNU. Non-televised baseball games are available through a free stream on GoFrogs.com and the Riff Ram app.

More information will be communicated soon to baseball season-ticket holders and those who made single-game purchases. Also, the deadline for football season-ticket renewals has been extended to April 17. Questions can be directed to the Parrish Family Athletics Ticket Office at 817-257-3764 (FROG) or tickets@tcu.edu.

During this time, TCU teams will continue to practice and compete while following university protocol when it comes to travel with only essential personnel.

Further updates regarding the impact of COVID-19 on TCU Athletics events will be posted on GoFrogs.com as well as communicated through Twitter (@TCU_Athletics).

Students, faculty and staff are asked to monitor CDC travel advisories during Spring Break travel. Please note that information and risk assessment guidance changes frequently; countries that may not pose a risk today may become a country of concern within days.

TCU will adhere to the guidance of Tarrant County Public Health and require anyone who has traveled to a country considered Level 3 Widespread Sustained Transmission by the CDC to stay home and not return to campus until they have completed 14-days of self-observation and are symptom-free.

Self-observation includes remaining alert to symptoms including fever, cough or difficulty breathing. It also requires that you practice social distancing by avoiding places and events where others congregate, public transportation and ride sharing, and by maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others for 14 days.

Students needing more information may contact Campus Life at 817-257-7926. Faculty and staff should visit the TCU HR website to view faculty and staff communications in both English and Spanish and email askhr@tcu.edu if they have questions.

More Info: CDC Traveler Info (PDF)

Students needing more information may contact Campus Life at 817-257-7926. Faculty and staff should visit the TCU HR website to view faculty and staff communications in both English and Spanish and email askhr@tcu.edu if they have questions.