IU School of Optometry COVID-19 Testing Protocols

Dear IUSO Faculty, Staff, and Students,

Although this message pertains to students primarily, everyone working at the IU School of Optometry should be aware of our school’s COVID-19 testing protocols.

IUSO Protocol for COVID Testing and Quarantine

An individual who experiences COVID symptoms or suspects they are experiencing COVID symptoms should:

1. Contact the IU Health Virtual COVID-19 screening site by clicking here and CAS Authenticating. The site is also accessible via on.iu.edu by searching for COVID Health Services.
2. If your IU Health Virtual COVID-19 screening session recommends that you get tested:
   1. Immediately self-quarantine.
   2. Notify Dr. Kim Kohn, your clinic supervisor, and all class/lab instructors as soon as possible to let them know that you experienced COVID symptoms and are self-quarantining and awaiting test results.
   3. If test results are positive:
      1. Follow the recommendations of the IU Health Virtual Screening with respect to self quarantine and returning to school.
   4.  If the test results are negative:
      1. Follow the recommendations of the IU Health Virtual Screening with respect to self quarantine and returning to school.
   5. Share all IU Health Virtual Screening Results and Recommendations with Dr. Kim Kohn, Associate Dean for Students, who will share with faculty and staff as necessary.

Those Who Are in Close Contact with COVID-Positive Individuals

What counts as close contact? 

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes & not wearing masks.
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.
• You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them).
• You shared eating or drinking utensils.
• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you. 

For health care workers and IUSO students, close contact occurs only if the individuals were not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically a face mask or a respirator. If the infected individual was not wearing a face covering or face mask, the exposed individual must also have been wearing eye protection. 

An individual—including health care professionals (HCP) and student clinicians—who was in close contact with an individual who has tested COVID-positive within the last 10 days should:

1. Contact the IU Health Virtual COVID-19 screening site by clicking on the link and CAS authenticating. The site is also accessible via one.iu.edu by searching for COVID Health Services. 
2. If your IU Health Virtual COVID-19 screening session recommends that you get tested:
   1. Immediately self-quarantine.
   2. It is recommended that testing occur no earlier than five (5) days after the last contact with a COVID-positive individual to reduce the incidence of false-negative test results.
   3. Notify Dr. Kim Kohne, Associate Dean for Students, your clinic supervisor, and all class/lab instructors as soon as possible to let them know that you experienced COVID symptoms and are self-quarantining and awaiting test results.
   4. If test results are positive.
      1. Follow the recommendations of the IU Health Virtual Screening with respect to self-quarantine and returning to school.
   5. If test results are negative.
      1. Follow the recommendations of the IU Health Virtual Screening with respect to self-quarantine and returning to school.
      2. Upon returning to work, individuals should watch for development of COVID symptoms and follow the protocol for those who experience COVID symptoms if they develop.
   6. Share all IU Health Virtual Screening Results and Recommendations with Dr. Kim Kohne, Associate Dean for Students, who will share with faculty and staff as necessary.

Community Responsibility Acknowledgement Required

Everyone should go view IU’s Community Responsibility Acknowledgement, and sign it if you have not done so already.

Limit Social Interactions

Whereas we can control what happens in our clinic, clinical labs, and within the school, we cannot control what happens to you outside of these places. All optometry students have signed on to be healthcare providers. As such, you will be treated as professional healthcare providers during this public health emergency. This is necessary so that your education can proceed under these restrictive circumstances. Therefore, as a professional you will be expected to limit your social interactions so as to reduce potential exposure to COVID-positive individuals. The more people circulate, the more chance for exposure will cause more need for quarantining, and greater disruption to your education and those of your colleagues.

We have taken great pains to make clinic and the school as safe as possible and compatible with advancing your education without delay. Please help us continue by being super vigilant and responsible while you are outside the clinic or school.

Thank you,

Joseph A. Bonanno, OD, PhD, FAAO
Professor and Dean, Indiana University School of Optometry