COVID-19

We continue to offer Curative testing on a voluntary basis. If you want to be tested:

• please contact Crystal Berryhill at cberryhill@rellis.tamus.edu. The test continues to be the self-administered cheek and mouth swab.
• Or visit Curative.com to book an appointment. 

Student counseling services for currently enrolled upper-division students at RELLIS will be provided by the Texas A&M University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBSI) through its Clinical Psychology graduate program under the direction of a faculty member.

To schedule an appointment, please call 979.845.8017 and identify yourself as a currently enrolled upper-division student at RELLIS.

For information about available COVID-19 vaccinations and how to schedule and appointment to receive a vaccination, please visit the hyperlinked website below:

Vaccines.gov

If you receive a positive COVID-19 test you are required to quarantine and self report utilizing the portal hyperlinked and available below:

Self Reporting Portal

Advising

• Freshman and Sophomore Courses / Associate Degree Seeking: Email RELLIS@blinn.edu with questions or to schedule a meeting.
• Junior and Senior Courses / Bachelor’s Degree Seeking: Email advising@rellis.tamus.edu with questions or to schedule a meeting.

Financial Aid:

• For general questions, email education@rellis.tamus.edu. 
• For specific questions about your financial aid status, please contact the financial aid office for your home institution.

For general questions, email education@rellis.tamus.edu

We are following the self-monitoring CDC recommendations that are available and hyperlinked below:

Self-monitoring CDC Recommendations

As we continuously adjust to this ever-evolving situation, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff remails our top priority. Our guidelines are generated directly from CDC protocols for isolation and quarantine.

If you are missing in-person classes due to feeling unwell, please notify your professors.

If you are exhibiting signs of COVID-19, we ask that you do not come to the building. Instead you should complete the following steps:

• Visit with a medical professional for evaluation and possible testing. Any upper-division student at RELLIS can visit the Texas A&M Physicians Health Community Clinic. The clinic is located in the Bryan Medical Center at:

2900 East 29th Street, Suite #1010,

Bryan, Texas 77802.

• Report your signs and/or testing outcome using the A&M System Portal available and hyperlinked below:

Texas A&M University System Portal

You should utilize the portal if:

• You tested positive for COVID-19
• You are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• You have been in close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) of someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19
• Someone in your household (including roommate or housemate) has tested positive for COVID-19

For employees and students who have not been vaccinated, face coverings are highly recommended to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

As we continuously adjust to this ever-evolving situation, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority. Our guidelines are generated directly from CDC protocols for isolation and quarantine.

CDC Quarantine & Isolation

The current academic partners COVID-19 websites are available and hyperlinked below:

Blinn College District

Prairie View A&M University

Tarleton State University

Texas A&M International University

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Texas A&M University-Texarkana

West Texas A&M University  

Stephen F. Austin State University

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Learn more from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html

Patients with COVID‑19 have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

View a complete list of COVID-19 symptoms on the CDC website.

CDC COVID-10 SYMPTOMS

If you are exhibiting signs of COVID-19, we ask that you do not come to the building. Instead you should complete the following steps:

• Visit with a medical professional for evaluation and possible testing. Any upper-division student at RELLIS can visit the Texas A&M Physicians Health Community Clinic. The clinic is located in the Bryan Medical Center at:

2900 East 29th Street, Suite #1010,

Bryan, Texas 77802.

• Report your signs and/or testing outcome using the A&M System Portal available and hyperlinked below:

Texas A&M University System Portal

You should utilize the portal if:

• You tested positive for COVID-19
• You are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• You have been in close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) of someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19
• Someone in your household (including roommate or housemate) has tested positive for COVID-19

As of Wednesday, May 12, 2021, everyone 12 years old and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.

The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations. All vaccines are authorized for people 18 years old and older. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people 12 years old and older.

View additional information about available vaccines on the CDC Website.

CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information 

The Brazos County Health District monitors all local case numbers and makes them available each day on their website. 

Once the virus became a community wide spread, the Brazos County Health District decided to report only the total number of positive cases rather than include the age of the person and other details.

The Health District is coordinating efforts with the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct contact investigations.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person when they are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). This occurs through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby and possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Stay educated on the disease by reading the CDC website. Take care of yourself by doing the following:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick, such as older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

On May 18, 2021 Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order prohibiting governmental entities in Texas — including counties, cities, school districts, public health authorities, or government officials — from requiring or mandating mask wearing. Public schools may continue to follow current mask-wearing guidelines through June 4. After June 4, no student, teacher, parent, or other staff member or visitor can be required to wear a mask while on campus.

The health and safety of the students, faculty, and staff, especially of vulnerable individuals, is of paramount importance. The primary purpose of wearing a face covering is to reduce the amount of virus spreading from the wearer into the environment and to others. The secondary purpose of the face covering is to reduce the likelihood that large droplets containing virus that are generated by others may enter the nose and mouth of the wearer. Within indoor spaces, the use of a face covering does not replace the recommendation to maintain physical distances from others. While physical distancing may not always be possible, at least 6 feet of physical distancing is still recommended.

Following CDC guidance below will help to protect those around you against COVID-19:

All unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings (cloth face covering, surgical mask, etc.) in indoor public areas. This includes lobbies, restrooms, classrooms, labs and all other common spaces.

All unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings (cloth face covering, surgical mask, etc.) in outdoor spaces where 6 feet of physical distancing is difficult to reliably maintain  

A summary of the CDC’s guidelines follows:

Wear disposable gloves (e.g. nitrile or latex) when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Disposable gloves are single-use and should be discarded after each cleaning. If disposable gloves are not available, and reusable gloves (e.g. dishwashing gloves) are used instead, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfection of products used. Wash hands with soap and water immediately after gloves are removed.

If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

Focus on disinfecting other commonly touched surfaces such as keyboards/mouse, touchscreens, furniture (e.g. desk chair arms), coffee pot and refrigerator handles, etc.

For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70 percent alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.

Diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

Prepare a bleach solution by mixing:

• 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water, or
• 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water, or
• 1-part bleach with 9 parts water

A list of products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims, maintained by the American Chemistry Council Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC), is available on the Novel Coronavirus Fighting Products list. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against SARS-CoV2. based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.)

For porous surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes, remove visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces. After cleaning:

• Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely, or
• Use products with the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims that are suitable for porous surfaces.

• CDC: 2019 Novel Coronavirus
• WHO: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Updated travel directives include the 14 day self-isolation of any faculty, staff or students returning from international travel on or after March 14 and arriving in-country from a Level 3 COVID-19 location. This would include the following airports: Boston (BOS), New York City (JFK), Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX), Atlanta (ATL), Honolulu (HNL), Newark (EWR), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW) or Washington, D.C. (IAD) international airports. Self-isolation guidance is listed in Frequently Asked Questions section of our COVID-19 web page and on the CDC Care Guide. 

Domestic travelers through all airports and international travelers from non-level 3 countries arriving at airports other than those listed are required only to self-monitor at this time. Self-isolation guidance is listed in Frequently Asked Questions section of this web page and on the CDC Care Guide.