Auburn University Housing has already taken precautions to ensure safety amid concerns of returning to normalcy in the fall during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. AUH has begun planning for quarantine and isolation housing for students.
“AUH has been working with campus partners since the spring semester to finalize a plan in the event that isolation and quarantine housing would be needed,” said Kevin Hoult, director of University and Residence Housing.
Hall L and Hall M in The Hill are the two residence halls designated as quarantine and isolation housing, said Bobby Woodard, senior vice president for student affairs, during a May 7 meeting of the Auburn University Board of Trustees.
Quarantine housing will be for those who may have been exposed to COVID-19, who have symptoms with COVID-19 or who are in initial quarantine following international travel but have not tested positive for the virus. Isolation housing will be for those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
“The Auburn University Medical Clinic will provide AUH with the names of students who need housing and approximate dates of stay,” Hoult said. “Only these students will have access to quarantine or isolation housing.”
Once admitted into the halls, residents will be required to follow all regular AUH policies in addition to a list of guidelines created specifically for COVID-19 isolation or quarantine housing.
These guidelines were created in collaboration with University Housing, Campus Dining, Property Management, the Auburn University Medical Clinic and Campus Safety and Security in accordance with the recommendations made by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Also in conjunction with Dining Services, students will be provided with a schedule of meal deliveries and provided with three meals per day. All meals will be packaged individually and placed in the main lobby or other designated location after being delivered.
No staff will be living with the residents in the quarantine and isolation housing, but there will be a list of numbers to call if they need assistance.
The spaces reserved for isolation and quarantine housing are not spaces that are a part of total on-campus capacity and will not impact incoming students and their ability to live on campus. Additionally, students who use these halls will not be charged for their stay.
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