Students who have symptoms of COVID-19 can call or email Health Services to set up an appointment with a nurse. Health Services nurses will assess your symptoms and provide testing and treatment as clinically indicated. This may include testing for illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, strep, and mono etc. While you are sick, you should wear your mask, limit your contacts, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. Avoid spending time around others and remain in your room as much as possible.

If you test positive for COVID-19, take the following steps:

• Stay in your housing assignment and begin masking in all communal spaces (i.e. restrooms and kitchens). This includes if you live in a multiple occupancy room. Limit contacts with others.
• Wear a mask while in your room with a roommate. Please note, you do not need to wear a mask while sleeping. 
• If it was an at-home test, email healthservices@bates.edu with documentation of your positive test.
  • If the test was an at-home test, please include (1) a photo of the test, (2) the type of test, (3) the date and time of your test.
• Email diningfood@groups.bates.edu and let them know you need grab and go meals. Do not eat meals in Commons, instead follow instructions provided by Dining Services.

Note: If you email after business hours, Bates Health Services will contact you with further illness restriction information on the next business day – you will not receive any additional information if you test positive for COVID-19 after hours or on weekends until business hours.  Please be patient and remain in your semester housing assignment and access grab and go meals.

You can read more about the information you will receive when Bates Health Services opens below.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 will follow illness restriction protocols and remain in their existing room assignment and adhere strictly to guidance provided by Bates Health Services. It is important to note, students will be directed to stay in their existing room assignment even if they live in a multiple-occupancy room with roommates.

Students will be directed to wear a mask while in their room with a roommate. Please note, students do not need to wear a mask while sleeping. 

Students will also have the option to return home via car for the duration of their restriction period.

Students can access medical care at Bates Health Services. Telehealth appointments can be made by calling 207-786-6199. BHS is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Outside of business hours, students can contact the CMMC provider on call by calling BHS at 207-786-6199 and following the voicemail prompts.

For more urgent medical needs, students can access medical care at the CMMC Emergency Department at 300 Main Street in Lewiston or Maine Urgent Care at 685 Sabattus Street in Lewiston.

More information about accessing care when Health Services is closed can be found here.

Students can reach out to Health Services at healthservices@bates.edu for non-emergency health care questions and questions about navigating resources on campus, including resources to support them academically while recovering from illness. 

All students following restriction protocols will have access to Grab and Go meals from Commons.

For any questions or support needs, students can reach out to Associate Director of Health Services for Student Support, Brenna Callahan, by emailing healthservices@bates.edu.

Students who report a positive COVID-19 test result to Health Services will receive this information during the next business day.

Housing: You will remain in your current housing assignment.

If you wish to return home for your 5 day restriction period: Students who would prefer to return home for the duration of their illness are able to do so. While traveling home, you should mask in all public locations and do your best to minimize contact with others.

Masking Requirement: You are required to mask for 10 days from your date of positive test in all indoor locations including residence halls and student spaces. You may end all masking requirements after 10 complete days. Please note, you do not need to wear a mask while sleeping.

Contacts and Movement about Campus: You are strongly encouraged to remain in your room as much as possible. Do your best to limit campus contacts over the next 5 days, leaving only to secure grab and go meals from Commons and access bathrooms and medical care. If you are still symptomatic at the beginning of day 6 days, please continue to limit contacts.

Dining: You will receive an email from Dining Services directing you on how to access your meals. You will be required to access Grab and Go meals from Commons for 10 days.

Classes: A BatesReach flag will be raised on your behalf to inform your faculty and advisors that you are ill and may need support in navigating your classes. You will be unable to attend classes for a minimum of five days from the date of the positive test. You should be in direct communication with your professors to make arrangements. You can reach out to Brenna for support in navigating your academic needs if you require. 

Ending Restriction Protocols: Any student who tests positive will need to follow the guidance below from Bates Health Services for returning to class or participating in co-curricular programs, which will be a minimum of five days from the day of the positive test. If you are not experiencing symptoms on the beginning of day 6 since your positive test, you may begin attending in-person classes and activities while wearing a mask. 

There are two methods for ending masking protocols.

1. Time Based: Follow the masking requirement outlined above for 10 days since your positive test.
2. Test Based: In accordance with CDC guidance to end masking, you must receive two negative tests, 48 hours apart after 5 days since your positive test. These tests must be taken on day 6 and day 8. If both tests are negative, you can end masking. Please note, COVID-19 tests are in short supply and Bates Health Services does not have capacity to test students planning to follow this test based protocol. 

If you are still experiencing symptoms at the beginning of day 6, please continue to limit your contact with others and your movement around campus. If you still feel unusually ill on day 6, please contact Bates Health Services by calling 207-786-6199. 

Support: Please reach out to Brenna Callahan if you have any questions or need support.  You can reach her by emailing healthservices@bates.edu.

Notice Your Symptoms

 If you experience increased symptoms, including:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

Seek Access to Medical Care Immediately:

Call BHS at 207-786-6199 to speak with a nurse.

Outside of business hours, students can contact the CMMC provider on call by calling BHS at 207-786-6199 and following the voicemail prompts.

For more urgent medical needs, students can access medical care at the CMMC Emergency Department at 300 Main Street in Lewiston or Maine Urgent Care at 685 Sabattus Street in Lewiston.

For non-urgent medical questions or needs, all students can email Bates Health Services at healthservices@bates.edu.

In the case of an emergency, call (207) 786-6111 or (207) 786-6254 – this will connect you to Campus Safety.