COVID-19 Information Center

Texas State University is committed to keeping our community safe and our students advancing toward their educational goals. This page gathers all COVID-19 resources and recommendations in one location so you can easily find the information you need.

Student Health Center : Texas State University

On-Campus San Marcos Location

Image of Student Health Center exterior building.

All Texas State faculty, staff, and students may schedule COVID-19 PCR testing by calling the Student Health Center at 512-245-2161 to schedule an appointment, Monday-Friday. Most health insurance plans will cover the cost of testing. The charge for a PCR test is $75 for those who have no insurance or are out-of-network.


On-Campus Round Rock Location

Student Health Center at the Round Rock Campus

Faculty, staff, and students can call (512) 245-2161 and select option 2 to schedule a COVID-19 PCR test in the Student Health Center in Round Rock. Tests are sent to Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL) for analysis. Results will be sent to the patient through the patient portal.

Hours:
Mon: In-Office, 8 am - 11:30 am and 12:30 pm - 5 pm
Tues: Telehealth Only, 9 am - 5 pm
Wed: In-Office, 8 am - 11:30 am and 12:30 pm - 5 pm
Thurs: In-Office, 9 am - 11:30 am and 12:30 pm - 5 pm
Fri: Telehealth Only, 8 am - 5 pm

Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 illness may present like a cold or allergies. Symptoms can appear 2–14 days after exposure to the virus. Illness may be mild to severe. It is important to test for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms of a cold or allergy. Some of the more common symptoms of COVID-19 are listed below.

Thermometer displaying a fever of 101.3.
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Headache
  • Persistent cough
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

For more information, see the CDC's Symptoms of COVID-19.

Next Steps If You Are Ill

Review the common symptoms of COVID-19.

Isolate yourself immediately if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with COVID-19 sometimes experience mild symptoms, few symptoms, or no symptoms at all.

If the test result is positive, review the following section, "Next Steps After Receiving a Positive COVID-19 Test."

If the test result is negative, you may return to work and school once your symptoms have improved and you are fever-free for 24 hours without taking a fever-reducing medicine.

Next Steps After Receiving a Positive COVID-19 Test

Choosing the Right Mask

Texas State student wearing KN95 mask.

When choosing a face covering, select the most protective mask or respirator you can that fits well and can be worn consistently.

Masks are made to contain the particles you breathe, cough, or sneeze out and can provide some protection from the particles spread by others. Like masks, respirators can contain the particles you breathe, cough, or sneeze out, but they also protect you by filtering the air you breathe in.

Loosely woven cloth masks offer the least protection, while layered finely woven products offer more. The most protective masks are disposable surgical masks that prevent leaks at the nose, chin, and sides of face.

Respirators, such as N95s and KN95s, offer the highest level of protection and are recommended for higher risk situations and for people at risk for severe disease.

For more information on mask selection, see the CDC's webpage on Types of Masks and Respirators.

When to Wear a Mask

At any time, you can wear a mask based on your personal preference and risk level. When your local COVID-19 community level is high, the CDC recommends wearing a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.

There are a number of situations where the CDC recommends choosing a mask with greater protection:

  • For people who are immunocompromised, older adults, and people with certain underlying medical conditions
  • When caring for someone who is sick
  • If you are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations

For more information on when to wear masks, see the CDC's webpage on Use and Care of Masks.