COVID-19

Updated Testing and Mask Guidance

Revised August 2024

This is an accessible version of the PDF download.

Exposed to COVID-19

• Wear a high-quality mask any time you are around others indoors because you can share the virus with others even if you do not have symptoms
• You may attend class during this period
• Wear the mask for 10 full days as you can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed
  • Day 0 is the day of your exposure to someone with COVID-19
  • Day 1 is the first full day after your exposure
• Be on the lookout for symptoms suggestive of COVID
  • If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested for COVID, staying home until you know the result
• Even if you do not have symptoms, get tested day 6
• If you test negative, continue taking precautions including wearing a high-quality mask indoors through Day 10
  • You may discontinue masking and isolating if you remain symptom-free and without a positive test after Day 10

Positive COVID-19 test

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others; wear a mask in your home because you are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. You do not need to retest for COVID at any time.

1. If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation and return to educational responsibilities after Day 5 but must take precautions, as in part 3, below
   • Day 0 is the day you were tested
   • Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
   • If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset
2. If you had symptoms,
   • Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
   • Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started
   • …and your symptoms are improving after day 5, you may end isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
   • …and your symptoms are not improving after day 5, you must contact a healthcare provider and continue to isolate until you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving
   • …and moderate illness (you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing) as documented by a healthcare provider, you need to isolate through day 10
   • …and severe illness (you were hospitalized) or have a weakened immune system as documented by a healthcare provider, you need to isolate through day 10.
3. Whether you had symptoms or had no symptoms, until at least Day 11, you must
   • Avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
   • Remember to wear a high-quality mask when indoors around others
4. After you have ended isolation, if your symptoms are improving, and if you have no fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications), you may remove your mask earlier than Day 10 if you have two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart

Note

• Remember to adhere to the absence management policy should an absence from class be necessary.
• If you have symptoms and test negative for COVID-19, masking is strongly encouraged to minimize the chance you will spread a respiratory illness to others
• You are not required to report COVID-19 exposure or infection to Student Health or Student Affairs. However, you are required to follow these guidelines.
• COVID-19 vaccination is not required but it is very strongly recommended