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COVID-19 Information for Students
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.
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
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.
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
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