Testing After a Close Contact
If you're notified by the Campus COVID-19 Support Team (CCST) that someone with COVID-19 identified you as a close contact, you should wear a mask around everyone for at least 10 days and…
You are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible):
- CCST will contact you with detailed instructions.
- You do not need to quarantine and may continue to attend classes and in-person events; no hold will be placed on your GWorld account; and if you're a residential student you will remain in your room/unit/suite.
- Complete a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after you were exposed.
You have a vaccine or booster exemption:
- CCST will contact you with detailed instructions.
- You do not need to quarantine and may continue to attend classes and in-person events; no hold will be placed on your GWorld account; and if you're a residential student you will remain in your room/unit/suite.
- Schedule and complete a COVID-19 test as soon as possible; schedule and complete a second COVID-19 test 3-5 days after you were exposed (if your first test is negative).
If your test result is positive, and...
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The isolation process is the same no matter your vaccination status.
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You will be placed in isolation for a minimum of 5 days and possibly longer depending on your symptoms.
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A hold will be placed on your GWorld account to restrict your access to campus.
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You must complete the daily isolation survey that is sent to you via text or email. You will not be removed from isolation if you do not complete this daily survey.
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CCST will contact you to conduct case investigation and contact tracing, i.e., identify where you have been and who you have been near in the days leading up to your positive test result.
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Only the Student Health Center (SHC), for students, or Occupational Health, for faculty and staff, can release you from isolation.
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Once released from isolation you should mask for 10 full days.
And, if you're a residential student:
For the 2022-2023 academic year, GW will practice isolation in place for COVID-positive individuals within the residence halls.
While in isolation, students are permitted to go to the front of their residence hall to pick up a contactless food or grocery delivery, or to receive food from family or friends that are assisting. Delivery services such as Grubhub can also be used to order food for immediate needs.
- If leaving residential rooms for food or grocery delivery, students are required to use contactless delivery and no interaction with other individuals is permitted.
- Students are required to wear an N95 mask, KN95 mask, or double mask when leaving residential rooms for this purpose.
- Students are not permitted to be in close contact with any other individual while leaving to pick up the food - no riding elevators with other residents, walking in close contact in stairwells or hallways, or waiting in lobbies for the delivery to arrive. Students may not interact with others while leaving your room to pick up this food.
- Students are still prohibited from leaving your room for all other activities already prohibited during isolation in residence halls.
If your test result is negative, and...
You are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible):
- Continue to mask and self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days after you were exposed to COVID-19.
- If you develop symptoms, contact SHC (students) or Occupational Health (faculty and staff).
You have a vaccine or booster exemption:
- You do not need to quarantine and may continue to attend classes and in-person events; no hold will be placed on your GWorld account; and if you're a residential student you will remain in your room/unit/suite.
- CCST will let you know when to schedule a second COVID-19 test.
- If the second test is negative, you may resume attending in-person classes and events.
- Continue to mask and to self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days after you were exposed to COVID-19.
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If you develop symptoms, contact SHC (students) or Occupational Health (faculty and staff).
What is "Close Contact"?
Close contact is defined as (1) being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of an individual with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period, or (2) having direct contact with the infectious secretions from an individual with COVID-19. Note: The definition of “close contact” does not include all other individuals on the same floor or in the same building as a positive individual, unless they also meet criteria (1) or (2).