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 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 must begin exposure quarantine, and indicate the exposure on your daily symptom screening survey.
  • 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). You must have two negative tests before you are released from quarantine.
  • CCST will place a hold on your GWorld account to restrict your access to campus.

 

 

 If your test result is positive, and...

  • The isolation process is the same no matter your vaccination status.

  • You will be placed in isolation for a minimum of 7 days and possibly longer depending on your symptoms.

  • A hold will be placed on your GWorld account to restrict your access to campus.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • Only the Colonial Health Center (CHC), for students, or Occupational Health, for faculty and staff, can release you from isolation.

  • Once released from isolation you should mask for 10 full days.

And, if you're a residential student:

The isolation process is the same no matter your vaccination status.

  • All residential students in isolation will be assigned a staff member from the Division of Student Affairs to assist with their needs. Initial contact will be by mobile phone.
  • If living on-campus in a bedroom with no roommate, and the student has access to a bathroom that can temporarily be made private, the student will remain in their room and use the private bathroom. Examples in which this situation may occur includes a District House affinity unit, or in South Hall where there are multiple bedrooms and bathrooms in suites/units.
  • If living on-campus with roommates/suitemates with no access to a private bedroom and bathroom, the student will be moved to another room on campus where they will remain until being cleared by the Colonial Health Center and/or Campus COVID-19 Support Team (CCST). Students in isolation may not leave their residential unit unless there is a building emergency, or they are directed to leave by medical personnel to seek testing or medical care. 
  • If roommates test positive at the same time, they will isolate together.
     

 

 

 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 self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days after you were exposed to COVID-19.
  • If you develop symptoms, contact CHC (students) or Occupational Health (faculty and staff).

 

You have a vaccine or booster exemption:

  • CCST will let you know when to schedule a second COVID-19 test.
  • If the second test is negative, CCST will release you from exposure quarantine 6 days after you were exposed and remove the hold from your GWorld account.
  • 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.

  • If you develop symptoms, contact CHC (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).

 

Frequently Asked Questions