Health Center
COVID-19 Instructions
Please read the following carefully and reach out to the appropriate department if you have any questions or needs.
We continue to follow CDC Guidelines for Isolation and Quarantine which can be found here .
If you have tested positive, complete the following steps: (regardless of vaccination status).
- Isolate for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or from your test date (whichever came first)
- If you have no symptoms or if symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you may leave isolation.
- If you continue to have a fever, stay in isolation until fever resolves
- Isolation means you will have no close contact with others
- After isolating 5 days, continue to mask at all times when around others for 5 additional days
- If you have non-emergent medical concerns, contact the Health Center at 512-863-1252.
- If you are an athlete, inform your athletic trainer.
- Notify your professors directly that you will not be able to attend class.
- It is your responsibility to inform your close contacts and share the following information as soon as possible to prevent additional virus spread.
COVID-19 EXPOSURE ACTION CHART
Determine what actions you need to take following an exposure to COVID-19
|
Asymptomatic Close Contact Exposure
(No symptoms but had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID, regardless of vaccination status) |
Mask at all times when around others for 10 days after last exposure
Watch for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop
|
|
Symptomatic for COVID-19
(regardless of exposure) |
Self-isolate except to seek medical care. Avoid contact with others and disinfect surfaces regularly
Get tested immediately with an antigen or PCR test
Mask at all times when around others |
|
Positive for COVID-19 |
Isolate for at least 5 days after symptoms started, AND no fever for at least 24 hours AND symptoms improving (first symptom date is “day 0”)
If asymptomatic, isolate for 5 days after the date of the test (test date is “day 0”)
Inform close contacts so they can begin taking precautions
Mask at all times when around others for an additional 5 days after isolation ends (at least 10 days total). With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10 |
DEFINITIONS
Symptoms of COVID-19: Range from mild to severe and may include fever, chills, body aches, headache, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Close contact: Being within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period, beginning 2 days before illness onset (if asymptomatic, 2 days before test date) until the time the patient is isolated
Isolation: Separates people with COVID-19 from others. Isolate if you are sick or test positive. Avoid all contact with others until it is safe for you to do so.
Quarantine: Separates people who were exposed to COVID-19 from others. Avoid all contact with others until it is safe for you to do so.
PCR Test: (may also be called molecular test, NAAT or TMA test) highly sensitive test that can pick up on asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections. May continue to be positive after you are no longer contagious.
Antigen Test: highly specific test that should only be positive if you are sick and/ or contagious. (If you have a positive antigen test, you do not need to get a PCR test to confirm.) Antigen tests will NOT pick up most asymptomatic infections.
Mask: A well-fitting mask covering your mouth and nose. KN95, dense fabric with multiple layers, or double masking is recommended. Masks help protect you and those around you
Recently recovered: If you have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 90 days, you are not likely to contract it again within that time period. You should not get a PCR test for 90 days after having COVID-19.You do not need to quarantine if identified as a close contact.
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS:
Residence Life: reslife@southwestern.edu
Health Center: For questions or testing, call 512.863.1252