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Home Health Promotion Public Health Quarantine and Isolation

Quarantine and Isolation

Isolation Information

Quarantine Information

Isolation

You should begin isolation at home as soon as you:

  • Begin to experience symptoms that may be related to COVID-19.
  • Receive a positive test result for COVID-19, regardless of whether you have symptoms.
  • Have been instructed to isolate by a healthcare provider or public health staff member.

Questions/concerns? We are here to help!
 

Email contacttracing@colorado.edu

Call 303-735-0017

Emails and voicemails are checked regularly, including weekends.

What is the isolation timeframe?

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, needs to stay home for at least five full days from positive test date if asymptomatic or from when symptoms started if symptomatic. Some individuals may need to isolate longer, as directed by their healthcare providers. If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after isolating for a full five days (and fever-free for at least 24 hours), you can leave isolation and must continue to wear a mask when around others for five additional days. Isolation can be complex; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a calculator or you may contact the Public Health Office for a consultation.

Where and how should you isolate?

Stay home

Stay home except to receive medical care; do not come to campus, visit with others or take public transportation.

 

Monitor your symptoms

Monitor your symptoms and notify a healthcare provider of any changes or worsening of symptoms.

Wash your hands

Regularly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Disinfect common surfaces daily.

Wear a face mask

If you must be around other people inside or outside of your household, wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Keep six feet of distance between yourself and others at all times.

When to seek emergency medical care

If you or someone you know is showing any of these signs or symptoms*, seek emergency medical care immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility and notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

*This list does not cover all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Notify faculty members and work (if applicable)

Contact faculty members and/or your supervisor to let them know you will not be able to participate in in-person activities. Employees may direct questions regarding leave options to leave@colorado.edu. Students who have reached out to faculty and aren’t sure what to do, for example, if symptoms become more severe or are looking into additional academic options, please submit a self-referral form and a Student Support Case Manager will reach out to you directly to provide assistance and/or connect you with additional support resources.

Quarantine

Current CDC quarantine guidance - Individuals with a potential exposure to COVID-19 and no symptoms do not need to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status. They are advised to monitor for symptoms, to wear a mask for 10 days and test on day 5.

Who needs to quarantine?

If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home. 

Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can schedule a COVID telehealth appointment and testing online on their MyCUHealth portal or by calling 303-492-5432.  Faculty and staff should contact their primary care provider. Testing is available at community testing sites. 

How to find out if you need to quarantine

To determine if you need to quarantine or not, we recommend connecting with the contact tracing team via:

Email contacttracing@colorado.edu

Call 303-735-0017

The contact tracing team will connect with you for a brief phone call to learn more about your situation to tailor information and next steps appropriately.

Common questions about isolation and quarantine

I tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do next?

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you  need to isolate, regardless of vaccination status. This means that you should stay home and isolate from other people for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or date of positive test). Your isolation guidance may be different based on your health or where you work and live.

If you are severely ill with COVID-19 or who are immunocompromised, you may need to isolate for a longer period of time. CDC guidance recommends isolating for a period of at least 10 and up to 20 days AND consult with a healthcare provider before ending isolation.

If you tested positive using an at-home antigen test, you may report your test results here: covidrapidtests.colorado.gov.

Create an account, then select test type “At-home antigen - self reported” to report your positive test result. If you are unable to report your positive result on the website, you can also report your positive results to the contact tracing team.

What does it mean to self-isolate?
Self-isolation means you are avoiding situations where you could infect other people. You will need to self-isolate if you:
  • Exhibit COVID-19 symptoms
  • Test positive for COVID-19

During self-isolation you should:

  • Stay in your room or at home
  • Avoid rideshare and public transportation
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with your sleeve, elbow, or tissue
  • Wash laundry and dishes using hot water
  • Monitor yourself for symptoms  
  • Do NOT go to class or work
  • Do NOT go to public events, meetings, or other group activities
  • Do NOT have other come to your home for social visits

Can I take a test to get out of isolation early?

If you have access to a test, you should use an antigen test on day 5 of the isolation period (or day 7 for healthcare workers). You should only take a test if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. 

If your test is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. There may be some exceptions - you may call or email the contact tracing team for a consultation. If your test is negative, you can end isolation, but should continue to wear a mask around others at home or in public until day 10.

 

One of my household members tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do?

If one of your household members tests positive for COVID-19, you may need to quarantine (stay home). The duration of your quarantine depends on your vaccination status.

You do not need to quarantine if:

  • You have received your booster,
  • It has been less than 6 months after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or less than 2 months after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, or
  • You tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days.

You should wear a mask around others for 10 days and get tested 5 days after last exposure, or immediately if symptoms arise.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you need to quarantine at home for 5 days after exposure and continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. You should get tested on day 5 or immediately if symptoms develop.

I was told that someone I have been close to has COVID-19. What should I do?

If you have been in close contact (six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative 15 minutes over a 24-hour period) and do not know whether you have been infected, you may need to quarantine. It depends on your vaccination status.

For 10 days after exposure, you should continue to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, wear a mask, practice physical distancing, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and avoid contact with high risk individuals.

If a member of my household or family has been asked to quarantine because they are a close contact, will I need to quarantine?
No. Contacts of a close contact would not need to quarantine.

If you aren’t sure what to do, please contact the Public Health Office.

Do I need to get a negative test to return to work/class?
CU Boulder does not require testing for an employee to come back to work or for a student to attend class in person. However, before you return, you should meet the criteria to end isolation or quarantine.

When can I travel?

Do NOT travel if:

  • You are currently sick
  • Your isolation/quarantine period has not ended
  • You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you should avoid travel for a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date of your positive test (if you had no symptoms). If you must travel after day 5, wear a mask when around others for the entire duration of travel.

If you had close contact with a person who has COVID-19, you should get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact and make sure your test result is negative and you do not have any symptoms. If you don’t get tested, delay travel until a full 10 days after your last close contact.

If I get tested on campus, is the test ISO approved?
PCR tests provided by Medical Services are ISO certified.

When can I go out to eat or go to the gym?
You should not go to public places where you would remove your mask (such as restaurants and gyms) until 10 days has passed from:
  • If you have COVID-19, symptom onset or test day if you did not have symptoms
  • If in quarantine, last exposure date

How do I know if my symptoms have improved?
If your symptoms are improving, you will likely feel better and notice a decrease in their severity (for example, you may notice that you feel less congested as time goes on). Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery. You can end isolation even if you haven’t regained your sense of smell and/or taste.

What do I do if my symptoms get worse?
If your symptoms are getting worse, continue to isolate and contact a medical professional. Students can contact Medical Services 24/7 at 303-492-5101. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider.

If your symptoms are severe (trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest), call 911 or go to the hospital.

Am I required to wear a mask on campus?
The campus is currently mask-optional. There are some locations, such as medical facilities, that may have additional requirements.

If I’m required to isolate or quarantine, but my work can’t be done from home, what options do I have?
Please contact your department HR liaison or email leave@colorado.edu about potential options.

Am I eligible for leave if my child’s school goes remote?
Visit the COVID-19 HR leave guidance webpage for current options or email leave@colorado.edu.

What other resources are available for faculty and staff who have to isolate or quarantine?
Resources may vary depending on the county an individual lives in. Please feel free to email ContactTracing@colorado.edu with specific resource questions.

How can I prevent getting sick?
There are a few things you can do to prevent the spread of several viruses, including COVID-19:
  • Wear a mask
  • Practice physical distancing whenever possible
  • Get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Don’t share food and drinks
  • Clean and disinfect share surfaces and frequently-touched objects
  • Keep your immune system healthy by getting enough sleep, reducing stress, eating nutritious foods, and exercising
  • Avoid close contact with anyone who cold or flu-like symptoms
  • Stay home if you are sick

My roommate tested positive for COVID-19, what should I do?
If your roommate tests positive, you will want to minimize contact with your roommate while they are in isolation. If you aren’t sure whether you should quarantine or have questions on next steps for you, please email contacttracing@colorado.edu or call 303-735-0017.

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