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.
Email contacttracing@colorado.edu
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.
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:
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:
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.