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Home Health Promotion Public Health Quarantine and Isolation

Quarantine and Isolation

Isolation Information

Quarantine Information

Isolation

Isolation is intended for people who are sick, beginning to show symptoms, feeling ill and think they might have COVID 19, or have tested positive for COVID-19. Isolation is different from quarantine. A negative COVID test while you are in isolation will not reduce the isolation period.

Symptoms may be mild and feel like a common cold, especially early on. Early symptoms could include a combination of cough, body aches, fatigue and chest tightness. Some people may not develop a fever or a fever may not appear until several days into the illness.

Isolation can be voluntary or mandated by a public health professional.

Questions/concerns? We are here to help!
 

Email contacttracing@colorado.edu

Call 303-735-0017

Emails and voicemails are checked regularly, including weekends.

When should you isolate?

You should begin isolation 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.

The isolation timeframe is provided to students during case investigation.

The most important part about isolation is to follow the guidance provided by a public health official.  

When to leave isolation

You will receive additional isolation information from a case investigator along with a projected date when you may leave isolation. A case investigator will call to check in on your symptoms and confirm when you can leave isolation. Only a case investigator can clear someone from isolation.

What is the isolation timeframe?

If you test positive on or after December 28, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, needs to stay home for five days. 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 around others for five additional days.

How is isolation calculated?

The date symptoms start or a positive test was collected if you have no symptoms is considered day 0. For example, you receive a positive COVID test result or symptoms started January 1, January 1 would be day 0 and you would isolate for five full days through January 6. If you are feeling better and fever free, you could leave isolation January 7 and wear a mask around others through January 11.

Where and how should you isolate?

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Stay home

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

Remain in isolation until cleared by a public health staff member.

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Monitor your symptoms

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

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Avoid close contact with other members of your household and pets

Avoid contact with other members of your household. Stay in a separate room from other household members and use a separate bathroom, if possible.

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Wash your hands

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

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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.

The most important part about isolation is to follow the guidance provided by a public health official.  

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

Quarantine is intended for people who are not sick, do not have symptoms of COVID-19, and are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantine is like calling a time-out, to learn more about the situation. It can be voluntary or mandated by the state or a public health agency.

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.

Who needs to quarantine?

In general, if someone has been identified as a close contact (within six feet for more than 15 cumulative minutes of a person during their infectious period):

If you are fully vaccinated...

You have been boosted, completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, or completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months:

  • Wear a mask around others for 10 days. 
  • Test on day 5, if possible. 

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

​

If you…

Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted, completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted, or are unvaccinated:

  • Stay home for five days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days. 
  • If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days. 
  • Test on day 5 if possible. 

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.  

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.

Should I leave quarantine to attend classes or work?
No. Stay home after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. For work, follow department guidance on notifying your supervisor. For classes, follow the guidelines in your syllabus.

Students in quarantine who need assistance in notifying faculty, 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.

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. 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 14 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?
Masks are required in public indoor spaces on the CU Boulder campus regardless of vaccination status as of August 13, 2021.

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.

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