Faculty, staff, and students who have COVID-19 symptoms, who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or who have themselves tested positive for COVID-19 are required stay in their room/at their home and to follow the directions from the University’s case investigator regarding quarantine/isolation.
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows he or she is sick or if he or she is infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home if feasible, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.
Isolation is used to separate people infected with the virus (those who are sick with COVID-19 and those who are infected but asymptomatic) from people who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it is safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific room or area and using a separate bathroom if available.
Symptomatic Testing. Students, staff, and faculty who have symptoms or who have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, should contact the COVID hotline at 740-283-4500 and will be directed to complete an intake form on MyFranciscan. The hotline and the intake forms are monitored seven days a week. A student who has COVID symptoms will self-isolate until test results are received. The student’s roommate(s) and other close contacts may be directed to self-quarantine until the results from the symptomatic roommate’s test are received. If the student test comes back positive, he/she will be directed to isolate, and the roommates/close contacts will be directed to quarantine and may be tested at later time.
Isolation Procedures. Students and employees who test positive must isolate for at least 10 days or until symptom-free. The case investigators, in collaboration with the University Health Service and the Jefferson County Health Department, will determine and communicate the dates of isolation.
Resident students who have tested positive will be placed in University housing designated for such purposes. Residence Life Staff will assist with the move to University-controlled isolation housing. Students may isolate at home if they live within a reasonable driving distance.
Contact tracing. The case investigators will coordinate contact tracing when a student or employee tests positive for COVID. The case investigators will make a determination regarding close contacts who must quarantine in conjunction with the University’s Health Service and the Jefferson County Health Department. Generally, those who have previously tested positive for COVID, those who have COVID antibodies, or those who have been vaccinated will not be required to quarantine; however, in some cases additional precautions such as face coverings may be required until the results of a day-6 PCR test are obtained.
Quarantine Procedures
Persons determined to be close contacts will be required to quarantine and/or self-monitor.
Resident students who must quarantine will be placed in University housing designated for such purposes or, in some circumstances, may be directed to self-quarantine in their own rooms. Residence Life Staff will assist with the move to University-controlled isolation/quarantine housing. Students may quarantine at home if they live within a reasonable driving distance.
Those who are in quarantine must monitor their symptoms and report them on a daily basis; a person in quarantine who develops symptoms should contact the Wellness Center Health Service at 740-284-7223 to discuss his/her symptoms and determine If a PCR test or other action is needed.
An employee or student who is quarantining locally or in University-sponsored housing can take a PCR test on or after day six of quarantine. If positive, the employee or student will be required to isolate. If negative and asymptomatic, the employee or student will generally be released from quarantine after day six.
An employee or student determined to be a close contact who declines a PCR test will be required to quarantine for a period of 10-14 days following guidelines from Ohio Department of Health and Jefferson County Health Department.
University-Controlled Isolation and Quarantine Housing
Resident students who have tested positive or who are close contacts will be isolated/quarantined in appropriate University-controlled housing. Resident students in some situations (e.g., Assisi Heights, St. Junipero Serra, and St. Agnes Halls) may isolate in their own rooms under certain circumstances. Positive students who live off campus/commute will be expected to isolate/quarantine in their off-campus home/housing.
Resident students who are isolating/quarantining in on-campus housing will receive a “Smile Box” with breakfast and snack items; lunch and dinner will be delivered daily. Students quarantining/isolating in off-campus housing or at home will be responsible for their own meals.
Resident students who are isolating/quarantining in on-campus housing will be able to receive Holy Communion on Sundays.
Academic Assistance
Students who are isolated/quarantined should contact their professors to arrange for reasonable accommodations. Students who need to make up tests due to isolation/quarantine should contact Student Academic Support Services to schedule an appointment.
Ongoing Care and Communication
Student Life and Health Services staff will communicate with students in quarantine/isolation on a regular basis. Counseling Services will be available to assist students in quarantine/isolation.