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In conjunction with Atrium Health, Queens has developed a detailed process for reporting exposure and symptoms, following up with close contacts, testing, isolation, and quarantine.
Here are some important definitions related to this section:
- Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. This would only apply to currently unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals.
- Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
- Exposure - According to the CDC, you have been exposed to COVID-19 if you have had close contact (even with masks) with one or more person(s) showing COVID-19 symptoms or with a confirmed COVID-19 test.
- Close Contact - someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Individual exposures added together over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) constitute close contact.
List of resources for those in quarantine or isolation.
REPORTING SYMPTOMS OR EXPOSURE
Students
If you were exposed to COVID-19, and do not have symptoms, wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5.
If a student has a confirmed exposure to someone with COVID-19, they may continue to participate in campus activities unless they have any COVID-19 symptoms.
If the student has any COVID-19 symptoms, they should be tested as directed by a medical professional (recommendation of 5 days after the confirmed exposure).
- If the test returns a positive result, the student will be subject to isolation protocols as described below under “Isolation.”
- If the test returns a negative result, the student will NOT be subject to quarantine protocols and should follow the direction of their medical provider and consult with Student Health and Wellness.
- Notify Health & Wellness Center by email to or 704-337-2220.
- If you are in isolation, complete the monitoring form and check in to be cleared to return to campus.
Residential students who have been exposed to COVID-19 or are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms:
- Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Health & Wellness staff will follow up with the student to confirm symptoms.
- After 5:00 p.m.: A Residence Life professional staff member on duty will follow up with student to confirm symptoms and coordinate isolation plan if necessary.
- If the student is symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracers will work with the student to identify people they were in close contact with two days prior to their symptoms beginning or a positive test.
Faculty and Staff
If you were exposed to COVID-19, and do not have symptoms, wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5.
If a member of faculty or staff has a confirmed exposure to someone with COVID-19, they may continue to come to campus and perform their work unless they have any COVID-19 symptoms.
- If an employee has any COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive, they should they should isolate at home as described below.
- Consult with your primary care provider.
- Complete the monitoring form and check in to be cleared to return to campus.
- Notify Teri Orsini (orsinit@queens.edu) in Human Resources of your confirmed COVID-19 test result.
QUARANTINE
Under the current CDC guidelines, if you had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are not showing any symptoms and have not had a positive COVID test, you do not need to quarantine.
- Wear a high quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5.
If you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate from other people, and follow recommendations in the Isolation section below.
If a residential student has been exposed to COVID-19, and is showing COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive, follow the isolation guidelines below.
COVID-19 Symptoms include, among others:
- Temperature over 100.1 degrees Fahrenheit if using a standard thermometer, or 99.7 if using an infrared thermometer
- Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Students should call 911 if they develop any of the following: shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, altered thinking or cyanosis.
ISOLATION
If the (vaccinated or unvaccinated) student is or becomes symptomatic:
- If the student is already in quarantine off-campus, they will remain in isolation at that location until further instructed.
- University officials will email isolation instructions.
- A healthcare professional will arrange for a telehealth visit to assess symptoms, further treatment, and the need for testing.
- The student will be asked to self-isolate for at least 5 days and remain socially vigilant and masked for 10 days to monitor symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
- Students will be asked to report symptoms twice daily to Health & Wellness Center staff.
- Students will be asked to call 911 if they develop any of the following: shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, altered thinking or cyanosis.
- Results of COVID-19 testing, if applicable, as coordinated through our process will be shared with Health & Wellness.
- Students will be asked to adhere to the following isolation guidelines:
- Stay in room
- No visitors
- Follow guidance of healthcare provider
- Student Life or Athletics will coordinate meal delivery.
- Students should consult with Health & Wellness (704-337-2220) to determine whether they may discontinue isolation.