Exposure Information For UCCS Community

exposure

Exposure Information for UCCS Community

Guidance for Campus Community Members who have Tested Positive, had an Exposure, or are Experiencing Symptoms Related to COVID19

Please do not come to campus if you have tested positive, had an exposure, or are experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Fever or chills    
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Cough    
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing    
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Vomiting or Diarrhea    
  • Congestion/runny nose
  • Headache     

This list does not include all possible symptoms. Visit the CDC website for up to date information 

Your Actions & What To Do
  • If you develop any COVID symptoms, stay at home until you can be tested.
  • If you develop COVID symptoms, but they resolve in 24 hours, you do not need to be tested or stay at home any longer. 
  • If you develop a loss of taste or smell, remain at home for 10 days regardless of test results.
  • Anyone who has a positive test must remain at home for 10 days from the start of their symptoms AND you must be fever-free for 24 hours AND your symptoms must be improving.
  • If you have no symptoms but have a positive COVID test, you must stay home for 10 days from the day you were tested.
  • If you have a fever, you must remain at home, even if you have a negative COVID test, until you are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medications. 
  • Any unvaccinated individual that is a close contact of a positive case during their infectious period, which is defined as being within 6 feet for a cumulative amount of 15 minutes or more within 24 hours, should quarantine themselves as follows.  
    • After day 14 for individuals living in congregate housing (residence halls), or after day 10 with a negative test result on day 7 or after 
    • After day 10 without testing for individuals in non-congregate housing
    • After day 7 after receiving a negative test result (test must occur on day 5 or later) for individuals in non-congregate housing
    • After stopping quarantine, you should 
      • Watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure.
      • If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your local public health authority or healthcare provider.
      • Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
  • If you come in close contact with a person who is placed into isolation, you do not need to quarantine unless the isolated person tests positive and your exposure was within 48 hours of them developing symptoms or being tested if they are asymptomatic. 
  • You do not need to quarantine if you have a 3rd party exposure. Example: Your significant others' co-worker tested positive and your significant other needs to quarantine. You do not need to quarantine unless your significant other has developed symptoms or tested positive. 

 

Next Steps To Take

1.) Contact your Supervisor/Instructor to let them know you will not be coming to campus. 

2.) If you are a student, contact the Wellness Center at wellness@uccs.edu or 719-255-4444 to notify them if you have tested positive or if you have been exposed to a positive case. 

3.) Employees with questions related to remote work or leave eligibility should visit the HR website or contact HR. 

5.) Stay home (Self-isolate). Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.

  • Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines as needed, such as acetaminophen, to help alleviate your symptoms.
  • Stay in touch with your medical provider. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care and/or call 911 if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs.
  • Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

If you’d like to receive text messages with information about support available during isolation and/or quarantine, report your symptoms to Colorado COVID Symptom Support tool. For additional information related to self-isolation visit the CDC Website. 
 

Do I Need To Be Tested?

Anyone with symptoms should get tested ideally within the first 5 days, stay away from others and follow stay at home instructions. 

Active UCCS students can be tested for FREE at the UCCS Wellness Center through an appointment by calling 719-255-4444. The Wellness Center is currently offering telehealth visits and testing for students experiencing COVID like symptoms and for close contacts of positive cases.

The best time to get tested if you are in quarantine, but not experiencing symptoms, is seven (7) days after exposure. Information regarding which sites offer symptomatic and/or asymptomatic testing can be found at the link above. 

The testing site will notify you of your results whether you test positive or negative.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms, you can be cleared to return to campus 10 days after the test was collected as long as you do not develop symptoms. If you develop symptoms, then you must follow the recovery strategy for those with symptoms. 

For additional information related to safe return to work, visit this resource.


 

Do I need to quarantine due to a close Coronavirus exposure after being fully vaccinated or if I recently had COVID?

The CDC states that fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine under the following conditions:
•    They have completed all scheduled doses of an approved vaccine and the exposure is two weeks after receiving the final dose.
•    The individual remains asymptomatic of any COVID-19 symptoms.
Fully vaccinated people should continue to adhere to all COVID-19 precautions.
Individuals who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the preceding 90 days are also not required to quarantine. 
 

 

 

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