If you have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. There are precautions you can take to prevent spreading it to others: isolation, masking, and avoiding contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick. Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19.
For Spring 2023, all students who test positive for COVID-19 will be asked to isolate in their on-campus room, home, or permanent residence.
Additionally, any student who is symptomatic should call the Fort Lewis College Student Health Center at 970-247-7355 or email. Any employee who is symptomatic should contact their supervisor first with any questions or call HR at 970-247-7428.
The information below details what is required of students and employees who test positive or who have had exposure to someone who tested positive.
Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. Information regarding testing site may be found at the San Juan Basin Public Health website. If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below. If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.
HOW TO DETERMINE WHEN TO START AND END ISOLATION
Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:
If you had no symptoms
If you had symptoms
If you test positive for COVID-19, stay in your room or home for at least 5 days and isolate from others. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were.
If you had no symptoms:
You may end isolation after day 5.
If you had symptoms:
You may end isolation after day 5 if:
If you still have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.
If you had moderate illness (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10.
If you had severe illness or have a weakened immune system:
Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.
If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.
Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11.
Remember to wear a high-quality mask when indoors around others in your room or at home and in public and do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below).
After you have ended isolation, wear your mask through day 10.
If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 or have been told by a healthcare provider or public health authority that you were exposed, here are the steps that you should take, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection.
Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed.
Start counting from Day 1
You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
Wear a high-quality mask any time you are around others inside your room, home or indoors in public.
Take extra precautions if you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
If your test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations.
More about how to protect yourself and others.