COVID-19 Exposure and Isolation Guidelines

What do I do if I test positive for COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms?

Regardless of vaccination status, you must notify Pierce College if you were on any Pierce College site within 48 hours before taking your positive test or the start of your symptoms.

• Fill out the COVID-19 Reporting Form, AND
• Contact the College Exposure Officer, Jose Nieves at jnieves@pierce.ctc.edu.

When to Isolate

If you had no symptoms (but tested positive):

• Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
• Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
• If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset

If you had symptoms

• Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
• Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

Isolation Protocol

After testing positive or experiencing symptoms:

• Begin using a mask
• Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
• If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.
• If you had symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5 if:
  
  • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
  • Your symptoms are improving
• If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.
• Wear your mask through day 10.

What do I do if I have been exposed to COVID-19?

You should follow the following precautions if you have had close contact with a person who has been confirmed positive for COVID-19. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more (cumulative time) within a 24-hour period.

You can notify Pierce College of your exposure by submitting the COVID-19 Reporting Form or contacting the College Exposure Officer, Jose Nieves at jnieves@pierce.ctc.edu.

Wear a mask starting from day 0

• Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
• Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure

Continue precautions for 10 full days

• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your 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.

Watch for symptoms

• Fever (100.4°F or greater)
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Other COVID-19 symptoms

If you develop symptoms

• Isolate immediately
• Get tested and stay home until you know the result
  • If your test result is positive, follow the isolation recommendations.

Get tested on day 6

• Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure, even if you do not develop symptoms
  • If you test negative:  Continue taking precautions through day 10
    • Wear a high-quality mask when around others and indoors
  • If you test positive: Isolate immediately
• Note: If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see CDC specific testing recommendations

If you need to isolate, please contact your instructor(s)/supervisor right away to make arrangements to continue learning/work during this time. Students should also inform any staff who expect them on campus for an appointment or employment.

If you have questions you can contact the College Exposure Officer, Jose Nieves at jnieves@pierce.ctc.edu.