COVID-19 Information

Olympic College return-to-campus guidance for all employees and students, with the exception of Nursing Program students.

Based off of CDC Quarantine and Isolation guidance.

Definitions

• Close Contact: someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
• Exposure: Contact with someone infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a way that increases the likelihood of getting infected with the virus.
• Quarantine: if you were exposed.

• Isolate: if you are sick or test positive.

• Up-to-date on COVID-19 Vaccinations: a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.

• Fully Vaccinated: a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.

If you test positive for COVID-19, come into close contact with someone who tested positive, or if you have COVID-19 like symptoms, please email the COVID-19 Response Team and someone will get back to you right away with guidance and next steps: @email. Each case is different and the COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to get more details and provide specific guidance.

I tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of illness:

Email the COVID-19 response team at @email. 

When to Isolate

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. If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below. If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.

If you Test

Negative

• You can end your isolation

If you Test

Positive

• Follow the full isolation recommendations below

Isolation

If you test positive for COVID-19, do not return to campus until:

• You have been symptom-free for 24 hours
• AND you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication

People with COVID-19 are often contagious for 5-10 days after their illness begins.

When you return to campus, it is recommended that you take the following precautions over the next five days:

• Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public
• Stay home and separate from others as much as possible
• Practice good hand hygiene and cleaning regularly
• Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible
• Don't share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils
• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.

You can tell your symptoms are improving when you start to feel better and you feel well enough to fully participate in your activities, such as learning in a classroom or completing tasks at work. A respiratory virus infeection can have many types of symptoms, some of which can last beyond when someone is contagious (able to spread the virus), such as a lingering cough. Having a single symptom or a combination of symptoms is not as important as the overall sense of feeling better and the ability to resume activities.

I was exposed to COVID-19 and do not have any symptoms:

• Isolation is not required.
• Wearing a mask after exposure is strongly recommended. 

Start Precautions

It is encouraged that you wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed.

Continue Precautions for 10 Full Days

You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.

• It is encouraged that you wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public
• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.

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
• stay home until you know the result

If your test result is positive, follow the isolation guidelines above.

Get Tested

Day 6

• It recommended that you get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure
• Test even if you don’t develop symptoms.
• If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.

If you Test

Negative

Continue taking precautions through day 10

• Wear a high-quality mask when around others at home and indoors in public

You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.

If you Test

Positive

• Isolate immediately(see the isolation guidelines above)
• Wear a well-fitting mask