Isolation and Quarantine

Isolation and Quarantine

If you test positive for Covid-19, begin to have symptoms of Covid-19, or are not up to date with your Covid-19 vaccinations and are exposed to someone with Covid-19, you must take immediate action for your own health and for the safety of others.  

       If You Get Sick and Test Positive for Covid-19

    If you test positive or have been diagnosed with Covid-19, you must isolate away from others to avoid spreading the illness to anyone else. Follow the steps below to get help, stay healthy, and help protect those around you.

    Isolation is the separation of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 or been diagnosed with Covid-19.

    Student
    1. Return to your residence and avoid taking public transit.
    2. Notify individuals with whom you have had close contact in the time period starting 2 days before you developed symptoms until the present time. Consider close contact as those with whom you were less than 6 feet away for 15 or more minutes cumulatively in a 24-hour period.
    3. Isolate away from others for at least 5 full days from when your symptoms started, or from your positive test if you have no symptoms. If after 5 days you are asymptomatic or symptoms have significantly resolved, you may end isolation, but wear a mask when around others in your residence and in public for an additional 5 days. See below for isolation options.

    If You Live Off Campus:

    • You will need to isolate at your residence.
    • At home, separate from others, or wear a mask when you need to be around others.
    • People in isolation should stay in a specific room or area and use a separate bathroom if possible and remain in isolation until you meet the criteria for ending isolation.

    If You Live On Campus:

    • If you test positive for Covid-19 and have a single bedroom on campus, isolate in place. If you don’t have a single bedroom, consider off campus isolation at a friend or family member’s house where you would have your own space. 
    • Residents who cannot stay off campus will be allowed to isolate in place. Isolating in place means residents should stay in their current room assignment — while also distancing themselves from roommates as much as possible — for the safety of themselves and others.
    • The resident isolating, along with their roommate, should always wear a mask inside the residence. Impacted roommates may wish to temporarily stay at the home of family or friends who are in the local area.
    • If you are isolating in place, you will receive appropriate academic accommodations from your instructors. Learn more about academic accommodations.

    These practices are both consistent with Georgia Tech’s effort to move from a temporary emergency Covid-19 response into an ongoing, sustainable approach. They are also in alignment with what we have learned these past two years about effectively reducing the transmission of Covid-19.

    Faculty and Staff
    1. If you’re on campus, return to your place of residence.
    2. Contact your primary care physician and your supervisor.
    3. Notify individuals with whom you have had close contact in the time period starting 2 days before you developed symptoms until the present time. Consider close contact as those with whom you were within 6 feet for 15 or more minutes cumulatively in a 24-hour period.
    4. Isolate away from others for at least 5 full days from when your symptoms started, or from your positive test if you have no symptoms. If after 5 days you are asymptomatic or symptoms have significantly resolved, you may end isolation, but wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days. Stay in a specific room or area and use a separate bathroom if available, and remain isolated until you meet the criteria for ending isolation.

    How to Isolate off Campus:

    1. Do not leave your isolation location, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas or return to campus.
    2. Monitor yourself for symptoms of Covid-19, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may be present as well.
    3. Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated.
    4. Stay in touch with your primary health care provider. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care immediately if you have trouble breathing, faint or feel faint, experience persistent pain or pressure in your chest, new confusion, difficulty waking or staying awake, bluish lips or face, or if you think it is an emergency.
    5. Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. Your local health authorities may give instructions for checking your symptoms and reporting information.
    6. Separate yourself from other people.

       If You Get Sick and Test Negative for Covid-19

    If you test negative for the virus that causes Covid-19 but still have symptoms, you should still be careful about contact with others, particularly if you tested with an at-home antigen test very soon after developing symptoms. It is recommended that you repeat the test 48-72 hours later if your initial at-home test is negative. Visit the CDC website for isolation guidelines.

    If You Have Been in Close Contact With Someone Who Has Tested Positive for Covid-19

    Current CDC guidelines state that you do not need to quarantine following exposure – regardless of vaccination status – but you should:

    • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days when around others in public indoor spaces.
    • Test on Day 5 and thereafter:
      • Recent guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding use of at-home rapid antigen tests suggests that if you are not having symptoms and your initial test after exposure (Day 5) is negative, you should repeat the test in 48 hours and repeat the test again after another 48 hours (for a total of 3 tests).

    Please see CDC guidance for additional information on travel.