Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

University of Mississippi

Quarantine and Isolation

The CDC updated guidance for a shortened isolation period when infected and a shortened quarantine period when exposed. The MS State Department of Health recommends the public and providers adhere to the CDC updated guidance.

Summary: People with COVID-19 should isolate for five days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by five days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter. The CDC also updated the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19.

See complete details of the Updated CDC Guidance and information from MSDH: What to Do If You Are Diagnosed with or Exposed to COVID-19 (Isolation and Quarantine).

Quarantine and Isolation FAQs

How long is isolation? How long is quarantine?

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health:

If You Have COVID-19 (ISOLATION)

Isolate for at least 5 days, even if you have been vaccinated. If you have a positive COVID-19 test, stay home even if you do not have symptoms. Stay home until:

  • At least 5 days have passed since your symptoms began (or since your positive test, if you have no symptoms),
  • AND you have no more symptoms, or your symptoms are improving and you have no fever and do not need fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen).

Remain home after 5 days as long as you have a fever. Remaining at home is important to prevent transmitting infection to others.

  • Do not go to work until your isolation period ends.
  • Keep apart from others in your home as much as possible (including pets). Use a separate bathroom and bedroom if you can.
  • You do not need a negative test to end your isolation.

If You Have Been in Close Contact with Someone with COVID-19 (QUARANTINE)

Close contact is being within six feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more in one day. You may need to stay at home if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if you live with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Exposure is being in close contact (within 6 feet) of someone with COVID-19 for more than a total of 15 minutes in one day.

If your COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date:

  • You have received a COVID-19 booster dose or third dose,
  • OR you have received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine with the last six months, or a dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last two months.

You do not need to stay at home:

  • You should wear a mask around others for the next 10 days.
  • 5 days after your exposure, you should be tested for COVID-19 to make sure you are not infected.
  • If you develop symptoms, be tested, and stay home (see above for isolation instructions).

Otherwise you should quarantine at home.

  • Stay at home for at 5 days, and wear a mask around others for five more days after that.
  • If you are unable to stay at home, wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • 5 days after your exposure, you should be tested for COVID-19 to make sure you are not infected.
  • If you develop symptoms, be tested, and stay home (see above for isolation instructions).

 

Will the university provide quarantine and isolation space?

The university continues to provide a limited amount of quarantine and isolation space for on-campus residents (residence halls). Visit this page for additional details and FAQs. The process for quarantining or isolating while living in Student Housing is outlined in the Department of Student Housing Guide to Isolation and Quarantine Process. The university is committed to supporting students in quarantine or isolation. More information is outlined in this letter about Student Affairs Support for Student Quarantine & Isolation.

 

What resources are available for residence hall students in on-campus quarantine or isolation housing?

  • Meal delivery options are available to residence hall students in on-campus quarantine and isolation housing.
  • Student Housing provides staff members at the front desk of Brown Hall to assist students in isolation, as well as on-call support incase students need assistance after-hours.
  • Student Housing, Student Health, and Dean of Students staff members check-in with students frequently throughout the quarantine or isolation period to provide support and answer questions.
  • Each quarantine and isolation room is supplied with campus and housing resources information and bottled water to assist in the transition process.
  • Students can submit a COVID-19 Student Self-Report Form to have university personnel provide additional outreach and support.

Visit this page for additional details and FAQs.

Student Housing quarantine and isolation resource sheet

24/7 Student Housing contact phone numbers

 

Do employees need to self-quarantine after travel?

Employees are not required to self-isolate after traveling for vacation. Supervisors cannot require an employee returning from vacation to self-isolate either by using personal leave or by working from home.

 

Do I have to report a positive COVID-19 test to the university?

The university continues to expect faculty, staff, and students to report positive COVID-19 test results to the University Health Center. The anonymity and confidentiality of persons with COVID-19 will be protected during this process. University Health Services will collaborate with MSDH for contact tracing and to determine additional precautions that may be warranted.

How do I report my positive COVID-19 test to the university?

Any positive COVID-19 test should be reported to the University Health Center using one of these anonymous reporting methods:

  1. Call University Health Services: Students should call 662-915-7274, while employees should call 662-915-6550.
  2. All students must report positive tests to Student Health and employees must report positive tests to Employee Health, regardless of where the test was performed.
  3. Fill out the UHS Self Report form, scan or take a picture of your results and upload both the form and your results to our HIPAA compliant UMBOX. Only University Health Services personnel will view your documentation.
  4. Download the Everbridge App and select the Report Positive COVID-19 button. Then scan or take a picture of your results and upload it to our HIPAA compliant UMBOX. Only University Health Services personnel will be able to view your documentation.

Will the university conduct contact tracing?

The university’s contact tracing team will continue to provide guidance and serve as a resource to the campus community.

How will the university handle outbreaks in classrooms, departments, residence halls, or other housing?

According to MSDH, an outbreak is identified if 3 or more individuals within a group of 30 or less (or 10% or more of larger groups) are diagnosed with COVID within a 14-day period. A group is defined as a collection of individuals in regular contact or proximity when social distancing of 6 feet or greater has not been strictly maintained. Examples might include sports teams, dorm floors, groups of employees working in the same setting, sorority or fraternity houses, shared living environments, clubs and in-person classes. All members of a group must be quarantined in the event of an outbreak, unless vaccinated. If there is absolute certainty that a subset of the group has had no contact with a case OR exposure to any of the identified contacts to that case, that subset may be excluded from quarantine precautions. This is accomplished through contact tracing.

Should students in quarantine or isolation go to a face-to-face class?

Students in quarantine or isolation should not attend an in person class until the quarantine or isolation period is complete.

Should students contact their instructors if they are in quarantine or isolation?

Students should contact their instructors to inform them that they are in isolation or quarantine and unable to attend class.

Does everyone in the class need to quarantine if a student reports receiving a positive test result after having attended class?

No. The fact that everyone in the class was wearing masks will minimize the likelihood of someone getting infected in the classroom. The CDC recommends that anyone within 6 feet of the person who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes should quarantine if they are unvaccinated, even if they were wearing masks.

If you know who the person was sitting next to the infected person in the classroom and they were within 6 feet of the person who received the positive test result, they can be told that if they are unvaccinated they should quarantine. If they are vaccinated, they do not need quarantine, unless they develop symptoms.

If the student or faculty member doesn’t know who was sitting next to him/her, then individuals in the class should closely monitor for symptoms, be vigilant about wearing a mask when around others and stay home and get tested if symptoms develop.

Resources and Links