Isolation or Exposure

Isolation

Isolation is used to separate those with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 from those without Covid-19, including household contact. Those in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. Isolation information for employees and students is below. The CDC has additional information on Isolation and Precautions for People with Covid-19.

Isolation housing is being offered to students who are living on campus and have a confirmed Covid-19 positive case. To request isolation housing, please complete this form. A member of the Housing team will contact you at the phone number provided on the form to provide further instructions.

  • 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 but consider retesting in 48 hours.

    • 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, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. Day 0 is considered as the first day that your symptoms began.

    • It is recommended that you follow CDC guidelines and wear a good and well-fitting face covering if you must be around others at home and in public.

    • Do not go places where you are unable to wear a face covering, including travel and public transportation settings.

    • Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.

    • Use a separate bathroom, if possible.

    • 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.

    • Learn more about what to do if you have Covid-19.

  • Ending Isolation

    • If you had no symptom, 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.

    • 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 face covering when indoors around others at home and in public and not go places where you are unable to wear a face covering until you are able to discontinue their use.

    • If you had no symptom, 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.

    • 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 face covering when indoors around others at home and in public and not go places where you are unable to wear a face covering until you are able to discontinue their use.

  • Removing your face covering

    • After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving), wear your face covering through day 10 OR if you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your face covering sooner than day 10.

    • After you have ended isolation, if your Covid-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.

Exposure to Covid-19

Effective August 11, 2022, the CDC is no longer recommending quarantine for people who have experienced a close contact exposure to someone with Covid-19. Employees or students that believe they have come in contact with a Covid-19 positive person (including your room/suitemate), should follow the directions outlined below regardless of their vaccination status or if they have had a previous infection. The CDC has additional information on What to Do If You Were Exposed to Covid-19.

  • Start Precautions Immediately

    • Wear a face covering as soon as you find out you were exposed.

    • Start counting from Day 1.

    • 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
  • Get test at least 5 days after your last exposure
    • Test even if you don’t develop symptoms.

    • If you test positive isolate immediately and consider the date of your positive test result as day 1. 

    • If you test negative continue taking precautions through day 10 and wear a face covering when around others at home and indoors in public.

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

The guidance and directives on this page reflect changes to university operations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and at the university’s discretion will supersede any conflicting policies. This guidance is subject to change as the situation requires. Compliance with these terms – and any further updates published at aub.ie/covidhelp – is required of all Auburn University faculty, staff, students, contractors and visitors. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action and/or removal from campus. The campus community may report violations of public health directives.