Guidance for ending self-isolation and returning to regular activities after COVID-19 infection
When you can end self-isolation depends on your situation. Find U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for your circumstances below:
| I know (tested positive) or I think I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms
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I tested positive for COVID-19 (current illness) but had no symptoms
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You can end self-isolation after:
- At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared, and
- At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
- Symptoms have improved
- A follow-up test to show that you are “cured” is no longer recommended by the CDC to discontinue isolation or other precautions.
If you had severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. were hospitalized, needed oxygen), follow your healthcare provider’s guidance.
If you need to provide documentation that you are clear to return to your housing unit or another activity, read “I need to provide an attestation that I completed my self-isolation” below.
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If you continue to have no symptoms, you can end self-isolation after 10 days have passed since the date you had your positive test. A follow-up test to show that you are “cured” is no longer recommended by the CDC to discontinue isolation or other precautions.
If symptoms develop after initially testing positive, follow guidance above under “I know (tested positive for current illness) or I think I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms.”
If you need to provide documentation that you are clear to return to your housing unit or another activity, read “I need to provide an attestation that I completed my self-isolation” below.
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| I know (tested positive) or I think I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms
|
|
You can end self-isolation after:
- At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared, and
- At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
- Symptoms have improved
- A follow-up test to show that you are “cured” is no longer recommended by the CDC to discontinue isolation or other precautions.
If you had severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. were hospitalized, needed oxygen), follow your healthcare provider’s guidance.
If you need to provide documentation that you are clear to return to your housing unit or another activity, read “I need to provide an attestation that I completed my self-isolation” below.
|
| I tested positive for COVID-19 (current illness) but had no symptoms
|
|
If you continue to have no symptoms, you can end self-isolation after 10 days have passed since the date you had your positive test. A follow-up test to show that you are “cured” is no longer recommended by the CDC to discontinue isolation or other precautions.
If symptoms develop after initially testing positive, follow guidance above under “I know (tested positive for current illness) or I think I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms.”
If you need to provide documentation that you are clear to return to your housing unit or another activity, read “I need to provide an attestation that I completed my self-isolation” below.
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I need to provide an attestation that I completed my self-isolation.
Students may use the following form to attest that they meet U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for release from isolation for the purposes of returning to housing, campus or other activities.
To use the form for purposes other than returning to on-campus housing, download and complete the form, keep a copy for yourself and submit a copy directly to the entity requesting it.
To use the form for purposes of returning to on-campus housing:
- Click here
- Click “Access UHS for reasons other than appointment scheduling.”
- Log in to your MyUHS patient portal using your EID and password.
- Click “Messages” and then “New Messages.”
- Select “I want to send a "Student Declaration of Release From COVID-19 Form."
- Download the form using the link in the message.
- Fill out the form, save it to your device and then attach it to the secure message before you hit "Submit"
A nurse will review your form and, if necessary, send a clearance notification to University Housing and Dining. You will be notified when this occurs.
Can I stop preventive behaviors because I have recovered from COVID-19, including having a positive antibody test?
Having antibodies to the COVID-19 virus might provide protection from reinfection. However, there is currently not enough information to say with certainty whether someone will be immune to reinfection if they have a positive antibody test and, if so, for how long.
Therefore, those who have recovered from COVID-19 infection (even with a positive antibody test) are advised to continue following preventive measures in all their activities and are expected to comply with university guidance such as quarantining for 14 days prior to coming to campus, social distancing, wearing recommended protective face masks, hand hygiene, etc. There are no exemptions or special permissions for those who have convalesced.
