Immediately isolate. Isolation usually lasts 10 days and possibly up to 14 days. You'll stay in your room or home for the duration of your isolation (with the exception of evacuating the building for a life-threatening emergency).

You can also begin making a list of potential close contacts for use during the clinical intake process. (A “close contact” is defined by the CDC as “any individual within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes.”) Although you may feel concerned for your possible close contacts, please don’t start reaching out to those on your list. Take care of yourself and leave it to the experts to decide who needs to be called.

HUHS will call you; please answer their call promptly and questions truthfully. If you do not hear from them, call 617-495-5711.

You will not be testing during isolation. An individual who tests positive will not be tested again for 90 days following the positive results.

At the end of your isolation period, HUHS will notify you of your release date and time.

The patient, HUHS, and HBS are notified of a positive case at the same time. This information is considered confidential, and shared only on a need-to-know basis (e.g., to provide support to the patient). We will not share the names of those who have tested positive with the HBS community.

Only those who have had close contact with the patient will be contacted by HUHS or the Department of Public Health. If you aren’t contacted, you are not deemed to have an increased risk of exposure to the patient.

The Broad and Color haven't released data on the false positive rate. The PCR test for COVID-19 works by detecting genetic material from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The genetic material from SARS-CoV-2 is unique and cannot be confused with the genetic material from other viruses, so the COVID-19 diagnostic test is highly specific. This means it almost never gives a false positive.

The positive result is a reliable diagnosis and retesting is not clinically indicated. A negative retest is not an indicator of a false positive result and will not change your positive case status or shorten your isolation period.

The contact tracers decide who is a “close contact” and will reach out to those individuals. If you are not contacted but believe you meet the criteria of "within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes," you should feel free to return home and can contact HUHS at (617) 495-5711 to discuss your situation.

You may also log into Crimson Clear and answer that you have been in close contact with a COVID positive person. A clinician from HUHS will call you to follow-up.

The HU COVID-19 testing dashboard reports the current caseload across the University; it is not reported by individual school.

This information is considered confidential, and shared only on a need-to-know basis (e.g., to provide support to the patient). We will not share the names of those who have tested positive with the HBS community and will not notify faculty of cases in their classes.

You will only be notified if you are deemed a close contact (as defined above). Hybrid classrooms are configured to meet rigorous air exchange specifications and so that all individuals are 6 feet apart and wearing masks. Being in class together would not constitute close contact unless individuals moved to within 6 feet of each other for 15 minutes or more.

If you live in the HBS residence halls, meals will be delivered to your doorstep for the duration of your quarantine or isolation period. Contact Housing at 617-495-6017 to initiate the process, and order meals through CaterTrax.

If you need other items, we encourage use of delivery services or online retailers. OSS will deliver the items to your doorstep during your quarantine or isolation period.

Isolation usually lasts 10 days and possibly up to 14 days. You'll stay in your room or home for the duration of your isolation (with the exception of evacuating the building for a life-threatening emergency).

At the end of your isolation period, HUHS will notify you of your release date and time.

If you are determined to be a close contact of a positive case (unless you have been fully vaccinated), you will need to remain quarantined for:

• at least 14 days from the date of last exposure; or
• at least 10 days, provided all of the following are satisfied:
  • you have not had, and do not have, any symptoms;
  • you are tested on day 8 of your quarantine period or later using a molecular diagnostic test (such as Color) to detect the presence of the virus;
  • you receive a negative test result; and
  • you monitor yourself for symptoms for the full 14 days. If you develop symptoms you should contact your health care provider and be re-tested.

During your quarantine period you may not leave your residence unless authorized by HUHS. Do not move around or come to campus (except for testing purposes) or attend any in-person activities.

If you live in the residence halls, kits will be delivered to you so you can test at home and then drop your kit off at a designated collection point. If you live off-campus, you’ll pick up your kit, test in a private area, and drop it off at a collection point.

1. If your symptoms change or worsen, call your health care provider and tell them if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
2. If you need to see your health care provider, do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares to get to your appointment and be sure to wear mask. Consider riding your bike or walking instead.
3. Stay at home and use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
4. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people in the house, and wear a mask while when outside of your room.
5. Do not come to campus, go to work or run errands.
6. Do not have any visitors during this time.
7. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
8. Do not share eating or drinking utensils with anyone.
9. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
10. Clean surfaces that you touch every day with a household disinfectant.
11. Make a list of everyone you have been close to (within 6 feet of for at least 15 minutes) since you first got sick, be available by phone and cooperate with contact tracers.

Clinicians from HUHS will determine your quarantine and isolation discharge date, so please follow their instructions and guidance. HUHS clinicians set quarantine and isolation discharge dates in accordance with CDC and Public Health guidelines. End dates are not negotiable and may change based upon your clinical presentation. Close contact quarantine typically lasts around 14 days* and isolation period is determined by when exposure likely occurred. Please note that these are both different from travel quarantine.

*Close contact quarantine may be shortened to at least 10 days, provided all of the following are satisfied:

• You have not had, and do not have, any symptoms;
• you are tested on day 8 of your quarantine period or later using a molecular diagnostic test (such as Color) to detect the presence of the virus;
• you receive a negative test result; and
• you monitor yourself for symptoms for the full 14 days. If you develop symptoms you should contact your health care provider and be re-tested.