Quarantine Policies for Students Arriving or Returning On- or Off-Campus
For Students Living in Residence Halls
For Students Living in Residence Halls
PLEASE NOTE: These instructions pertain to any student arriving to move in or returning to an HBS residence hall from outside of Massachusetts. Students who have received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis within the past 90 days should follow the instructions below except for the testing requirements. The instructions may be updated based on any changes in guidance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Harvard University.
The instructions below are a bit stricter than the current guidance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Here’s why. The Harvard campus, like other university campuses, is a “congregate setting”—a location in which many individuals from various geographies convene for sustained periods to work, learn, and live. As such, the campus is especially prone to outbreaks of COVID-19 soon after an influx of new or returning community members. Our goal is to reduce the chances of an outbreak of COVID-19 in our community. We hope that if we can accomplish that goal, we can increase the speed with which infection levels decline to a point where the restrictions can be eased. When that happens, we can begin to return to regular classes and campus life, which we all desire.
All students arriving or returning from outside of Massachusetts should follow the protocol below (students who have received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis within the past 90 days should follow the instructions below except for the testing requirements), which we hope will be made a bit easier with the supports we have put in place:
- To help us care for one another as well as ourselves, please limit your interactions with others before arriving or returning to campus. Each person’s individual choices directly impact the safety and health of every other member of the HBS community.
- Prior to arrival, complete the Massachusetts Travel Form, unless you are arriving from a lower-risk state.
- Upon arrival or return, you must wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) of physical distance from other people at all times.
- Self-quarantine in your residence as quickly as possible. HBS will deliver meals to
you while you are quarantining. You should not leave campus, participate in activities
with others, or access indoor common spaces during quarantine. However, picking up
or dropping off a test kit is an approved quarantine activity.
To initiate meal delivery, please follow these instructions. Once you have had one negative test, you can go to Spangler to pick up your food.
If you need other items, you are encouraged to use delivery services or online retailers. Online retailers will deliver packages to OSS in the Rock Center basement, which will be put into Pack City. You can retrieve these items when you get your testing kits at OSS. Testing kits are placed in Pack City at OSS every Friday for residents. Be sure to take your first test as soon as you get to (or return to) campus so as soon as you get your first negative test you can take leave your room for short stints to go to Pack City or Spangler.
Please do not leave campus unless you encounter an emergency situation (e.g., an urgent medical need). If you must leave campus for an emergency situation, wear a mask and follow protocols for physical distancing and hand washing at all times. - Get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible after your arrival through Harvard University
Health Services' (HUHS) self-administered testing protocol. Testing costs through HUHS are covered by HBS.
Observed testing is still available. If you would like to participate in observed testing, please register.
- Following your test, continue your self-quarantine (under the above guidelines) for
one week (7 days). Even if you receive a negative test result, you must continue
your quarantine until you do a second test (7 days after the first) and receive a
second negative result.
After you receive one negative viral test result, you may take short (30 minute) breaks in outdoor areas adjacent to your building, but please limit your time in outdoor spaces and always wear a mask and maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others.
Also after receiving one negative viral test result, you may opt to pick up “to go” food in the Spangler Center dining area. You should return to your room to consume your food. Outside of picking up food, please do not access any indoor spaces aside from your residence hall room. - Take a second self-administered test 3 days after your first test.
- Following your second test, continue your self-quarantine (under the above guidelines).
- Take a third self-administered test 3 days after your second test. Continue your self-quarantine (under the above guidelines) until you receive your test results.
If all three tests come back negative, your quarantine is complete. You may then move
freely around campus and off campus, being mindful at all times of the HBS Campus Safety Protocols.
If one of your tests comes back positive, you will be contacted by HUHS for further
instruction about how and where to isolate.
A NOTE ON PARTNERS: Upon arrival into Massachusetts, partners will need to follow current State of Massachusetts guidance on quarantine. If the partner plans to test out of quarantine and needs a test, the MA Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 Test Site Locator is a useful resource for finding local testing locations.