COVID-19 Quarantine, Isolation Protocol

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 23, 2021 — West Liberty University released a document sharing the CDC approved Protocol for Quarantine, Isolation today. Please read and follow these rules as we work to keep campus safe during the pandemic. 

Definition of Terms

• Quarantine – separation of exposed individuals
• Isolation – separation of infected individuals, even those without symptoms
• Close Contact in Higher Ed – within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period regardless of masking practices.

Students/Faculty/Staff should report if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or if they have been named a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case using the positive report form linked here.

Quarantine for Unvaccinated Close Contacts 

• After Day 10 (returning to regular activities on Day 11) without testing if the contact does not have symptoms.
• After Day 7 (returning to regular activities on Day 8) if the contact does not have symptoms and if they test negative by PCR or antigen test starting at Day 5 or later.
• Contacts should continue to self-monitor for symptoms and wear a face mask through Day 14. Mask wearing is especially important through Day 14.

NOTE: Household Contacts are individuals who share any living space with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. This includes bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, etc. This also includes roommates in residence halls, apartments and houses on campus, as well as suite mates in residence halls on campus. Unvaccinated household contacts must be quarantined after exposure to a case, regardless of whether the case is symptomatic.

• Household contacts must quarantine if they are exposed to the case.  
• If the contact cannot separate from the case within the home, the contact must quarantine for the case’s (minimum) 10-day isolation period plus an additional 7-14 days. (Anywhere from 17-28 days).

Separation requirements are as follows:

• The case must never be in the same room as household members. 
• The case cannot share plates, cups, dishes or phones with household members. 
• The case should have their own bathroom. Not possible? Household must conduct daily cleaning.

If a household contact develops symptoms of COVID-19, they become a case. They should begin isolation as a case and consider getting tested.

Quarantine for Vaccinated Close Contacts is much different and vaccinated contacts Do NOT have to quarantine if exposed, but must:

• Wear a mask for 14 days or until negative test
• Get test within 3-5 days after exposure
• If positive, begin isolation described in the next section.
• Monitor for symptoms 
• On the 15^th day, the individual may return to normal practices.

Isolation for Positive COVID Cases 

Isolation Protocol Regardless of Vaccination Status.

Symptomatic

Begin isolation from the 1^st day of symptoms and continue for 10 days.

1. 1. 1. 1. On 11^th day, the individual can be released from isolation if they meet the following criteria:

• No fever for 24 hours without usage of fever reducing medication (Tylenol, Acetaminophen, etc.)
• Symptoms are improving (especially cough)

Asymptomatic

1. 1. 1. 1. Begin isolation from the test day and continue for 10 days.
         2. If the case develops symptoms within their initial 10 day isolation period restart the isolation period and continue for an additional 10 days. 

For example, a student tests positive for COVID on 8/5 and is asymptomatic. The student develops symptoms on 8/10. The student will be isolated until 8/20 for a total of 15 days.

1. 1. 1. 1. On the 11^th day, the individual can be released from isolation as long as the case meets the criteria above (3.a.i.2.). 

*Note: Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and does not need to delay the end of isolation​*

*Protocol is subject to change

Sources: 

• CDC
• Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department
• WVDHHR