On Friday, March 1, 2024, the CDC released its new isolation guidelines for COVID-19, aligning recommendations with that of other viral respiratory diseases (e.g., influenza and RSV). We ask that you take a moment to read through the following, so you are aware of updates to our COVID-19 campus guidelines.<\/p>\n
Please note, the following recommendations are for UIC faculty, staff, and students who are not UI Health affiliates, not engaged in patient-facing clinical activities in healthcare settings, and who are not engaged in research studies that require contact with research subjects. <\/strong>UI Health affiliates and campus members with these types of clinical or patient\/research participant-facing duties should refer to UI Health guidelines posted on the UIH intranet.<\/p>\n All campus employees are required to receive clearance from University Health Services when they test positive for COVID-19. Review our isolation and post-exposure page<\/a> for further details.<\/p>\n Effective Monday, March 4, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n If you test positive for COVID-19, but do not<\/em> have any <\/strong>symptoms of COVID-19<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mask in all settings on UIC\u2019s campus for five (5) days from the date you first tested positive.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you begin to have symptoms of COVID-19, follow the below guidance.<\/p>\n If you test positive for COVID-19 and have <\/em><\/strong>symptoms<\/em><\/strong> of COVID-19,<\/strong><\/a> stay home until:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours AND<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 you have been fever-free for 24 hours without utilizing fever-reducing medication<\/p>\n Mask in all settings on UIC\u2019s campus for five (5) days from the date you return to campus. <\/strong><\/p>\n High quality masks and respirators, such as KN95s or N95s offer the most protection for yourself and others.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Masks should be adequately thick, well-fitted, and cover your nose, mouth, and chin. To maximize protection, consider wearing a disposable mask under a cloth mask (double masking).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Because you may still be able to spread the virus after returning to campus, it is recommended that you limit close contact with others and take additional precautions during these five days including:<\/p>\n The UIC COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Epidemiology Program will continue to offer guidance and support to students who <\/strong>report<\/strong><\/a> following a positive COVID-19 test, onset of COVID-19 <\/strong>symptoms<\/strong><\/a>, or exposure to someone with COVID-19<\/strong>.<\/p>\n UIC employees testing positive for COVID-19, who were exposed to someone with COVID-19, or who have symptoms of COVID-19\u00a0 should follow departmental call-in procedures. Campus employees should continue to follow UHS clearance procedures when their COVID-19 absence exceeds 3 days as outlined by the Isolation and Post-Exposure website.<\/p>\n The following resources and tools are provided below for your reference<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n
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