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Isolation and Quarantine Protocols

Isolation separates persons with a COVID-19 positive result from those who are healthy.

Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of persons who may have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive person.

Exposure

  • Being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period anytime two days before the onset of the infected person's illness (for asymptomatic infected persons, two days prior to their test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated
  • Providing care in a non-healthcare setting to someone who is sick with COVID-19
  • Direct physical contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19.  This includes having touched, hugged or kissed them
  • Sharing eating or drinking utensils
  • A person with COVID-19 sneezed, coughed or somehow got respiratory droplets on the other person

Isolation and Quarantine Protocols

NCCU uses the CDC criteria for students and employees.

Isolation (Individual with a positive test)

  1. Asymptomatic or persons with mild symptoms should isolate for 5 days from the date of their positive test or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.  Persons who are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication whose other symptoms have improved may return to work/class at day 6. A mask must be worn indoors from day 6 through day 10.NCCU isolation protocol
  2. Certain groups may require and extended isolation of 10 days or until symptoms resolve including:
    1. People who have moderate COVID-19 illness
    2. People with severe COVID-19 illness (e.g., requiring hospitalization, intensive care or ventilation support).  These persons should consult with their healthcare provider.
    3. People who have an approved accommodation who cannot wear a mask

Quarantine (Close contact exposure with a COVID-19 positive person, or you are symptomatic but haven’t tested)

  1. Verify that you are a close contact using the CDC definition:
    1. Being within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated
    2. Providing care in a non-healthcare setting to someone who is sick with COVID-19
    3. Direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged or kissed them)
    4. Sharing eating or drinking utensils
    5. A person with COVID-19 sneezed, coughed or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
  2. If you meet the definition of close contact
    1. If one of the following apply, you do not need to quarantine but are required to wear a mask around others for 10 days
      1. Received booster shot
      2. Are less than six months (Moderna or Pfizer) or two months (J&J) from your primary vaccination
    2. If one of the following apply, quarantine for five days from your last exposure to the COVID-19 positive person before returning to campus and wear a mask around others for a full 10 days:
      1. More than 6 months (Moderna or Pfizer) or two months (J&J) past primary vaccine and you are not boosted
      2. Unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated (fully vaccinated at two weeks past final dose of primary vaccination)

When quarantined:

  • If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you receive your test results.

All employees and students are required to report their test results or symptoms to NCCU using the NCCU COVID-19 Self Report Portal or by calling 919-530-3219 and follow the campus protocols listed above.