Testing, Precautions, & Isolation
TESTING
See the appropropriate section below if:
Testing
Self-test: Students, faculty, and staff who have mild COVID symptoms are advised to self-test at home.
Get a test: Tests are available for purchase at most local pharmacies and health centers. Free or low-cost testing may also be available in your area. Visit covid.gov/tests for further information.
Limited PCR testing is offered at Health and Counseling, by appointment, for students with more significant/worrisome symptoms, especially those with underlying medical conditions who warrant a medical visit.
IF YOU HAVE A COVID-19 EXPOSURE
If you were exposed to COVID-19 — defined as being in close contact with someone who's tested positive for COVID-19:
- You no longer need to quarantine, regardless of your vaccination status.
- The CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask for 10 days and testing on day 5.
- If you develop symptoms at any point, see "If you have COVID-19 symptoms."
IF YOU HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, whether you are fully vaccinated or not, get tested.
Students
- If you have mild symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough without the more concerning symptoms listed below):
- Self-test at home. (See Testing info, above.)
- If your test is negative, you may return to normal life — but you are encouraged to wear a mask as long as your symptoms persist. See Care for your Cold for more information.
- You may also schedule a telehealth visit with a nurse for mild, brief symptoms. Visit the Student Health Portal to schedule a "New Upper Respiratory" visit. If your symptoms are prolonged or more worrisome, please schedule a visit with a medical provider (see below).
- Contact your professors to keep them in the loop.
- Whether vaccinated or not, if you have more concerning symptoms (ie: headache, fever, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and/or persistent diarrhea), contact Health and Counseling at 585-389-2500 for an appointment for a medical evaluation, which may include COVID-19 testing as part of a diagnostic strategy. If after-hours, visit a local urgent care.
- If you live off-campus, you could visit an off-campus Urgent Care/COVID-19 Testing site (or see the state’s find-a-test-site website) if that is more convenient.
- If it’s after hours, please visit Health & Counseling's after hours webpage for more information.
- Academics:
- Stay in contact with your instructors to discuss strategies to support you in achieving course learning goals. If your ability to maintain progress changes at any point, it is important that you reach out to your instructors right away to explore options.
- If you are not well enough to participate in classes remotely during this period, regardless of the course delivery format, or if you have any concerns regarding accommodation plans, contact The Student Accessiblity Services at SASOffice@naz.edu . This office will work with you and your instructors to determine appropriate accommodations that ensure there will be no academic penalty during this time.
Faculty/staff
Do not come to campus. Contact Human Resources, humanresources@naz.edu, to review your situation and discuss the next steps.
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE
Students
- When you test positive for COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status, plan to stay home from class for 5 days from the date of symptom onset.
- Contact the Office of Student Success at oss@naz.edu to notify the University that you have tested positive and will be absent from the classroom for 5 days. The University will send a “notification of absence” alert through the FlyerSuccess System to notify instructors of students who will be absent from class for 3 or more consecutive days.
- You may return to normal activity on day 6 if you have been fever-free for 24 hours (without medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen) and your symptoms are generally improving. Stay at home until you reach that fever-free, improving symptoms status.
- You no longer need to retest to determine your readiness to return.
- You must wear a mask indoors until day 10.
Details: What else to expect if you test positive
- If you live on campus, we encourage you to go isolate at home with your family or in your Residential room while wearing a mask. However, if you have a roommate or family member who is immunocompromised per the CDC, Nazareth may have limited isolation space available for you. This is coordinated through Residential Life. Please contact Residential Life if you are in need of space.
- If you live off campus: Plan to isolate in your off-campus housing or permanent home.
- While in isolation, Contact your instructors to develop plans for maintaining academic progress while in isolation. If you are too sick to participate, you should contact Erika Hess, Director of Student Accessibilities, to request a medical accommodation.
- You should wear a mask to pick up your meals from the Dining Hall or when receiving deliveries from off-campus vendors/restaurants.
- Your professors will be notified via a Flyer Success alert that you cannot attend in-person classes/activities until you have completed isolation.
- Proof of a negative test is not required to return to classes, as long as you are fever-free and feeling better.
- Wear a mask until day 10, after you are no longer isolated.
- Read the full Isolation Guidelines.
Faculty/staff
- The testing and isolation protocols are the same as for students (above) in terms of symptoms and exposure. But contact your own health care provider for testing and care, test at home, or see the find-a-test-site website.
- If you must stay home, notify your manager or department chair that you are unable to come to campus.
- Contact Human Resources to review your situation and discuss the next steps.
- If you are able to work remotely, you will be asked to continue to do so for five days from symptom onset, or until you are fever-free and your symptoms are generally improving.
- Employees follow the same isolation timeline as students (above); arrange your own testing. Email your test results to Human Resources, humanresources@naz.edu. At-home tests should have your name, date of birth, and test date written on the test.
If you are unable to work due to symptoms, you may have leave time options available to you (employee sick time/short term disability or family sick/paid family leave). In addition, New York state has passed legislation providing paid COVID sick leave for employees who are to isolate or quarantine due to an order of quarantine issued by the state or local health department. If you have been quarantined by a medical professional, you can request an order of quarantine from the state.
FAQs
What is the definition of “close contact”?
In Monroe County, where Nazareth is located, close contact is defined as someone who meets all of these criteria:
- Exposure occurred within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes
- Exposure occurred within 48 hours of symptom onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, within 48 hours of their positive COVID test collection), until the patient was isolated
- Exposure occurred while either one or both people were not wearing a mask
See next two answers.
Vaccinated person: What happens if a fully vaccinated person is a “close contact” of someone who has tested positive for COVID?
- You no longer need to quarantine, regardless of your vaccination status.
- The CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask for 10 days and testing on day 5.
- If you develop symptoms at any point, see "If you have COVID-19 symptoms."
Unvaccinated person: What happens if an unvaccinated person is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID?
- You no longer need to quarantine, regardless of your vaccination status.
- The CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask for 10 days and testing on day 5.
- If you develop symptoms at any point, see "If you have COVID-19 symptoms."
What happens on the campus if someone who has been on campus has a positive COVID-19 test?
- Once the student notifies the Office of Student Success, instructors will be notified of the student's need for remote instruction during their recovery. If the student is too sick to participate in remote instruction, the student should notify Student Accessbility Services at SASOffice@naz.edu in order to request medical accommodations due to COVID.
What type of testing is available in the Rochester area?
- Tests are available for purchase a most local pharmacies. For low-cost or free testing options see covid.gov/tests.
- The Naz student bookstore often has rapid COVID tests available.
- For students with significant/worrisome symptoms and warrant a medical visit by appointment, please contact Health and Counseling Services.
- Testing is also available at all local urgent care centers.
Do I have to pay for a COVID-19 test?
- If you are very sick and tested via rapid antigen testing during a medical visit at Health and Counseling, you will not be charged for a test. If you are tested using a molecular PCR test, the lab will bill your health insurance company.
- If you seek testing at urgent care centers, hospitals, pharmacies, and medical practices, ask the testing site and your insurer in advance of being tested whether you will be responsible for any fees.
- If you have symptoms and/or were exposed to COVID-19, tests are covered by most health insurers. If you are unsure of coverage, please contact your health insurer directly to see if testing is covered.