This message to all students, faculty and staff has been approved by Renisha Gibbs, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Finance & Administration Chief of Staff.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced updated guidance for persons who have had close contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. Previous recommendations required all close contacts with a person who tests positive to adhere to a 14-day quarantine from the last date of close contact. While this is still part of the CDC’s recommendations, the updated CDC guidance provides two optional shortened quarantine periods for asymptomatic close contacts, which reduces the amount of time individuals cannot work and lessens stress on the public health system. Accordingly, the University has worked with the Florida Department of Health and the Leon County Health Department to update the University’s policies regarding close contact with a positive individual.
- 10 days – If the exposed individual has maintained careful daily monitoring for symptoms and has remained symptom-free for 10 days since exposure, they may end quarantine AFTER completion of Day 10 (or on Day 11 since last exposure).
- 7 days – If the exposed individual has maintained careful daily monitoring for symptoms and has remained symptom-free and receives a negative PCR test collected on Day 6 or later after exposure, they may end quarantine AFTER completion of Day 7 (or on Day 8 since last exposure).
In both scenarios, individuals must adhere strictly to public health mitigation through Day 14, including correct and consistent use of a face covering, social distancing, hand hygiene, avoiding close contact and crowds, and self-monitoring for symptoms. Additionally, close contacts who develop symptoms within the 14 days should seek medical care and testing.
What is Close Contact?
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, regardless of mask usage.
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.
- You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them).
- You shared eating or drinking utensils.
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.
Symptoms of COVID-19
Remember to check your symptoms before reporting to your campus work location by logging into the FSU Daily Wellness Check app. Notify your supervisor immediately if you experience symptoms while at work.
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Reminders
As a reminder, guidance for employees and students who test positive remains the same. Employees and students may not return to campus until:
- At least 24 hours has passed since recovery, which is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications;
- Improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath);
- At least 10 days have passed since positive test result; and
- They provide a note from their health care provider or the county health department indicating they should be allowed to return to work, or they provide a negative test result obtained at least 10 days from the initial positive test result in lieu of the note from their health care provider.
For additional information on employees, including guidance for healthcare workers, visit the “Employees not Cleared to Return to Campus” section of the HR COVID-19 Testing webpage. For additional information on students, visit the Student Return to Campus Guide.
Questions?
Questions for Human Resources can be directed to HR-COVID19@fsu.edu. For information on University testing, visit the University Health Services Testing website.