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ISOLATION & CLOSE CONTACT INSTRUCTIONS

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This guidance does NOT apply to healthcare personnel in settings covered by AFL 21-08.9.

UCI employees and student workers who test positive for COVID-19 on a laboratory test or home test, and those who are close contacts to cases will follow the instructions below. These instructions are consistent with current California Department of Public Health and Orange County Health Care Agency health officer orders.

Do not wait to be contacted by Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services to begin isolation.

For information on campus testing resources, visit the testing page.

Definitions

Isolation: separates people infected with a contagious disease from those who are not infected. Isolation is a proven public health intervention fundamental to reducing COVID-19 transmission. Isolation processes are in place to slow the spread of the virus.

Quarantine: restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease in case they become infected.

Exposure: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) defines close contact as:

  1. In spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor — sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during an infected person’s infectious period.
  2. In indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor — within 6 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the infected person’s infectious period.

ISOLATION AND POST EXPOSURE-TESTING AND RELEASE REQUIREMENTS

Employees and student workers will need to be cleared for release to return to work by Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services.

  1. Isolation Instructions
    Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection or lack of symptoms:*

    • will stay home for at least 5 days after start of symptoms (or after day of first positive test if no symptoms.)
    • can end isolation after day 5 if:
    • symptoms are not present or are mild and improving; and
    • you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
    • if fever present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
    • if symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after Day 10.
    • per CDPH masking guidance, should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially while in indoor settings.
      • You may remove your mask sooner than day 10 if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Employees, please note that per CAL OSHA regulations you are required to wear a mask in the workplace for a total of ten days regardless of two sequential negative tests.
      • Use an antigen test for this purpose. If antigen test results are positive, you may still be infectious and should continue wearing a mask and wait at least one day before taking another test.
  2. Notification of Close Contacts That They Were Exposed to COVID-19
    Inform others who you have been around in the past two days before your symptoms started – or two days from before your positive test result if you have no symptoms – that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Those who are UCI students or employees should follow exposure instructions below.

Close Contact Instructions
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status.*

  • You do not need to quarantine.
  • Test as soon as possible, and if negative test again at least a day later and within 3-5 days after last exposure. Persons infected within the prior 30 days do not need to test unless symptoms develop.
  • Per CDPH masking guidance, wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days, especially while in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease
  • Strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted.
  • If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations above.
  • If symptoms develop, test and stay home.

*This guidance does not apply to employees in Student Health Services or the Counseling Center. Please contact UCI Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services for guidance at  contacttracing@uci.edu or call 949-824-2300.

REPORTING A COVID-19 CASE

If you tested off campus at a testing site, or tested positive on a home antigen test, report your case. If you need assistance, contact UCI Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services at 949-824-2300 or contacttracing@uci.edu.