Employees: It is important that all employees know how to report COVID-19 symptoms, exposures, and hazards. More importantly, that this reporting is invited without fear of retaliation. Responding to COVID-19 concerns promptly and thoughtfully will help reduce the spread of the virus and keep our campuses safe.
Updated January 27, 2024
College of Marin (COM) prioritizes the health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty. As we continue to adapt in response to the pandemic, it is important that we are thoughtful, kind, and understanding to each other and ourselves. COM is here to support the campus community through this challenging time.
Report concerns of symptoms, exposures, and hazards promptly by emailing COVIDreporting@marin.edu.
The following procedure details how to respond when students, employees, and authorized visitors have had close contact with a positive case or positive lab test results for COVID-19. It is imperative that District procedures are followed to reduce the spread of the virus, keep our community safe, and our classes on schedule.
Students, Employees, and visitors should report:
- a positive test for COVID-19 by emailing COVIDreporting@marin.edu.
- If you have any questions about the District's COVID-19 response, please email COVIDReporting@marin.edu.
Definitions
Close contact
In indoor spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor (such as homes, clinic waiting rooms, airplanes, etc.), close contact is defined as sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during a confirmed case's infectious period.
In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor (such as open-floor-plan offices, warehouses, large retail stores, manufacturing, or food processing facilities), close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the confirmed case's infectious period.
Spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls (e.g., offices, suites, rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms, or break or eating areas that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls) must be considered distinct indoor airspaces.
For assistance determining cubic feet, email COVIDReporting@marin.edu.
Infectious period
For COVID-19 cases with symptoms, it is a minimum of 24 hours from the day of symptom onset. COVID-19 cases may return if 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and their symptoms are mild and improving.
For COVID-19 cases with no symptoms, there is no infectious period for the purpose of isolation or exclusion. If symptoms develop, the criteria above will apply.
COVID-19 case
- Confirmed positive COVID-19 result by a COVID-19 viral test or clinical diagnosis; AND
- was on campus or other College-related instructional sites during the high-risk exposure period.
High-risk exposure period
For COVID-19 cases who develop COVID-19 symptoms, from two days before they first develop symptoms until all of the following are true:
It has been 10 days since symptoms first appeared; 24 hours have passed without fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications; and symptoms have improved.
For COVID-19 cases who never develop symptoms, from two days before until 10 days after the specimen was collected for their first positive test.
Fully vaccinated
Documented that the person received, at least 14 days prior, either the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines must be FDA approved or have an emergency use authorization from the FDA.
Isolation
Separates those infected with a contagious disease from people who are not infected.
- COVID-19 positive individuals must isolate.
Quarantine
Separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease in case they become infected. Exposed individuals may develop symptoms, while some become infected with a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms.
- Individuals must quarantine after close contact with a COVID-19 case.
Reporting
COM’s exposure and reporting processes are based on last contact on campus, timing of symptom onset, and follow CDC, CDPH, and Cal/OSHA guidelines.
COVID-19 Case Alerts
When the College learns of a COVID-19 case, the individual is notified to learn more about symptom onset and provide public health guidance for isolation, quarantine, and testing. Guidance is provided directly to affected individuals and appropriate members of campus without revealing personally identifiable information of the COVID-19 case.
In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, an all-campus email will be sent to students, faculty, and staff with additional information and next steps.
All communications will protect confidentiality, as required by FERPA, HIPAA, and state law related to privacy of educational records and other privacy laws.
DISCLAIMER: These scenarios represent some of the most common COVID-19 related situations; however, each case is different and may not be exactly the same as your situation. Please contact your instructor or supervisor if you have questions about what to do.
Scenario 1
STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE WHO IS SICK WITH MILD COLD/FLU SYMPTOMS NOT CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19, PER INDIVIDUAL’S REPORT OF ASSESSMENT BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
- Individuals with symptoms should stay home until illness resolves.
- Individuals should be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to campus.
Confirmation process:Does not apply
Notification process:None
Any illness that prevents a student or employee from attending class or working should be communicated to the instructor or supervisor.
Scenario 2: Refer to CDC Website
All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, and whether on campus or not, should:
- Call 9-1-1 if symptoms are life threatening.
- Immediately self-isolate and test as soon as possible to determine infection status.
- Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.
- Mask when around other people indoors for the 10 days after you become sick or test positive.
- For symptomatic persons who have tested positive within the previous 90 days, using an antigen test is preferred.
- Continue to self-isolate if test result is positive, follow recommended actions in Scenario 3, and contact your healthcare provider about available treatments, especially if symptoms are severe or you are at high risk for serious disease.
All positive COVID-19 cases determined to affect exposure on campus will be recorded by M00# and will be kept confidential, with notification of each known exposure sent to the Superintendent/President and Human Resources Director.
Returning to Campus Following a COVID-19 Diagnosis
- If first test comes back negative and/or symptoms have resolved, you may return to campus.
- If first test comes back negative but symptoms are still present, continue isolating away from campus until symptoms resolve and consider retesting in 1-2 days.
- If test comes back positive, refer to Scenario 3.
NOTE: Employees can return to work without a negative test if they are no longer in their infectious period and wear a face covering until 10 days have passed since symptoms began or the date of their first positive test. For more information on masking refer to CDPH When and Why to Wear a Mask webpage.
Confirmation process: Individual or public health agency confirmation
Campus notification process: Any illness that prevents a student or employee from attending class or working should be communicated to the instructor or supervisor.
Scenario 3
Individual tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms, AND individual has been on campus within 14 days.
- Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu
- Individuals should include the following information:
- M00# of affected person
- Contact information, including mailing address and phone number
- Date(s) of campus visit(s)
- All locations on campus the individual occupied for each visit and amount of time spent in each location
- PPE and physical distancing protocols followed
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Date of the positive test
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Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.
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Individuals should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, since symptoms began or the date of their first positive test. Especially in indoor settings. You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is symptom onset date or positive test date.
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An employee may return to work at the conclusion of their infectious period, as described above.
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The District liaison will work with county public health agencies, Student Health Services, Human Resources, and other College areas as necessary to determine whether the individual’s potential risk and exposure to other individuals on campus warrants those individuals quarantining away from campus. If so, College of Marin will communicate directly with those individuals.
Confirmation process:Individual report or identification through contact tracing of confirmed case
Campus notification process: No all campus notification. College of Marin will provide direct communication and guidance to students and/or employees who were in close contact on a case-by-case basis (based on last contact on campus).
Scenario 4
Asymptomatic STUDENT (regardless of vaccination status) has a close contact test positive for COVID-19.
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If symptoms develop, test and stay home (see Scenario 2), AND
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If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations above (Scenario 3). Returning to Campus Following a COVID-19 Diagnosis.
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If you do not have symptoms, and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection and would benefit from treatment, you should test within 5 days.
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Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
- You do not need to quarantine away from campus. Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days (from date of last exposure to COVID-19 positive individual), especially in indoor settings.
For more information on masking refer to CDPH When and Why to Wear a Mask webpage.
Campus notification process: No all campus notification. College of Marin will provide direct communication and guidance to the individual.
Scenario 5
Asymptomatic EMPLOYEE has a close contact test positive for COVID-19.
For employees who are:
- Boosted; OR
- Vaccinated, but not yet booster-eligible.
Employees may return to work when:
- An employee may return to work at the conclusion of their infectious period.
- You do not need to quarantine away from campus. Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days (from date of last exposure to COVID-19 positive individual), especially in indoor settings. For more information on masking refer to CDPH when and why to wear a mask page.
- If you do not have symptoms, and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection and would benefit from treatment, you should test within 5 days.
- If employees develop symptoms, they must quarantine away from campus pending the results of a test (Scenario 2).
- If employees test positive, they must follow isolation recommendations (Scenario 3).
For employees who are:
- Unvaccinated; OR
- Vaccinated and booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose. Note: If employee in this category is asymptomatic and obtains a negative diagnostic test within 3-5 days after last exposure, they do not need to quarantine
- Employees must stay away from campus for at least 5 days after their last close contact with a person who has COVID-19.
- Exposed employees must test on day 5.
- Quarantine can end and exposed employees may return to the workplace after day 5 if symptoms are not present and a diagnostic specimen collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
- If an employee is unable or chooses not to test and does not have symptoms, quarantine can end and the employee may return to the workplace after day 10.
- Employees must wear face coverings around others for a total of 10 days after exposure, especially in indoor settings. Please refer to the section in this FAQ on face coverings for additional face covering requirements. For more information on masking refer to CDPH When and Why to Wear a Mask webpage.
- If an exposed employee tests positive for COVID- 19, they must follow the isolation requirements in Scenario 3.
- If an exposed employee develops symptoms, they must be quarantine away from campus pending the results of a test (Scenario 2).
- Employees are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted.
Confirmation process: Individual report
Campus notification process: No all campus notification. College of Marin will provide direct communication and guidance to students and/or employees who were in close contact on a case-by-case basis (based on last contact on campus and timing of symptom onset).
Scenario 6
COLLEGE CLOSURE
According to the California Department of Public Health, College of Marin campuses would be required to close if at least 4 percent of the student body and staff are diagnosed with COVID-19 within a 14-day period.
Confirmation process: Public health agency confirmation
Campus notification process: COM Connect campus notification and DL.STAFF/MyCOM Portal emails to employees and students. Information posted to marin.edu home page and College social media accounts.