COVID-19 Exposure and Reporting Scenarios

This guidance is for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and individuals in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

Updated January 17, 2023

Students, employees, and authorized visitors should email COVIDreporting@marin.edu to report the following:
- symptoms of COVID-19;
- a positive test for COVID-19; or
- close contact* to someone with COVID-19

Include M00#, name, telephone number, email, date(s), and location(s) you visited campus, time of symptom onset, and date of the COVID test.
*CLOSE CONTACT

Someone sharing the same indoor airspace, e.g., classroom, office, etc., 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 an infected person's (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) infectious period.

Infectious period is defined as

  • For symptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the infected person had any symptoms through Day 10 after symptoms first appeared (or through Day 5 if testing negative on Day 5 or later), and 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved, OR
  • For asymptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date through Day 10 after positive specimen collection date (or through Day 5 if testing negative on Day 5 or later) after specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test.
ISOLATION

Separates those infected with a contagious disease from people who are not infected.

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.

Detailed guidance on each of the following scenarios is in the COVID-19 Exposure and Reporting Procedure.

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/Employee is sick with mild cold/flu symptoms NOT consistent with COVID-19.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHEN CAN I RETURN TO CAMPUS?
  • Stay home until the illness resolves.
  • Any illness that prevents a student or employee from attending class or working should be communicated to the instructor or supervisor.
  • You may return to campus after being fever-free without the use of fever-reducing meds for at least 24 hours.

 

SCENARIO 2
All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, and whether on campus or not, should: 

WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHEN CAN I RETURN TO CAMPUS?

  • Call 9-1-1 if symptoms are life threatening. 

  • Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu

  • Immediately self-isolate and test as soon as possible to determine infection status.

    • ​​For symptomatic persons who have tested positive within the previous 90 days, using an antigen test is preferred.

  • Continue self-isolation and retest in 1-2 days if testing negative with an antigen test, particularly if tested during the first 1-2 days of symptoms.

  • 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. 

  • Remain in isolation and stay away from campus while waiting for testing results. If not tested, continue isolating for 5 days after the day of symptom onset, and if you cannot isolate, wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days.

  • If first test comes back negative and 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.
 

 

 

SCENARIO 3
Individual tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, AND individual has been on campus within 14 days.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHEN CAN I RETURN TO CAMPUS?

 

  • Call 9-1-1 if you have symptoms that are life threatening.

  • Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu

  • Stay home for at least 5 days after start of symptoms (or after date of first positive test if no symptoms).

  • Infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings. 
  • You may return to campus after Day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving AND a diagnostic test (antigen test preferred) collected on Day 5 or later tests negative.
    • NOTE: COM Employees should send a photo or digital copy of their negative test results to COVIDreporting@marin.edu before returning to campus after Day 5 (and before Day 10).
  • If unable to test or testing positive on Day 5 (or later) isolation can end after Day 10 if fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after Day 10. 

 

 

 

SCENARIO 4
Asymptomatic individuals (regardless of vaccination status) has a close contact test positive for COVID-19 or is quarantined.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHEN CAN I RETURN TO CAMPUS?

  • Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu

  • Test within 3-5 days after last exposure.

  • 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.

  • If symptoms develop, test and stay home (see Scenario 2), AND

  • If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations above (Scenario 3).
  • 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.

 

SCENARIO 5
College closure — According to CDPH, College of Marin campuses would be required to close if at least 4% of the student body and staff are diagnosed with COVID-19 within a 14-day period.

HOW WILL I KNOW? WHEN CAN I RETURN TO CAMPUS?
  • All students and employees will be notified through MyCOM Portal/ DL.STAFF email, and the closure info will be posted to the marin.edu home page and College social media accounts.
  • Campus reopening information will be sent through email, and the closure info will be posted to the marin.edu home page and College social media accounts.