COVID-19 Exposure and Reporting Procedure

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 September 15, 2023

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:
  • symptoms of COVID-19;
  • a positive test for COVID-19; or
  • close contact* to someone with COVID-19  by emailing COVIDreporting@marin.edu.

Definitions

*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. 
COVID-19 case
  • Confirmed positive COVID-19 test by a public health agency; 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 and Cal/OSHA guidelines.

COVID-19 Case Alerts

When the College learns of a COVID-19 case, the individual and those known to have been contact with them are 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
  1. Individuals with symptoms should stay home until illness resolves.
  2. 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

All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, and whether on campus or not, should:
  1. Call 9-1-1 if symptoms are life threatening.
  2. Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu
  3. Immediately self-isolate and test as soon as possible to determine infection status.
  4. For symptomatic persons who have tested positive within the previous 90 days, using an antigen test is preferred.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  • Classroom/office/areas in which individual spent 15 minutes or more will be closed for 24 hours after exposure and will remain closed until disinfection is complete.
  • The District liaison will work with county public health agencies, Student Health Services, Human Resources, and other College areas as necessary to determine potential exposure to individuals on campus and notify these individuals.  If individuals had close contact with the affected person, they should monitor symptoms for 14 days and, unless they are FULLY VACCINATED, must quarantine away from campus. The notification should recommend that the individual be tested 5 days after the last contact with a COVID-19 case. It should also include the date they may return to campus, as determined by the time- and symptom-based approach.
  • Per AB 685, within one business day, the District will notify all employees present at the worksite within the infectious period that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
    • If the affected employee(s) include represented employees, this notification will also be sent to the employees’ exclusive representative.
    • Human Resources will provide all affected employees, and the exclusive representative (if any), with a notice of information regarding COVID-19 related benefits or leave rights under federal, state, and local laws, or pursuant to employer policy, as well as the employee’s protections against retaliation and discrimination.
    • The chief of police will provide all affected employees, and the exclusive representative (if any), of the College’s plans for implementing and completing a disinfection and safety plan pursuant to guidelines issued by the CDC.

  • 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.

  • Notification of employees who have tested positive and have been on campus within 14 days will be reported to Keenan, per SB 1159. Information will be recorded by M00# and will be kept confidential.

Returning to Campus Following a COVID-19 Diagnosis

  • Remain in isolation and stay away from campus while waiting for testing results. If not tested, continue isolating for 10 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.

Confirmation process: Individual or public health agency confirmation

Campus notification process: No all campus notification. COM will provide direct communication and guidance to students, employees, and/or visitors who were in close contact with the COVID-19 case.

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.
  1.  Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu
  2.  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
    • Names of individuals with whom the affected person had close or prolonged contact

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

  4.  Infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings. 

  5.  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. 
  1. Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu
  2. Test within 3-5 days after last exposure.
  3. 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. 
  4. If symptoms develop, test and stay home (see Scenario 2), AND
  5. If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations above (Scenario 3). 

Returning to Campus Following a COVID-19 Diagnosis

  • 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. If unable to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving, isolation can end after day 10.

Confirmation process: Public health agency confirmation via the individual

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. 

Email COVIDreporting@marin.edu

For employees who are:

  •  Boosted; OR
  •  Vaccinated, but not yet booster-eligible.

Employees do not need to quarantine if they:

  1. Test on day 5 with a negative result.
  2. Wear face coverings around others for 10 days after exposure, especially in indoor settings.
  3. If employees test positive, they must follow isolation recommendations (Scenario 3)
  4. If employees develop symptoms, they must quarantine away from campus pending the results of a test (Scenario 2) 

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
  1. ​Employees must stay away from campus for at least 5 days after their last close contact with a person who has COVID-19.
  2. Exposed employees must test on day 5.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

 

  • 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.