OHIO adopts revised CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine

Ohio University has implemented new COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as directed by the Ohio Department of Health, effective immediately. The changes are reflected in the OHIO COVID-19 Protocol, which all OHIO students, faculty, and staff are required to follow if they test positive, experience symptoms, or are exposed to COVID-19.

The new guidance shortens the recommended isolation time for those infected with COVID-19 to at least five days, followed by five days of wearing a mask around others. Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.

Additionally, the CDC updated the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public exposed to COVID-19. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. The new quarantine guidelines are based on vaccination status:

• Individuals who have been boosted, completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last six months, or completed the primary series of Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the last two months must wear a mask around others for at least 10 days and test on day five.
• Individuals who completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over six months ago and are not boosted, who completed the primary series of Johnson & Johnson over two months ago and are not boosted, or who are unvaccinated must quarantine for at least five days, test on day five, and wear a mask around others for five additional days after quarantine ends.

All individuals under quarantine, regardless of vaccination status, must get a test and stay home if symptoms occur.

OHIO COVID Operations will use these guidelines with students, faculty and staff who must quarantine or isolate, based on the vaccination and booster information they have provided via the COVID-19 Testing Pathway Program and booster survey. Links to provide vaccination and booster info are provided below.

All OHIO students, faculty, and staff asked to upload vaccination or booster record to avoid quarantine 

The CDC’s updated quarantine guidance allows those who have been boosted or recently fully vaccinated to avoid a five-day quarantine if exposed to the virus. If you are not yet vaccinated or boosted, schedule an appointment anywhere in Ohio.

If you are fully vaccinated but haven’t yet uploaded your vaccination card, do so now via the COVID-19 Testing Pathway Program: https://ohio.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8i9R119LHXErT2C. If you previously selected a pathway but have not already uploaded your vaccination card, do so immediately by pasting the above link into an incognito browser.

If you have been boosted but haven’t yet uploaded your booster record, do so now and avoid quarantine if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19: https://ohio.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_beZyfM68DKQ082W. Only those who are fully vaccinated and have recorded their vaccination series through the COVID-19 Testing Pathway Program can access this booster recording form.

NOTE: You must upload your booster record via the booster link above in addition to uploading your vaccination record via the COVID-19 Testing Pathway Program, even if your vaccine and booster are recorded on the same card.