January 6, 2022
Wittenberg Community,
We are writing to provide updated isolation and quarantine protocols for individuals who test positive for COVID-19, individuals exposed to COVID-19, and individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 in alignment with CDC guidance and as directed by the Ohio Department of Health. The following protocols are effective immediately for all students, faculty, and staff. This information was also posted on our COVID website, and an additional resource from the Ohio Department of Health can be found here.
If You Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolate)
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should do the following:
- Stay home/Isolate for five days.
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave isolation.
- Continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.
- If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine)
If you have been boosted OR completed the primary series of Pfizer within the last five months OR completed primary series of Moderna vaccine within the last six months OR completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last two months, you should:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
- Test on day five, if possible.
- If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
If you completed the primary series of Pfizer over five months ago OR completed the primary series of Moderna vaccine over six months ago and are not boosted OR completed the primary series of J&J over two months ago and are not boosted OR are unvaccinated, you should:
- Stay home and quarantine for five days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.
- Test on day five if possible.
- If you develop symptoms get a test and stay in quarantine at home.
All individuals under quarantine, regardless of vaccination status, must get a test and stay home if symptoms occur.
Individuals with Symptoms of COVID-19 (Quarantine Until Test Results)
Step 1: Any student, employee, contractor or volunteer who has symptoms of COVID-19 must get tested for COVID-19. Students can call the Wittenberg Health Clinic at 937-327-7811 for a consultation. Our clinic is comprised of staff from Mercy Health Springfield. This phone consultation is FREE and available to students only. Wittenberg students can use their insurance or self-pay at the Wittenberg Health Clinic, but we want to emphasize that a phone consultation for COVID-19 is FREE.
Step 2: Individuals must quarantine until test results return. Students can quarantine at home or in a Wittenberg designated space. For non-residential students, including those students in privately owned fraternity or sorority houses, Wittenberg will provide designated isolation space, if needed. If test results are negative, individuals can resume day-to-day activities. If test results are positive, the individual with symptoms will remain in isolation as follows:
- Stay home/Isolate for five days.
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave isolation.
- Continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.
Step 3: The Dean of Students (or designee) or Director of Human Resources will work with Clark County Combined Health District (CCCHD) and Wittenberg COVID Response Team (CRT) to initiate contact tracing protocol, if appropriate.
Step 4: Individuals will be cleared to return to in-person campus operations with approval from the Dean of Students’ Office or the Director of Human Resources, in consultation with CCCHD, when applicable.
Thank you for following these updated protocols at all times. Should you have any questions, please email covid@wittenberg.edu.
Sincerely,
The COVID Response Team