COVID Positive
If you test positive for COVID-19 or feel sick and suspect you have been infected:Isolate from others, stay home for at least five days and wear a high-quality mask around others at home and in public.
After five days, if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and your symptoms are improving or you never had symptoms, you can end isolation.
Avoid being around people who are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 until at least day 11 and wear a high-quality mask through day 10.
Students should communicate with their professors and follow class attendance policy regarding excused absences.
Faculty and staff should communicate with their supervisor and use appropriate leave according to FIU's Sick Leave Policy.
Exposure to COVID
Individuals exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, no longer need to quarantine at home, but should wear a mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5.
View CDC link for more information on what to do if you were exposed to COVID-19.
Isolation
Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others. It is recommended to wear a well-fitting mask when necessary to be around others.
People in isolation should stay in a specific “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom if available. Everyone who has presumed or confirmed COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from other people for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons).
It is recommended to wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days. People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to isolate regardless of their vaccination status. This includes:
- People who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.
- People with symptoms of COVID-19, including people who are awaiting test results or have not been tested. People with symptoms should isolate even if they do not know if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
You do NOT need a negative test to return to campus after an infection.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Most people with COVID-19 infection will gradually improve at home. However, some get more severely ill. Please contact your medical provider or call 911 immediately if you have:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- Confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
Please also call your medical provider if you experience any symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Guidance on Caring for Yourself and Safely Isolating Yourself
Please go to these Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites for detailed information on how to safely isolate yourself and care for yourself:
Respect & Responsbility
Personal responsibility and respect for individual choices are key to fostering a safe, welcoming and healthy campus for our students, faculty, staff and community members.
Here a few guidelines to help keep our Panther community safe and healthy:
- Stay home if you feel ill to avoid making others sick.
- Use face coverings as recommended by the CDC.
- Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer.
- Sneeze or cough into your elbow.
- Make sure your vaccines are up to date.
- Respect other people’s choices
We recommend that everyone take personal responsibility for their health and consider wearing face coverings where appropriate.
You will likely see fellow students and others wearing face coverings. Please be respectful of their personal choice.