What to Do If a Student in Your Class Tests Positive for COVID
As the semester progresses, it is possible that students may test positive for COVID-19. If that occurs in a face-to-face (f2f) course, faculty should follow these steps:
- DO NOT cancel class. Proceed with class as normal. Throughout this pandemic, Mason has not confirmed evidence of COVID-19 transmission in classrooms and/or office spaces. However, it is critically important that Mason’s public health and safety precautions are observed (e.g. mask, Mason COVID Health Check, cleaning routines, and good personal hygiene). COVID-19 exposures at Mason have been traced to non-academic social gatherings.
- Mason is in regular communication with officials of the local health departments to conduct contact tracing that determines if others who may have been exposed to a positive case on campus must take additional precautions.
- Local health departments conduct necessary contact tracing to determine if there are any close contacts within a class and will instruct those individuals with respect to recommended precautions:
- Individuals who are identified as unvaccinated close contacts will be required to quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
- Vaccinated close contacts may still come to campus and follow their normal routine, but must receive a COVID test three to five days after exposure.
- Continue to complete the Mason COVID Health Check daily. The Mason COVID Health Check will provide instructions if you are identified as a close contact to a person infected with COVID.
- Mason carefully reviews all confirmed positive COVID tests with local health department officials to determine if additional precautions are necessary and what specific actions are required. Classes should only be cancelled at the direction of Mason’s administration and in coordination with the local health department.
September 02, 2021