Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
The beginning of the spring semester is nearly upon us. The start of a new chapter is reason for hope and excitement, but this is also an important time to focus on the health and well-being of yourself and others.
This communication includes important revisions to the Olivet College CARES Pandemic Response Plan. Please read the message in full, as the revisions cover important changes to the isolation and quarantine guidelines in alignment with CDC guidance.
- Revisions to the OC CARES Pandemic Response Plan
- What to Do if You Test Positive for COVID-19
- What to Do if You Are Not Fully Vaccinated and Are Exposed to COVID-19
- What to Do if You Are Fully Vaccinated and Are Exposed to COVID-19
- Reminder About Free Testing on Campus
Revisions to the OC CARES Pandemic Response Plan
The OC CARES Pandemic Response Plan has been revised to be in alignment with CDC guidance. View and download the full Pandemic Response Plan response plan here.
What to Do if You Test Positive for COVID-19
The steps below are guidelines for students, faculty and staff if you test positive for COVID-19 at any time.
- Students are required to call Campus Safety at 269-749-7911 immediately if they test positive for COVID-19, suspect a COVID-19 infection or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Staff and faculty members should contact their supervisor and Human Resources.
- Stay or return home for 5 days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the positive viral test for asymptomatic individuals).
- Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, when possible.
- If you have been symptom free or your symptoms have resolved after the 5 day isolation period, contact your direct supervisor (employees) or the Office of Residence Life (students) for return to campus instructions.
- If you have a fever, continue to isolate until you are fever-free for 24-hours without fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation).
- Avoid contact with other members of your residence during isolation and continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in-public for 5 additional days (days 6-10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period.
Tip: A visual chart representing the isolation timeline is available in the Pandemic Response Plan.
What to Do if You Are Not Fully Vaccinated and Are Exposed to COVID-19
The steps below are guidelines for students, faculty and staff if you are not fully vaccinated and are exposed to COVID-19.
If you were exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine if you fall into one of the following groups:
- You completed the primary series of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (2 shots) but have not received a recommended booster when eligible.
- You received the single-dose J&J vaccine (completing the primary series) over 2 months ago and have not received a recommended booster.
- You are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.
What to do for quarantine:
- Employees, stay home for at least 5 days (day 0-5) after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of your exposure is considered day 0.
- Students, return home or stay in your on-campus residence for 5 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of your exposure is considered day 0.
- Avoid contact with others; do not go to work, class, athletic practice or competitions, or other campus activities.
- Students can only leave their room (avoiding contact with others) masked for the following activities:
- Doctor’s appointments
- Meal pick-up at the KC
- Outdoor exercise (e.g., walking or running)
- Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home or campus residence, when possible.
- If you have been symptom free throughout the 5 day quarantine period, contact your direct supervisor (employees), or the Office of Residence Life (students) for return to campus instructions.
- Monitor for symptoms for 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19, watch for fever (100.4 or higher), cough, shortness of breath or other COVID symptoms.
Tip: A visual chart representing the quarantine timeline is available in the Pandemic Response Plan.
What to Do if You Are Fully Vaccinated and Are Exposed to COVID-19
The steps below are guidelines for students, faculty and staff if you are fully vaccinated and are exposed to COVID-19.
Who does not need to quarantine:
If you came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you do not need to quarantine.
- You are ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
- You are ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
What to do if you belong to this group:
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others at home or campus residence, when possible, for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0).
- Monitor for symptoms for 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19, watch for fever (100.4 or higher), cough, shortness of breath or other COVID symptoms.
- If you develop symptoms during the 10 days, get tested.
Tip: A visual chart representing the masking guideline is available in the Pandemic Response Plan.
Free COVID-19 Testing on Campus
One free COVID-19 test will be available to all students, staff and faculty as we begin the semester.
- Testing will be available on:
- Sunday, Jan. 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Getting tested is strongly encouraged, but it is not mandatory for your return to campus.
- There is no cost to get tested.
- No appointment is required, just bring your student ID to the Health and Wellness Center in Mott 212.
- If you receive a positive test result, a member of the Campus Safety or Residence Life team will be available in the Health and Wellness Center to walk you through next steps.
Please note that all campus housing reopens to students on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 12 p.m. Getting tested before the start of the spring semester will help protect our college community.
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” — William Arthur Ward, motivational speaker and author