Isolation Policies

 If you have a respiratory illness. 
 

Respiratory Illness Guidelines

If you have a respiratory illness, you will need to isolate in your assigned suite.

Please note that students are expected to follow all policies related to public health.  For more information, visit the Community Expectations for AY 2023-24, which states:  

  • Violating any public health protocols may be considered a serious concern that will be addressed by the College 
  • Ability to enter and remain upon the Harvard campus as a residential student may be conditioned on adherence to these expectations. 

We strongly advise that every student prepare a self-isolation kit upon their arrival to campus. It should include the following: antigen tests, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), thermometer, snacks, prescription medication, personal care items (cough drops, contact lens fluid, tissues) etc. 

When in isolation you may not leave your room except to pick up meals, use the bathroom, or for a pre-approved appointment at HUHS. You may not do laundry.  You must wear a well-fitted face covering or mask at any time you are leaving your room or suite during isolation.

Guidelines
  • For information about managing your isolation, please visit HUHS's website.
  • When you receive your positive result, please notify: 
    • Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS), so they can prepare meals for you. See the instructions on their webpage
    • Your instructors, so that they know you are not able to attend class and may need adjustments if you are not feeling well enough to work
    • Your Resident Dean so they can help you make a plan to stay on top of course work.
  • Packages/Mail: 
  • Consider asking your suitemates and friends for help with picking up mail, and other items. They should drop these items at your door.
    • If you usually get mail or packages at the Harvard Yard Mail Center:
      • Email Harvard University Mail Services at hums@harvard.edu the name of a friend or designated person who will pick up your package. That person should come to the Harvard Yard Mail Center and show their HUID to pick up the package for you.
    • If you usually get mail or packages at your Building Manager’s office:
      • Email your Building Manager the name of a friend or designated person who will pick up your package. That person should come to the Building Manager’s office and show their HUID to pick up the package for you.
  • Bathrooms: If you have a bathroom in your suite, please use that one. If you use a hallway bathroom, please make sure that you are masked unless showering, bathing, or performing facial grooming or oral hygiene tasks. Please limit your time in the bathroom to the minimum time that is necessary and remain masked while entering and exiting. If possible, time unmasking activities to when restroom is unoccupied. Hallway bathrooms will continue to be cleaned and disinfected by custodial staff daily – please do not enter the space while the custodial staff are working.  
  • Isolating Elsewhere: If you choose to isolate elsewhere (whether at home or off campus), your plans must meet the following expectations: you do not use public transportation, you do not use a hotel for isolation, you do not put vulnerable people at risk of infection, and you have access to food, medicine/medical care, and supplies to last you at least five days. If you choose to isolate elsewhere, please notify College Housing (collegehousing@fas.harvard.edu) of your plans. 
  • Masking: You must wear a well-fitted face covering or mask any time you are leaving your room or suite during isolation. Use high-quality disposable masks such as the 3-layered surgical style mask that has been provided to you, worn in a way that minimizes air gaps around the edges (e.g., knot the ear loops, or double masks with a cloth or second mask).  
  • Trash Removal and Laundry: You can drop off your trash at the trash room nearest to your suite. Please time any exits for trash removal to coincide with other trips (bathroom, food delivery pick-up)  to minimize the amount of time outside of your room. You may not do laundry while you are isolating in place.  
  • Meals:  Please follow the instructions on the HUDS Isolation Meal webpage to access meals. Any individual living in a College residence who is isolating in place should follow these steps, the first of which is contact your community's dining hall manager. A list of contact emails is available on the HUDS Isolation Meal Pick-Up web page.
  • What to expect from HUHS while in isolation: If you are a student isolating in place, you may contact HUHS if you need immediate medical assistance by calling 617-495-5711 to speak with a Triage Nurse. There is information on the  HUHS website on how to care for your symptoms with common “over-the counter medications.”   
  • Take care of yourself: It can be stressful and lonely to be separated from others, particularly if you have concerns about your health. In addition to the HUHS number above, you can contact Counseling and Mental Health Services at 617-495-2042 and select the “CAMHS Cares Line” 24/7 to speak with a counselor.  
  • Remain in the room except to pick up meals, to dispose of your trash, and to attend necessary medical appointments.  While outside of isolation, maintain physical distance to the best extent possible. Avoid any socializing or mingling with any other students, faculty or staff when leaving your room or suite for these purposes.
  • Questions about Packages/Mail: Consider asking your suitemates and friends for help with picking up mail, and other items. They should drop these items at your door. 
  • Whom do I contact for help? 
    • Medical emergency: 911 
    • Non-emergency medical advice: contact your Primary Care Provider at HUHS at 617-495-5711 or Counseling and Mental Health Services: 617-495-2042 CAMHS Cares line 24/7 
    • Harvard Chaplains:  https://chaplains.harvard.edu/
    • Routine building maintenance issues: Please contact your designated Building Manager or, if you are living in the Yard,  Yard Ops . For building-related emergencies or after-hour maintenance issues, please contact the Harvard Operations Center at 617-495-5560.
    • Academic Matters: Your Resident Dean. 
Restrictions

You will not be able to have any visitors, but you should keep in touch with your friends and family electronically. Let them know that you have access to health services.  

You cannot attend class in-person as long as you are in isolation. Students are responsible for ensuring that they keep up with their courses when they go into isolation.

Specifically, students should:

  • Make arrangements with other students to exchange notes if they have to miss class.
  • Notify their instructor as soon as possible to coordinate alternative methods of learning. Students are not required to show a doctor’s note to be granted an excused absence from class. Instead, they are encouraged to email their instructor to let them know that they are unable to attend class for a medical reason and copy their Resident Dean. 
  • Important: Per the Harvard College Student Handbook, if a student misses a final exam for medical reasons, they are still required to show a doctor’s note.  
  • Let their instructor know if they are not feeling well enough to carry on with their work to see what flexibility might be possible.  
  • Connect with their Resident Dean to discuss a plan to stay on top of their coursework or if they run into any challenges in maintaining academic continuity during their isolation or illness.
Ending Isolation
  • You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true: 
    • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
    • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

Even if you are feeling better, you still may be able to spread the virus that made you sick. You can also spread the virus if you never developed symptoms.  

Protect yourself and those around you by taking enhanced precautions for five additional days after resuming normal activities.

For more details, see the HUHS website.

 

mpox

 If you test positive for mpox. 
 

Mpox Isolation Protocol

Please note that students are expected to follow all policies related to public health.  For more information, visit the Community Expectations for AY 2023-24, which states:  

  • Violating any public health protocols may be considered a serious concern that will be addressed by the College 
  • Ability to enter and remain upon the Harvard campus as a residential student may be conditioned on adherence to these expectations.
Notifications
  • If you have mpox symptoms or have received a positive test result, please call HUHS at (617) 495-5711.
  • HUHS will notify the College if you need to isolate for mpox.
  • You will receive an email from Isolation Support with instructions about where to go.
Preparing for Isolation
  • Before you leave your room, remove all your bed linens and clothing worn while symptomatic and place them into the trash bags and tie the bags off. You may leave the bags in your room to be properly laundered upon your return from isolation, or you may take them with you to your assigned isolation housing.
  • Before you leave your room, disinfect the hard surfaces of your bed(s), bedside table(s), and bedroom door handles. 
  • When traveling to isolation, you will need to wear long sleeves, pants, a mask, and gloves.  
Isolating On-Campus
  • Meals: When you are in on-campus isolation, you will pick up meals at your normal home dining hall following the same process outlined by HUDS for COVID-19 isolation meal pick-up.
  • Isolation Period:
    • You will be expected to isolate until all rashes have fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. It typically takes between two weeks and four weeks for symptoms to completely resolve.  
    • You will need clearance from a public health authority and/or HUHS in order to be released from isolation. 
  • What to expect from HUHS while in isolation: If you are a student isolating, you may contact HUHS if you need immediate assistance by calling 617-495-5711 to speak with a Triage Nurse.
  • Remain in your room except to pick up meals, to dispose of your trash, do laundry in the place/time set aside for you, and to attend necessary medical appointments. Avoid any socializing or mingling with any other students, faculty or staff when leaving your room or suite for these purposes.   
  • On-Campus Packages/Mail: Visit https://dso.college.harvard.edu/packages-isolation for information about how to receive a package or mail in isolation housing. 
Isolating Elsewhere
  • If you choose to isolate elsewhere (whether at home or off-campus), your plans must meet the following expectations: 
    • You do not use public transportation
    • You do not use a hotel for isolation
    • You do not put vulnerable people at risk of infection, and
    • You have access to food, medicine/medical care, and supplies to last you during your isolation period. 
    • If you choose to isolate elsewhere, please notify College Housing (collegehousing@fas.harvard.edu) of your plans. Follow these guidelines: CDC: Isolation and Infection Control At Home.  When traveling to isolation, you will need to wear long sleeves, pants, a mask, and gloves.
  • Isolation Period:
    • You will be expected to isolate until all rashes have fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. It typically takes between two weeks and four weeks for symptoms to completely resolve.  
    • You will need clearance from a public health authority and/or HUHS in order to be released from isolation. Harvard community members living off campus and in private residences should follow guidance and attain clearance from their local health authority prior to leaving isolation. 
  • What to expect from HUHS while in isolation: If you are a student isolating, you may contact HUHS if you need immediate assistance by calling 617-495-5711 to speak with a Triage Nurse.  
?Whom do I contact for help?
  • Medical emergency: 911  
  • Non-emergency medical advice: contact HUHS at 617-495-5711 or Counseling and Mental Health Services: 617-495-2042 CAMHS Cares line 24/7  
  • Harvard Chaplains: https://chaplains.harvard.edu/ 
  • Routine building maintenance issues:  For building-related emergencies or maintenance issues, please contact the Harvard Operations Center at 617-495-5560. 
  • Academic Matters: For students in the Houses, your Allston Burr Resident Dean; for first-year students, your Resident of First-Year Students.  
Face Coverings
  • Persons who test positive for mpox and their close contacts exhibiting symptoms of mpox must wear well-fitting disposable masks covering their nose and mouth when around other persons. 
  • In some settings (e.g., transportation to isolation or in healthcare facilities) a medical-grade face covering will be required. 
  • Face Coverings: General Use offers guidance on selecting and wearing face coverings. 
Restrictions

You cannot attend class in-person as long as you are in isolation. Students are responsible for ensuring that they keep up with their courses when they go into isolation.  

Specifically, students should: 

  • Make arrangements with other students to exchange notes if they have to miss class. 
  • Notify their instructor as soon as possible to coordinate alternative methods of learning. Students are not required to show a doctor’s note to be granted an excused absence from class. Instead, they are encouraged to email their instructor to let them know that they are unable to attend class for a medical reason and copy their Resident Dean.  
  • Important: Per the Harvard College Student Handbook, if a student misses a final exam for medical reasons, they are still required to show a doctor’s note.   
  • Let their instructor know if they are not feeling well enough to carry on with their work to see what flexibility might be possible.   
  • Connect with their Resident Dean to discuss a plan to stay on top of their coursework or if they run into any challenges in maintaining academic continuity during their isolation or illness. 
  If a peer tests positive for mpox 
 

Assumed mpox Exposure Protocol

If you've heard through a peer that they have tested positive and you have interacted with them in the past few days, you should take precautions to prevent the spread of mpox

Notifications
  • As part of contact tracing, the Department of Public Health will work with local health officials to identify people who may have been in contact with individuals who have tested positive for mpox to monitor their health.
  • Students may also refer to CDC: Notifying Close Contacts to learn how close contacts are identified. 
  • Individuals exposed to the mpox virus can continue their routine daily activities (e.g., go to work or school) as long as they do not have signs or symptoms consistent with mpox. 
Socializing with others
  • Individuals exposed to the mpox virus can continue their routine daily activities (e.g., go to work or school) as long as they do not have signs or symptoms consistent with mpox.
  • Isolation for mpox is significantly longer than COVID-19 and typically lasts two weeks to four weeks.  
Hygiene
  • If a suitemate has mpox, cleaning will be conducted in the common spaces of the suite as soon as it is practical and within one day of the infected person leaving the space. High-touch surfaces within shared restrooms, common living areas, and kitchens within suites will be included in enhanced cleaning. 
  • Continue adhering to good hand hygiene and risk prevention strategies such as avoiding close, personal skin-to-skin contact or contact with clothing, bedding, or towels that have been used by someone diagnosed with or exhibiting symptoms of mpox. 
  • Roommates should not handle or assist with laundering or transporting bagged linens and clothing. 
  • Individuals departing the room to isolate are instructed to disinfect the hard surfaces of their beds, bedside table(s), and bedroom door handles before leaving. 
?Whom do I contact for help?
  • If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Resident Dean. 

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