Symptoms of COVID-19 typically appear 2-14 days after exposure, so you can spread the virus without even knowing it. These are the most common symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever (100.4◦F) or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

For the omicron variant the most common early symptoms are cough, fatigue or tiredness, and congestion and runny nose. 

If you’re sick with any illness, please stay home or in your room and call Student Health Services to talk about next steps. Student Health Services will assess your symptoms to determine if you need to get tested. 

As with any sickness follow these additional guidelines to protect yourself and others:

To protect yourself:

• Follow COVID protocols: wear masks when indoors, stay home if you don’t feel well, and limit large indoor gatherings.

• Rest and stay hydrated.

• Clean your hands often either with soap and water for 20 seconds or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

To protect others:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.

• Use a separate bathroom if available.

• Avoid sharing personal household items (cups, dishes, utensils, towels, bedding).

• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces at least once a day.

• Avoid public areas/transportation.

If you are up to date on COVID vaccinations (fully vaccinated and boosted) and you develop symptoms get tested and stay home and away from others until you get your test results.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and:

• Live on campus: you will move into a designated isolation space. You will have access to medical services as needed and meals delivered by Campus Dining. More information about the quarantine and isolation process and experience is available here.
• Live off campus: you will isolate in your living space with access to medical services at Student Health Services as requested. Wear a mask if you are ever in a shared space and do not attend in-person classes or other obligations.

If you are not up to date on COVID vaccinations and are identified as a close contact you should do one of the following: 

• No earlier than four days after exposure, take two antigen tests at least 24 hours apart or
• About five days after exposure take a PCR or LAMP test

If you develop symptoms get tested immediately.

If you live on campus and test positive please see our quarantine experience webpage for information about what to expect during quarantine or isolation.

If you live off campus and test positive you will be expected to isolate at home. Do not leave your quarantine location for any non-essential reason, including class, work, shopping, or to use public transportation. You can leave your bedroom to go to the bathroom, but you need to wear a mask and wipe down areas you used to disinfect the bathroom after each use.

You will get tested after about five days of quarantine and if the test is negative you can end your quarantine.

The biggest difference between quarantining on and off campus is that if you live off campus your roommates or housemates will be expected to be your support system and help make sure you have food, hydrating beverages, and any other necessities. If your roommate or housemate is quarantined you should maintain physical distance.