Quarantine and Isolation Procedures

Dear Campus Community,

CUNY has recently changed our COVID Quarantine and Isolation Procedures to align with the latest guidance from the CDC. Below, I am going to share our new procedures with you and also bring your attention to a new reporting process for the campus so that we simplify who you need to contact if you test positive or are feeling symptoms. The new email address for communicating health status regarding COVID is CCNY-COVID@ccny.cuny.edu . This email is monitored by CCNY's COVID Team and will help us respond to you with the information you need. Please make sure you include:

• Your full name (as registered in CUNY First) and if known, your EMPLID
• State whether you are an employee or a student
• The last date on campus.
• Phone number

Now for the new procedures on Quarantine and Isolation.

• You quarantine when you might have been exposed to the virus.
• You isolate when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Based on the evolving nature of COVID, CDC has revised their guidance on isolation and quarantine.

Isolation Guidelines (if you Test Positive for COVID-19).

This is for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

• Stay home for 5 days (day 0 is your first day of symptoms, or the day of your first positive test if you do not develop symptoms).
• Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
• Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
• Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
• Don't share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
• Wear a well-fitting mask (CDC Guidance) when you need to be around other people.
• If you're free of symptoms or your symptoms have resolved after 5 days, you can leave your house, which includes returning to campus.
• If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10.
• Continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 5 additional days; if you cannot wear a mask (CDC Guidance), continue to isolate for 5 days.
• If you have a fever, continue isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• If you were severely ill with COVID-19 you should isolate for at least 10 days. Consult your doctor before ending isolation.

Quarantine Guidelines

Circumstances for quarantine will be based off of your vaccination status.

A person is considered fully vaccinated if they have received the full regiment of vaccine and, if eligible, have received their booster.

If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19

Fully Vaccinated

If you have received a booster, OR Completed the primary series of Pfizer vaccine within the last 5 months or Moderna vaccine within the last 5 months, OR Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months OR Tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and subsequently recovered and remain without COVID-19 symptoms

Then do the following:

• As long as you are symptom free, you may continue coming to campus.
• Wear a well-fitting mask (CDC Guidance) around others for 10 days.
• Get tested at least 5 days after your close contact(the date of your exposure is considered day 0); if you test positive, stay home and isolate per guidelines above.
• If you develop symptoms, get a test, stay home and follow the isolation guidelines above.

Partially Vaccinated or Unvaccinated

For those who have completed the primary series of Pfizer vaccine over 5 months ago or Moderna vaccine over 5 months ago and are not boosted, OR Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted, OR are unvaccinated

Then do the following:

• Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a well-fitting mask (CDC Guidance) around others for 5 additional days. If you cannot wear a mask for the additional 5 days, continue to quarantine for those 5 days.
• If you are unable to stay at home you must wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days.
• Get Tested at least 5 days after your close contact. If you test positive, stay home and isolate per the guidelines above.
• Do not travel during your quarantine period.

Sincerely,
Ken Ihrer