Isolation and Quarantine Guidance
Last updated May 16, 2023
UND follows isolation and quarantine guidelines recommended by the CDC and the NDDoH.
Isolation (Positive for COVID-19)
Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19.
Students and employees who are in isolation with COVID-19 (cases) should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. Generally, cases will need to isolate for at least 5-days after symptoms develop, or test date if asymptomatic.
How long do I isolate?
Please review the information below for current isolation guidance, including information about how long you should isolate.
Exposure (Close Contacts)
If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 or have been told by a healthcare provider or public health authority that you were exposed, here are the steps that you should take, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection. Learn how COVID-19 spreads and the factors that make risk of spread higher or lower.
After Being Exposed to COVID-19
- Start precautions immediately.
- Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed.
- Start counting from Day 1.
- Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.
- Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.
- Continue precautions for 10 full days. You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
- Take precautions.
- Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public.
- Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask, including travel and public transportation settings.
- Take extra precautions if you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
- Watch for symptoms:
- Fever (100.4°F or greater)
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Other COVID-19 symptoms
- If you develop symptoms isolate immediately and get tested. Stay home until you know the result. If your test result is positive, follow the isolation recommendations.
- Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure. Test even if you don’t develop
symptoms.
- If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.
- If you test negative, continue taking precautions through day 10. You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
- If you test positive, isolate immediately.
University Support
Students
Students can seek medical attention, which includes COVID-19 PCR testing at Student Health Services.
If you are sick with COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19:
- Consult the CDC for the latest isolation guidance.
- Email your instructors to inform them of the dates that you will be absent from in-person classes.
- Work with individual supervisors if you are a student employees on campus.
Employees
Employees who meet NDDoH criteria for isolation or quarantine will not be allowed on UND property or in UND workspaces (campus) during their isolation or quarantine period.
Should I isolate or quarantine?
| COVID-19 Positive |
Close Contact | |
|---|---|---|
|
Am I required to quarantine? |
Not Applicable |
No. Employees are encouraged to monitor for symptoms and wear a mask around others at home and in public for 10 days. Get tested at least 5 days after your last exposure. |
|
Am I required to isolate? |
Yes. Employees are encouraged to isolate. Isolate away from other people for at least 5 full days, followed by 5 days of masking when around others at home and in public. | Not Applicable |
|
Can I continue to work? |
Employees are not able to be in their offices or on campus and are encouraged to speak with their supervisor about working from home. An ill staff member may use sick leave. An ill faculty member may use short term sick leave. | Yes. Employees are able to work in person. |
|
Can I still get tested for COVID-19? |
The CDC recommends an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period if you want to test. | Yes. Monitor for symptoms and get tested at least 5 days after your last exposure, or if you develop symptoms. Please see testing sites. |
|
Can I still get vaccinated for COVID-19? |
It is recommended people not break quarantine or isolation to get vaccinated. |
Not Applicable |
Sick Leave
The North Dakota University System is no longer legally allowed to continue offer the Extended Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) or Extended Family Medical Leave Act (EFMLA) as a state employer. Benefited staff or faculty who are required to quarantine or isolate due to exposure to or a positive test for COVID 19 will need to use their sick or annual leave. While the employee might not necessarily be ill during quarantine, employees are permitted to use sick leave in this instance, if telework is not an option. If COVID causes a serious health issue for an employee or their family member, they might be eligible for regular Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protection and should apply for that protection accordingly.
Employee Assistance Program
Please remember that the Employee Assistance Program is available. The following is the EAP contact information:
The Village Business Institute
1201 25th St S
PO Box 9859
Fargo, ND 58106-9859
P: 1.800.627.8220
F: 701.451.5058
UND Divisional HR Representatives
For questions regarding protected leaves and time off please contact your appropriate HR representative:
Provost/Academic Affairs
Becca Bergee
becca.bergee@UND.edu
Research & Economic Development, Marketing & Communications, & Student Affairs
Nate Ellingson
nathan.ellingson.1@UND.edu
School of Aerospace Sciences
Gary Ebel
gary.ebel@UND.edu
School of Medicine & Health Science
Jill Sackenreuter
jill.sackenreuter@UND.edu
Finance & Operations
Misty Johnson
misty.m.johnson@UND.edu
President and Athletics
Peggy Varberg
peggy.varberg@UND.edu
Energy & Environmental Research Center
Sue White
swhite@UNDeerc.org