Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. The virus that causes COVID-19 primarily spreads between people in close contact when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. You might also get the virus if you touch something with the virus on it, and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Find your vaccine at www.zocdoc.com/vaccine or call 312 746 4835. Learn more at www.chi.gov/covidvax.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you most likely have an active COVID-19 infection and can give the virus to others. Isolate and do not come on campus.
Email campussafety@mccollege.edu right away if you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms and provide the following information:
How long should I isolate/quarantine if I test positive?
(Reviewed 2/7/2022)
For students, faculty, or staff with a positive test:
Individuals who tested positive should isolate, meaning stay home and away from others until it has been:
AND
You can attend on-campus classes on days 6-10 provided you wear a well-fitted mask at all times while indoors and socially distance.
(reviewed 9/12/2022)
For students, faculty, or staff identified as close contacts:
Students, faculty, or staff with close contact to a person testing positive for COVID-19 are:
If you develop symptoms after the exposure, do not attend any on-campus classes or activities. Schedule testing and quarantine while awaiting test results.
Testing is required for students, faculty, or staff with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status or if they have a known exposure. Isolate and do not come on campus while waiting for the test result. If a rapid/Ag detection test is negative but there is a high clinical suspicion of COVID-19 (you are symptomatic), confirm with a PCR test, ideally within 2 days of the initial Ag test.
Even if you test negative, ensure it has been 24-hours with no fever (without fever-reducing medication) and with improved symptoms before returning on campus.
Up to date COVID-19 vaccination is highly recommended for all students, faculty, and staff.
“Up to date” means a person has received all recommended vaccines & boosters when eligible. Staying up to date on COVID vaccines is the best way to protect yourself and others from variants.
(Updated 9/12/2022)
Beginning Monday, September 12, and until further notice:
Anyone, including people who are fully vaccinated, should consider getting tested:
A positive test result means that you have an infection and should avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else.
A negative test result means that you may not have an infection. Repeating home self-tests with at least 24 hours between tests will increase the confidence that you are not infected.
Ask your healthcare provider if you need help interpreting your test results.
Find out more about testing and testing sites here:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/covid-testing.html
All travelers should follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and protocols for domestic and international travel during the COVID -19 pandemic. These guidelines include recommendations to delay travel until travelers are fully vaccinated as well as protocols for travelers who are unvaccinated. Follow the links above for the most current guidelines.
In addition, under the Chicago Travel Advisory, unvaccinated travelers should be tested for COVID-19 before and after travel from any state on the advisory list and should quarantine upon arrival in Chicago. For domestic travel, the quarantine and testing recommendations do not apply to fully vaccinated travelers.