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COVID-19
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When to Seek Medical Attention
If you are experiencing any of the following emergency warning signs for COVID-19, please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
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Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
COVID-19 Vaccination
The CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group. The COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended to keep our campus community safe and can be obtained free of cost to enrolled students at Campus Health & Wellbeing. Please call 805-756-1211 to schedule an appointment. Additional community resources can be found here for COVID-19 vaccines and booster.
Exposure to COVID-19
You can assess your exposure risk with the CDC guide. If you have a recent exposure to COVID-19 with a close contact who has tested positive, you should take steps to help protect yourself and those around you in case you have been infected. Monitor for symptoms for 10 days after last contact and follow exposure instructions from SLO County Public Health.
What to Do If You Are Exposed to COVID-19 and Have Symptoms
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Get Tested. You can complete an at-home COVID-19 test, which can be purchased at the Cal Poly pharmacy. Free testing kits are also available through community resources. Campus Health and Wellbeing also offers antigen testing. Call to schedule an appointment at 805-756-1211.
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Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days following last exposure.
- If you test negative with an at-home antigen test, regardless if your symptoms resolve or not, test again in 48 hours.
- If you test positive, isolate. Refer to isolation guidelines below.
What to Do If You Are Exposed to COVID-19 and Do Not Have Symptoms
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Get tested. Test, test on days 1, 3, and 5 after last exposure. At-home tests can be purchased at the Cal Poly pharmacy. Free testing kits are also available through community resources.
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Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days following last exposure.
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If you test positive, isolate. Refer to isolation guidelines below.
What to Do If You Have Symptoms of COVID-19
Get tested if you have any of these common COVID-19 symptoms. There may be other symptoms not on this list. Symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 can be very similar and impossible to tell the difference unless you have tests done.
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If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 90 days and now have developed symptoms of COVID-19 again, use an antigen test only. A PCR test may be positive for up to 90 days after you have COVID-19.
Report a Positive Test Result
Cal Poly is here to support students who have received a positive COVID-19 test. Please follow the steps below to report a positive test result to Cal Poly:
- Report your at-home or off-site positive result here.
- If you tested positive at the Campus Health & Wellbeing health center, your result is automatically reported. You do not need to report the result again. You will receive a secure message in your student portal with instructions. These instructions can also be found in the Student Isolation Guide.
- E-mail COVID-Help@Calpoly.edu if you have any questions.
COVID-19 Testing Resources
- Campus Health and Wellbeing offers same-day nurse triage visits and scheduled office appointments for medical evaluation and testing. Please call 805-756-1211.
- Free telehealth COVID-19 appointments through Sesame Care.
- At-home COVID-19 tests can be purchased at the Cal Poly Pharmacy located in Campus Health and Wellbeing.
- Additional testing resources including free COVID-19 rapid test kits are available through San Luis Obispo County Public Health.
Student Isolation Guide
Cal Poly follows CDC, CDPH, and SLOPH isolation guidelines. If you tested positive for COVID-19, you must isolate even if you have been vaccinated, infected in the past, or do not have symptoms.
- Isolate in your on- or off-campus room. You have the option to return to your permanent residence to complete isolation. Do not attend in-person class, work, church, gym, or social events. Do not travel on public transportation. Refer to CDC for travel instructions. Remain in isolation except to seek medical attention and other reasons outlined below. Avoid having visitors in your residence.
symptoms.
- On Campus Residents
- Common bathrooms and laundry facilities are permitted when wearing a mask and avoiding high traffic times.
- Picking up food is allowed when wearing a mask, but you must return to your room to eat.
- On Campus Residents
- Wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask for 10 days around others indoors and outdoors.
- Separate yourself as much as possible if you live with others. Avoid contact with household members and pets. Notify close contacts so they can also take precautions. Do not share cups, utensils, or towels.
- Monitor your health. For many people, COVID-19 does not require emergency services, but if experiencing any emergency warning signs, call 911 and seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Care for mild symptoms. Rest and stay well hydrated. Symptomatic management with OTC medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen as directed can be helpful. Call CH&W at 805-756-1211 to schedule an appointment if you have any concerns. We also have walk-in nurse triage for same-day care.
- Treatment for high risk persons. Treatment for COVID-19 is available but students need to meet one high risk criteria and have mild to moderate symptoms for 5 days or less. Call CH&W at 805-756-1211 to schedule an appointment to discuss with a medical provider or access free virtual COVID-19 visit through Sesame Care.
Isolation time
If you tested positive or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you must isolate for 5-10 days and wear a well-fitting mask around others for all 10 days.
- If you have symptoms, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms.
- If you do not have symptoms, Day 0 is the day you tested positive.
Isolation can end after 5 full days if you meet the following criteria:
- No fever for the last 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication (like Tylenol or ibuprofen); AND
- No symptoms are present, or symptoms improving.
Class and Work Attendance
- For students: review the instructor notification of student absence process. If your professor needs verification, please have them contact the Office of the Dean of Students.
- For Cal Poly employees (including student assistants) working on campus: please submit the Employee COVID-19 Reporting Form. Contact your employer for additional guidance.
Campus Resources for Students
Students are encouraged to reach out to the following Cal Poly support services:
Health Services
Health Services offers different options to address support your health concerns and needs including scheduled appointments with medical providers, same-day nurse triage visits, and 24/7 after-hours nurse advice line. Visit the Health Services website for more information and call to schedule and appointment at 805-756-1211.
Counseling Services and Crisis Services
Counseling Services remains committed to supporting the well-being of all students during challenging times. Visit the Counseling website for more information or call to schedule an appointment at 805-756-2511.
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
Students should coordinate directly with their faculty member to develop arrangements if they are missing coursework due to illness. The DRC can help with COVID situations when it affects a student's existing disability or if illness is prolonged. Visit the DRC website for more information about services and accommodations.
University Housing
Please contact your community front desk for any University Housing questions regarding isolation support.
Student Absences Related to COVID-19
Please visit Student Success, Support, and Retention.
