Guidelines for positive cases
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The test is positive...now what?
Step 1: Self-report your positive test
If you tested positive for COVID-19, you must notify the university so that the right people can help you and we can monitor our overall COVID-19 numbers.
Who to contact:
- McMinnville students: Student Health, Wellness and Counseling Center
- Portland students: Student Life
- Faculty and staff: Office of Human Resources
Step 2: Notify your close contacts
After notifying the proper office, begin calling, emailing or texting close contacts as soon as possible and let them know you are positive or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes during the period of transmissibility. This time does not have to be consecutive and is cumulative over a 24-hour period. The period of transmissibility is 48 hours before beginning to experience symptoms. Or, if there are no symptoms, it is 48 hours before the date of testing.
Any faculty, staff or student known to have been exposed to COVID-19 (e.g., by a household member, roommate) should follow instructions regarding isolation and testing from the local public health authority.
Step 3: Isolation
For students
Following the recommendation of the CDC, Oregon Health Authority and the Yamhill County Health Department, Linfield University has implemented a modified isolation policy for COVID-19-positive students.
Isolation protocols
The first five days are strict isolation, followed by a five-day modified isolation protocol. Isolation procedures are the same, whether or not the student is showing symptoms.
The five days of strict isolation begin from either 1) the day symptoms first developed, or 2) the day of a positive test result.
On the McMinnville campus, students' isolation periods are set by Student Health, Wellness and Counseling Center (SHWCC) representatives. Students will receive an email containing the dates of strict isolation and modified isolation. On the Portland campus, students should follow the isolation periods as described by their health care provider or the county health department.
If a student lives in campus housing, they will have the option of returning to an off-campus residence, moving into an on-campus dedicated isolation room or isolating in place in their current room for the entirety of the isolation period. If isolating in place, roommates and suitemates must follow the items outlined in their Isolate in Place Agreement. See Health and Wellness FAQs for more information about isolating in place.
Strict vs. modified isolation
Strict isolation occurs after a positive result from a COVID-19 test. Students should remain in their isolation space until they qualify for modified isolation. Meals will be delivered to students in university-designated isolation housing. Students isolating in place will not have meals delivered.
Modified isolation may occur after five days of strict isolation if: students are fever-free for 24 hours without any fever-reducing medications and other symptoms are subsiding, and they agree to always wear an N95 or KN95 mask when outside their isolation room.
So long as they wear an N95 or KN95 mask, students in modified isolation may:
- Leave their room to attend class and other activities while wearing a mask in all outdoor and indoor spaces. Note: Students should contact Learning Support Services BEFORE returning to class to start the return-to-class process.
- Leave isolation rooms to pick up meals from Dillin Hall or Starbucks.
- Leave their room to exercise alone.
Students in modified isolation may not:
- Socialize with other students.
- Drink or consume food around other students.
For employees
Following the recommendation of the CDC, Oregon Health Authority and the Yamhill County Health Department, Linfield University has implemented a modified isolation policy for COVID-19-positive employees. The first five (5) days are strict isolation at home followed by a five-day modified isolation protocol. Isolation procedures are the same, regardless if the employee is symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Isolation protocols
Employees who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for five days at their residence. The five days of strict isolation begin from either 1) the day symptoms first developed, or 2) the day of a positive test result.
If you were exposed to COVID-19, please follow the CDC guidelines for quarantine or isolation after an exposure.
Strict vs. modified isolation
Strict isolation occurs after a positive result from a COVID-19 test. Employees in strict isolation should remain at their residence for five days.
Modified isolation may occur after five days of strict isolation if: employees are fever-free for 24 hours without any fever-reducing medications and other symptoms are subsiding, and they agree always to wear an N95 or KN95 mask when on Linfield's campuses.
Employees in modified isolation should:
- Avoid drinking or consuming food around other individuals.
- Wear a N95 or KN95 mask when exercising on campus by themselves.
Looking for more info?
Read the FAQs
You've read the requirements. Now read answers to the most common questions about quarantine and isolation on the Health and Wellness FAQ page.
Questions?
For questions about Linfield University and coronavirus, contact covid19ert@linfield.edu. Please direct any medical questions to the Student Health, Wellness and Counseling Center at SHLT@linfield.edu.