Isolation and Exposure FAQs
If you are experiencing any of the following COVID-19-like symptoms, you must submit your symptoms to the CoVerified app and test.
- Fever or chills
- New cough not related to a chronic condition
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Severe fatigue or body aches
- New loss of taste or smell
Remain at home while you are feeling ill. You must have a negative test result and symptom improvement for access to campus.
If you test positive, symptoms submitted to app will count as Day Zero, otherwise date of test will be considered Day Zero.
The University’s COVID-19 Team still monitors transmission, contact tracing and case investigation of all MCPHS affiliates. All cases and exposures must be reported to the COVID-19 Team.
If you test positive for COVID-19 with an outside test, contact the COVID-19 Team and upload your test results to the CoVerified app. Tests performed on campus will sync to the CoVerified app and do not need to be uploaded if using your MCPHS email on Color.
Home tests are not acceptable; documentation for an excused absence requires a lab-performed test.
You must stay home or isolate in place for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You will not be cleared for access to campus until cleared by the COVID-19 Team.
- Wear a high quality mask (KN95, KF94) if you must be around others at home and in public.
- Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
- Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
The University’s COVID-19 Team still monitors transmission, contact tracing and case investigation of all MCPHS affiliates. All cases and exposures must be reported to the COVID-19 Team.
Any individual contacted by the COVID-19 Team identified as a close contact must respond to the COVID-19 Team outreach for campus access.
Close contacts are individuals that have been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer to an infectious individual. An infectious period is defined as two days before symptoms started or two days before a positive test date (if have no symptoms) up until cleared from isolation.
Close contacts are no longer required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status unless symptomatic (see below).
Close contacts are required to do the following:
- Wear a well-fitted mask (KN95, KF94 or N95) around others inside the household or indoors in public for the 10 full days following an exposure.
- Monitor for symptoms for 10 full days after the last date of exposure.
- Test 5 days after exposure, but if develop symptoms at any time, they must take a test and stay home until they receive a result.
- If the result is positive, the individual must isolate.
The University is utilizing Color Health for PCR COVID-19 testing on campus. Testing is currently optional unless you are exhibiting symptoms or have been identified as a close contact.
Pick up a kit at designated Public Safety areas (if you have symptoms you must wear a KN95 mask to pick up a kit).
- Boston- Palace Road Entrance
- Worcester- 25 Foster Street and 10 Lincoln Square Entrances
- Manchester- 22 Fir Street Entrance
Samples are picked up daily at noon, Monday through Friday. Samples are not collected on the weekends or on holidays. Do not place a sample in the drop box after noon on Friday. It will not be viable for the laboratory to process on Monday.
PCR or NAAT testing can also be performed at an outside facility (please upload results to the CoVerified app) if you are unable to come to campus for a Color kit.