Indoor Masking Policy Update

Face masks are optional in all indoor spaces. 

Testing for Individuals with Symptoms 

Students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should seek out symptomatic testing through a local health care provider. Although more protected from serious illness, if at any time vaccinated individuals experience COVID-19 symptoms, they should still seek testing to minimize spread of the virus.

  • Students should seek symptomatic testing via a local provider.

  • Symptomatic employees are advised to schedule an appointment with their health care provider.

Visit the Health Guidelines page to learn more about steps you should take if you feel sick, or if think you may have been exposed to the virus.

We still encourage all to get vaccinated if you are not.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Tom Dubreuil at [email protected].

Getting a COVID-19 At-Home Test

There are options available for individuals to obtain at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost, including:

Quarantine and Isolation Guidance

Quarantine requirements

Certain individuals do not have to quarantine, including those who:

  • have received a booster;

  • have all recommended doses of the vaccine, but are not eligible for the booster yet; or

  • have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

Instead, for 10 days from their last date of close contact, these individuals must wear a mask around others and monitor themselves for symptoms. It is strongly recommended to test at least five days after the last date of close contact.

Individuals who are not vaccinated or who are vaccinated but not boosted (when eligible based on timing) must quarantine for a minimum of five days.

Students may discontinue quarantine on day six if they are symptom free. It is strongly recommended to test at least five days after the last date of close contact. They must continue to monitor themselves for virus symptoms for the full 10 days.

During your quarantine period, the Student Support Services team is available to check-in regularly with you.

During quarantine, you may or may not develop symptoms of COVID-19. If you do experience symptoms, contact your health care provider; students can contact their campus health center or their primary care provider.

Regardless of vaccination status, any student with new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 still needs to isolate and be tested immediately for COVID-19 at University Health Services, their campus health center or their primary care provider.

Isolation requirements

If you experience COVID-19 symptoms and receive a positive COVID-19 test, you will be directed to isolate by University Health Services (UHS), or a member of the contact tracing staff for a minimum of 5 days. UHS or contact tracing will discuss isolation living options with you.

Students should isolate themselves at home, ideally in a space where they can avoid contact with others in their household and may discontinue isolation on day six if they are symptom free, or symptoms are improved, and they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.

During your isolation period, the Student Support Services team will be available to check-in regularly with you.

Once your isolation period is over, you will continue to social distance, mask, and monitor your health.

Testing out of isolation

Students should isolate themselves at home, ideally in a space where they can avoid contact with others in their household and may discontinue isolation on day six if they are symptom free, or symptoms are improved and are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.

During the semester, Penn State Contact Tracing will reach out to students who test positive. Students also will receive an email from [email protected] with a brief questionnaire to complete that may expedite the contact tracing process. Faculty and staff who test positive should self-isolate off campus and report their positive status to their supervisor and contact Occupational Medicine at 814-863-8492 so their unit can begin the contact tracing process.

Questions?

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Additional campus-specific questions related to COVID-19 can be directed to [email protected].