COVID-19 Information Center

A "close contact" is defined as someone who shared the same indoor airspace (e.g., small classrooms, labs, office) with a person diagnosed with Covid-19 for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (does not have to be consecutive).

Per public health guidelines, indivduals who have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 and do not have symptoms are only recommended to test (within 5 days) if they are at higher risk of severe disease OR if they have contact with people who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Masking is recommended when around those at a higher risk for 10 days.

Testing is available on campus via the surveillance testing program.

Note: Day 0 is the last day of your last contact/exposure with the confirmed case and Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.

All students are required to report ALL symptoms through the Covid-19 reporting application. You will be contacted by CMT on how to get tested at the student health center. While awaiting results, it is strongly recommended that you minimize contact with others and wear a mask if you must go out into the community.

If your test results are positive, you will be instructed to isolate and provided with Isolate in Place guidelines. If your test results are negative, it is strongly recommended that you wear a well-fitted (N95, KN95) mask until symptoms resolve.

Symptoms of Covid-19

• Fever or Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting

All students, regardless of vaccination status, history of previous infection, or lack of symptoms, must isolate and report to CMT via the Covid-19 Reporting Application.

UG and Grad students living in Caltech housing will isolate in their residences and be provided with Isolate in Place guidelines. It is imperative that these guidelines be followed to ensure the safety of others in our community.

The minimum isolation is 5 full days from either the onset of symptoms or positive test date, whichever date comes first. (Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or positive test, Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms or positive test). Your tentative isolation release date will be indicated in the isolation guidelines sent to your student portal.

Isolation may end after Day 5 (i.e., between Day 6-10) if both of the following criteria are met:

• You have had no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicines). AND
• Other symptoms are not present or symptoms are mild and improving.

**A negative Covid-19 test is no longer required to leave isolation.

Daily wellness surveys will be sent to your student portal, you MUST complete these daily to ensure your timely release from isolation.

If you meet the criteria above, CMT will send you an official isolation release message to your student portal.

After your release, it is required that you continue to wear a well-fitted (N95, KN95) mask around others between Day 6-10.

A "close contact" is defined as someone who shared the same indoor airspace (e.g., small classrooms, labs, office) with a person diagnosed with Covid-19 for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (does not have to be consecutive).

Per public health guidelines, indivduals who have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 and do not have symptoms are only recommended to test (within 5 days) if they are at higher risk of severe disease OR if they have contact with people who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Masking is recommended when around those at a higher risk for 10 days.

Testing is available on campus via the surveillance testing program.

Note: Day 0 is the last day of your last contact/exposure with the confirmed case and Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.

All individuals experiencing possible symptoms of Covid-19, regardless of vaccination status or previous history of infection, should stay home and minimize contact with others and test for Covid-19. You may call Student Wellness Services at (626) 395-6393 to schedule an appointment to get a Covid-19 PCR test. Please notify your supervisor of any absences from work due to illness. Reporting symptoms to CMT via the Covid-19 reporting app is no longer required.

If your test results are positive, you will be instructed to isolate and provided with isolation guidelines. If your test results are negative, it is strongly recommended that you wear a well-fitted (N95, KN95) mask until symptoms resolve.

Symptoms of Covid-19

• Fever or Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting

All Caltech employees including Postdocs, regardless of vaccination status, history of previous infection or lack of symptoms, must isolate and report to CMT via the Covid-19 Reporting Application.

The minimum isolation is 5 full days from either the onset of symptoms or positive test date, whichever date comes first. (Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or positive test, Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms or positive test). Your isolation release date will be indicated in your isolation guidelines.

Isolation may end after Day 5 (i.e., between Day 6-10) if both of the following criteria are met:

• You have had no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicines). AND
• Other symptoms are not present or symptoms are mild and overall improving.

**A negative Covid-19 test is no longer required to leave isolation.

Daily wellness surveys will be sent to you, these are optional if you would like to inform CMT about your health status.

On Day 5, CMT will send you an official isolation release with additional guidance.

After your release, it is required that you continue to wear a well-fitted (N95, KN95) mask around others between Day 6-10.