February 2, 2021
Dear UNC Asheville Campus Community,
I understand that some of you have questions about quarantine and isolation requirements for individuals who have either tested positive for COVID or who have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms. UNC Asheville follows current CDC guidance regarding COVID-19 quarantine and isolation, which is as follows:
- Quarantine keeps someone who was in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 away from others.
- Isolation keeps someone who is sick or who tested positive for COVID-19 without symptoms away from others, even in their own home.
Local public health authorities make the final decisions about how long quarantine should last, based on local conditions and needs. If you need to quarantine, please follow the recommendations of your local public health department.
Quarantine guidance
The CDC guidance for quarantine allows for three different options:
No COVID-19 test and no symptoms:
- Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. If symptoms develop, see Isolation guidance.
Options to reduce length of quarantine:
- With a release from the Health Department or your medical provider, may return to work after 10 days, or
- Return after 7 days with a negative test result (test must occur on day 5 or later).
Isolation guidance
The CDC guidance for isolation is:
If you are sick and think or know you have tested positive for COVID-19, stay home until after:
- At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared,
- Symptoms have improved, and
- At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication.
If you tested positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms, stay home until after:
- 10 days have passed since your positive test.
Attached is an infographic from the CDC that outlines quarantine and isolation information in more detail.
When a student returns to the classroom after quarantine or isolation, they should have documentation from their health care provider. Ideally, the student should show their provider’s message to the instructor upon their return to class. If the student has no documentation, and is asking you for guidance about isolation or quarantine, please direct the student to contact the UNC Asheville Health and Counseling Center at 828.251.6520. Please note, faculty and staff are not responsible for calculating quarantine or isolation or assessing symptoms.
How to Report a Positive Diagnosis or Concern
Students, faculty or staff members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 should please complete this confidential form to notify the University. You may also use this form to report a concern about another person related to COVID-19.
For any other questions, please email covidupdates@unca.edu.
Thank you for all that you do for our campus and our community.
Heather Parlier
Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, Institutional Equity and General Counsel