Sterling College

STUDENT CAMPUS PROTOCOL

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus from spreading it to others.
Isolation separates people who are infected with the virus away from people who are not infected.

Guidance provided by CDC, KDHE, and the Rice County Health Department.

VACCINE STATUS

Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.

Fully vaccinated means a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.

QUARANTINE RELATED TO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

The State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) may require any person traveling to Kansas from a KDHE Travel and Exposure location to quarantine. For details, please review the quarantine details document. Please note this list is periodically updated. This mandate applies to students and anyone traveling with students to help them move back to campus.

QUARANTINE RELATED TO POTENTIAL COVID-19 EXPOSURE

Any student who has had a close direct contact (you are considered a close contact if you have been within 6 feet of someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 for 10 minutes or more) with a COVID-19 positive case will be required to quarantine. Sterling College follows quarantine guidelines approved by the Rice County. Quarantined students must wear a mask around other people for 10 days following the exposure. If any symptoms develop, the student must isolate and notify the campus nurse or their athletic trainer.

ISOLATION

COVID-19 Symptomatic Students Waiting for COVID-19 Test

If students have a fever and/or other symptoms related to infection of COVID- 19 and a medical professional has recommended a COVID-19 test:

On-Campus Student: will isolate in a designated isolation room while waiting for his/her COVID-19 test result.
Off-Campus Student: will isolate at their off-campus home while waiting for his/her COVID-19 test result.

Upon a positive COVID-19 test the student will isolate based upon their current housing. See the protocols “COVID-19 Positive Students Protocol” below. Should a student refuse testing, the student will be considered a positive case and will follow the “COVID-19 Positive Students Protocol” below.

Upon a negative COVID-19 test verifying the symptoms are not COVID-19 related, the student may return to campus and residence hall upon submitting the test results to the Office of Student Life.

COVID-19 Positive Students Protocol

Students who test positive with COVID-19 with or without symptoms must isolate immediately. The student must call the SC nurse by email (nurse@sterling.edu) or phone (620-278-4505).

The student will need to isolate based upon their current housing:

If the student lives in the residence halls, the isolation will be at designated on-campus housing isolation rooms. (McCreery East for females and Campbell Basement for males)
- On-campus isolation options may be available
- Students may be offered an off-campus hotel room
- Students who are able to travel home will be allowed to isolate off-campus
  - For students on the campus meal plan, student life will coordinate modified dining services or meal delivery as needed.
  - A team of designated staff members will be appropriately trained and on call to assist students with their personal needs (medication pickup, delivery of hygiene supplies, etc.)
  - Contact Resident Education Directors (RED’s) or the Campus Nurse for assistance
  - Transportation is made available to and from the location if medical care is needed
  - Custodial, maintenance and residence life staff are provided with and required to wear appropriate PPE (as per CDC guidelines) when cleaning or entering isolation and quarantine spaces
If the student lives off-campus, the student will need to follow local health department guidelines for isolation.
- The student will need to coordinate with the Office of Student Life.
Should a student refuse to follow isolation orders, the student will be asked to leave campus as the failure to follow isolation and quarantine guidelines may put the health and safety of the campus community at increased risk for the spread of COVID-19.

RECOVERED STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS PROTOCOL

Recovered students will be allowed to return to campus following KDHE Guidelines. The return to campus protocol will be decided based upon the KDHE Release from Isolation and Quarantine.

Symptomatic students with a positive COVID-19 test:

According to the KDHE, Rice County Health Department and Sterling College, a student may leave isolation and return to campus after:

5 days of isolation from the onset of symptoms AND
No fever on day 6 without fever reducing medicine AND
Symptoms are resolving.
Students must wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days after leaving isolation

The student is required to contact the Office of Student Life confirming the above criteria has been met prior to returning to campus and residential living.

EMPLOYEE RETURN TO CAMPUS PROTOCOL

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.
Isolation separates people who are infected with the virus away from people who are not infected.

Guidance provided by CDC and KDHE

QUARANTINE RELATED TO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

CONTACT DIRECT SUPERVISOR IF:

The employee has traveled to any of the KDHE banned travel locations.
The employee is planning on any travels prior to the start of a semester.
The employee has any travel plans during an academic semester.

QUARANTINE RELATED TO POTENTIAL COVID-19 EXPOSURE

Any employee who has had a close direct contact with a COVID-19 positive person will be required to follow the local county and state guidelines related to quarantine.

A close contact is defined by the KDHE as contact with a COVID-19 positive person:

You are considered a close contact if you yourself have directly been within 6 feet of someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 for 10 minutes or more.

The employee’s direct supervisor must be notified of the exposure and the need to quarantine. The supervisor will notify the COVID-19 Task Force.

ISOLATION

COVID-19 Symptomatic EMPLOYEE Waiting for COVID-19 Test

If an employee has a fever and/or other symptoms related to infection by the COVID-19 and a medical professional has recommended a COVID-19 test:

The employee will isolate until the test results are read.

Upon receiving a negative COVID-19 test verifying the symptoms are not COVID-19 related, the employee may return to campus upon submitting the test results and physician’s release to their direct supervisor.

COVID-19 Positive EMPLOYEE Protocol
An employee who tests positive with COVID-19 with or without symptoms must isolate immediately. The employee’s direct supervisor must be notified of the exposure and the need to quarantine. The supervisor will notify the COVID-19 Task Force.

RECOVERED EMPLOYEES RETURN TO CAMPUS PROTOCOL

A recovered employee will be allowed to return to campus following KDHE Guidelines. The return to campus protocol will be decided based upon the KDHE Release from Isolation and Quarantine.