COVID Response Team

The COVID Response Team (CRT) works to keep our campus community safe from COVID-19. The CRT is the first stop for reporting a positive test result and is responsible for determining quarantine and isolation.

Call the COVID Response Team at 330-672-2525 if you need to: 

  • Report a positive COVID-19 test.
  • Ask a question about COVID-19 testing or vaccination.
  • The CRT is available by phone and email (covid@kent.edu) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn More About Testing Options Access the Coronavirus Dashboard

 

Guidelines for Individuals with COVID-19 Symptoms

What should you do if you have COVID-19 symptoms?

If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately and/or call 911 and:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask if you have to be around others.
  • Quarantine in your current residence except to get medical care.
  • Call your doctor immediately in advance to let them know you have COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Notify the KSU COVID Response Team by calling 330-672-2525.
  • Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information.

Guidelines for Individuals Who Are COVID-19 Positive

What should you do if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and you live off campus?

If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately and/or call 911 and:

What is isolation?

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.

In Ohio, isolation orders are issued by local public health departments to control the spread of communicable diseases.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for isolation

Watch experts from Kent State University’s College of Public Health answer your COVID-19 questions.

Steps to take when isolating

  • Stay in your current residence except to get medical care.
  • Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
  • Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
  • Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
  • Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
  • Don’t share personal household items like cups, towels and utensils.
  • Wear a well-fitting face covering when around other people.

Who should isolate and for how long?

When you can be around others (end home isolation) depends on different factors for different situations. If you have questions or need additional information, contact your local health department or medical provider.

Find the CDC’s recommendations for your situation below.

I THINK OR KNOW I HAD COVID-19, AND I HAD SYMPTOMS 

You can be with others after:

  • At least five days have passed since symptoms first appeared and
  • At least 24 hours have passed with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
  • Symptoms have improved
  • Wear a mask through day 10

I TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 BUT HAD NO SYMPTOMS

If you continue to have no symptoms, you can be with others after:

  • Five days have passed since testing.
  • If you had no symptoms and test negative:
    • You may end isolation after day 5
    • Wear a mask through day 10

I HAVE A WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM

  • People with conditions that weaken their immune system might need to stay home longer than 10 days. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information. If you have questions or need additional information contact your local health department or medical provider.
Residence hall residents: Isolation questions and answers

If I live in the residence halls, can I isolate in my room?

The university has allocated space on campus for students living in the residence halls to safely isolate if they are diagnosed with COVID-19. A student will be temporarily moved to an isolation room and may return to their assigned room at the end of isolation. 

During isolation the university will provide linens and food. The university will coordinate this with you. The local health department will provide case management and coordinate with the COVID Response Team and the DeWeese Health Center.

Isolation Guidance

  • From Day 1 to Day 5, you are not permitted to leave your isolation room. Linens and food will be provided to you.
  • On Day 6, get tested.
    • If you had no symptoms and test negative:
      • You may end isolation 
      • Wear a mask through day 10
    • If you had symptoms:
      • You may end isolation if:
        • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
        • Your symptoms are improving
      • If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.
      • Wear a mask through day 10.
  • Reminder:  in all cases, wear a mask through day 10.

Can I still receive mail and packages?

Mail will be held at area desks for students. Mail will not be delivered to quarantine or isolation dorms.

If I live in the residence halls, can I go home to isolate?

Yes, unless there is an objection from the local or state health departments, a student may return to their home to isolate. Before returning to campus, contact the COVID Response Team at 330-672-2525.

Notifications & Impact

Who must report to the COVID Response Team?

The university requests that all students, staff and faculty on all campuses report to the COVID Response Team by calling 330-672-2525 for any of the reasons below:

  • Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is being tested due to symptoms suggestive of the infection.
  • Anyone living on campus in University Housing and having symptoms consistent with COVID-19, including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of smell or taste, fatigue, muscle or body aches, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Anyone returning from international travel, regardless of country.
  • Travel can increase your chance of getting or spreading COVID-19. Anyone traveling should carefully review the continuously updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance regarding travel.  The CDC’s travel website offers detailed information about airline travel, both foreign and domestic, and other travel.
  • Anyone returning from travel by cruise ship.
  • Additionally, supervisors should report to the COVID Response Team should an:
    • Employee report COVID-19 symptoms.
    • Employee report they are COVID-19 positive.

The information will be kept confidential in accordance and consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements.

The information will be stored in an information system managed by University Health Services and the Division of IT.

Colleagues who test positive for COVID-19 in my work area: How should I expect that to impact me and/or my workspace? 

if an Employee Tests Positive

When an employee in a department tests positive for COVID-19, that individual must contact the Covid Response Team.

  •  Anyone who is COVID-19 positive must isolate for a minimum of five days from the first day of symptoms. Thereafter:
    • If you had no symptoms:
      • You may end isolation after day 5
      • Wear a mask through day 10
    • If you had symptoms:
      • You may end isolation after day 5 if:
      • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
      • Your symptoms are improving
      • Wear a mask through day 10
      • If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve
    • Reminder: in all cases, wear a mask through day 10.
  • The employee should inform their supervisor of the required isolation and when they are expected to return. 
  • If an employee is ill and cannot work, they must use sick leave for their absence during isolation. 

Isolation

As a general rule, if the employee is able to work effectively from home during isolation, they should be allowed to do so. 

  • Employees in this circumstance should discuss their options with their supervisor and all cases should be reviewed on an individual basis.
  • If the employee cannot work effectively from home due to the nature of their job, they must use sick leave for this absence

Quarantine

As a general rule, employees are no longer required to quarantine regardless of vaccination status but should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days and monitor for symptoms.

 

 

What should I do if I know I am a close contact of a COVID-19 case?

Testing Guidelines

How do I get a COVID-19 test?
Do I have to be sick to get a test?

The DeWeese Health Center will provide testing to patients who have COVID-19 symptoms, are high risk and of part of cohort that has requested testing as long as we have testing supplies. Call to schedule a visit. NO WALK IN APPOINTMENTS!

Part of Kent State’s strategy to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to make testing available so that individuals who have the virus can learn their status and isolate to prevent them from spreading the virus to others. Widespread testing is available for individuals to learn their status. 

  Find out about COVID-19 Testing Options

What should I do while I wait for my test results?

Before and after testing, you should be wearing a well-fitted mask to minimize the spread of the virus if you are positive.

International Travel

International travel: Questions and answers

Anyone involved in international travel should follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for international travel. We are asking those that are traveling internationally to follow current CDC guidance. 

Access the current CDC guidance.

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