Isolation and Quarantine

Updated February 25, 2021

An important strategy for reducing transmission of the virus is to identify those with infections and instruct them to isolate while they are infectious. It is also important to identify close contacts of infected individuals and instruct them to quarantine during the time when they might contract the virus as a result of their close exposure.

Isolation

Students
Students who test positive through the university testing program will be referred for contact tracing and will be required to isolate in designated on-campus rooms or in their off-campus residences until released by Yale Health. Medical monitoring and advice will be provided by Yale Health during isolation.

Faculty, Staff, and Trainees
Faculty, staff, and post-doctoral trainees who test positive will be asked to isolate at home for at least 10 days and until a health care provider informs them it is safe to return to campus.

What to Do While Isolating

Quarantine

Students, faculty, staff, and trainees are required to quarantine in their residence for 10 days in the following two circumstances:

  • They have been in close contact—within six feet of distance for more than 15 minutes—with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. There is one exception to this quarantine requirement:
    • People who have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria:
      • Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥ two weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥ two weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
      • Are within three months following receipt of the last dose in the series
      • Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure
  • They are returning from international travel or an affected state and must also follow the university’s travel guidelines. Please note that travel quarantine is still required for people who have been fully vaccinated.

What to Do During Quarantine