Missouri S&T’s student health services team provides the following updated information to the campus community regarding COVID-19 guidance. The pandemic is reaching a new stage as vaccination, testing availability, treatments and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to evolve.

On Aug. 11, the CDC streamlined its COVID-19 guidance to help people better understand how to protect themselves and others and what actions to take if exposed to or sick with COVID-19.

• Being up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death.

Recommendations if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19: (regardless of vaccination status):

• Stay home if you are ill, tested positive or are awaiting test results.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, isolate from others for at least five days from when your symptoms started. Day No. 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started.
• You are most infectious during the first five days. Wear a high-quality mask when you must be around others you live with.
• If after five days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you may end isolation after Day No. 5.
• You should wear a high-quality mask when around others through Day 10.
• Avoid being around others who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least Day 11.

Recommendations if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (regardless of vaccination status):

• Wear a high-quality mask as soon as you find out you were exposed. You can develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after being exposed.
• Wear a mask when around others for 10 days. Day No. 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.
• Get tested five days after your last exposure, even if you do not develop symptoms. If negative, continue wearing a mask through the 10 days following the last exposure. If positive, isolate and follow the above guidance for testing positive.
• If you tested positive in the last 30 days, testing is not recommended unless you develop symptoms.
• Monitor for symptoms. Isolate immediately if symptoms develop.

Additional guidance for the S&T community:

• Students are encouraged to reach out to student health services if they are ill.
• Employees should manage their own personal health measures for COVID-19, similar to other contagious illnesses: stay home and contact your health care provider if you are ill.
• Everyone is encouraged to follow the latest guidance on the CDC website. The student health services website also contains COVID-19 guidance.