COVID-19 Resources

For Spring 2023, Trocaire College continues requiring that all students, employees and on-site vendors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The following information concerning COVID-19 and college protocols is current and provides guidance for those experiencing possible symptoms of COVID-19, those who have tested positive for COVID-19, or those who have been exposed to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Updates

January 13, 2023

What Should You Do if You Have Symptoms of COVID-19?

If you have symptoms that might be COVID-19, please follow the steps below.

(If you are unsure of which symptoms might be COVID-19, please refer to this web site:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html)

• Isolate yourself from others, stay at home.
• Wear a mask when around others.
• Get tested for COVID-19.

What is Isolation?

Isolation refers to staying at home, staying away from others during periods that you may be infectious with COVID-19.

• Isolate from others if
  • You are sick and suspect you have COVID-19.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19.

• End Isolation:
  • If you have symptoms and they are improving or you are fever free for 24 hours without medication, end isolation after 5 full days past the date of onset.  If symptoms are not improving, continue to isolate.
  • If no symptoms, end after 5 full days past the date of onset.
  • Counting days:  Date of onset (symptoms or positive test) = Day 0
    • Isolate from Day 0 through and including Days 1 to 5.
    • Return to class or work – on Day 6.
    • Example:  Date of onset = 9/22; end isolation on 9/28.

What is Testing for COVID?

Testing refers to obtaining a medical diagnostic test to determine if you have active COVID-19 Disease.

Types of Tests

• Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). 
  • NAATs, such as PCR-based tests, are most often performed in a laboratory. They are typically the most reliable tests for people with or without symptoms. These tests detect viral genetic material, which may stay in your body for up to 90 days after you test positive. Therefore, you should not use a NAAT if you have tested positive in the last 90 days.
• Antigen, such as many home rapid tests
  • Antigen tests are rapid tests which produce results in 15-30 minutes. They are less reliable than NAATs, especially for people who do not have symptoms. A single, negative antigen test result does not rule out infection.  To best detect infection, a negative antigen test should be repeated at least 48 hours apart (known as serial testing). Sometimes a follow-up NAAT may be recommended to confirm an antigen test result.

Interpreting Test Results

• Positive:  Any positive test (PCR or Antigen) means virus was detected and you have an infection.
  • Isolate as noted above

• Negative: NAAT.  If PCR (NAAT) test is negative, this means the test did not detect the virus, but this doesn’t rule out that you could have an infection
  • If you do not have symptoms and you have not been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, you may return to normal activities.
  • If you have symptoms, you may have COVID-19, but tested before the virus was detectable, or you may have another illness.  Seek healthcare provider for follow-up as appropriate.

• Negative: Antigen.  If Antigen (rapid) test is negative, you should test again since Antigen tests have known ‘false negative’ rates.’
  • If you have symptoms, and test negative on the first antigen test, you should continue to isolate and test again 48 hours after the first negative test.

Exposure to COVID-19

• After Being Exposed to COVID-19 (within 6 feet for 10 – 15 minutes or more to an individual with current documented COVID infection):
  • Start Precautions – Immediately
    • Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed
    • Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
    • Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
    • Continue Precautions for 10 Full Days
  • Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure
    • Test even if you don’t develop symptoms.
  • If you develop symptoms or test positive, follow guidance provided above.

COVID-Related Absence

• Students who are ill with, have symptoms of, or have tested positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate and stay out of class and clinicals.  Such absences will be excused though all work must be made up.  To ensure that students are provided with an excused absence, students should be in touch with Dr. Richard Linn (contact information below) and their faculty members and will need to provide documentation of their illness or test results.

• Employees who are ill with, have symptoms of, or have tested positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate and stay out of work.  The college provides COVID-19 sick days for qualified employees which must be reported but, up to a limit, are not charged against the employee’s normal allotment of VSP time.  Employees staying out of work due to COVID-19 related illness should be in touch with Dr. Richard Linn and their immediate supervisor and will need to provide documentation of their illness or test results.

Reporting COVID-Related Absence

• All employees and students should report COVID-19 illness to:
  • Dr. Richard Linn; linnr@trocaire.edu

and

• Students – report to their program director and faculty
• Employees – report to their immediate supervisor