COVID-19 Symptoms
People with COVID-19 may have a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Students with any of these symptoms may have COVID-19 and should be tested to prevent the spread on campus:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Contact Tracing
If anyone in the Carroll community is identified as having been exposed to COVID-19 through contact tracing, they will be referred for testing by the Waukesha County Department of Public Health or their health provider.
- Contact tracing is a core disease control activity, which begins with those who have tested positive of COVID-19.
- The student will receive a call from Waukesha County Department of Public Health or someone from the University’s COVID-19 Response Team. The student will identify persons who have had direct exposure to them during the period of transmission, which begins two days before the onset of symptoms.
- Contacts will then be notified of their possible exposure, advised to quarantine, monitor for symptoms, and then tested for infection. The name of the COVID-19-positive student will not be revealed to those whom they may have exposed. Any information the student shares with the contact tracer, personal or medical, is kept confidential.
- Carroll strongly encourages students to “Answer the Call to Slow the Spread.” Carroll will be kept safer by cooperating with contact tracing.
Isolation
Isolation is required if a student tests positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms and is awaiting test results. Students who are living in Carroll housing should plan to go home to isolate when it is safe to do so. A student can be released from isolation when criteria outlined by the CDC are met.
Quarantine
Quarantine is required if a student is a close contact of a person that has been tested positive for COVID-19. Student’s living in Carroll housing should plan to go home to quarantine when it is safe to do so. A student will be released from quarantine when the criteria outlined by the CDC are met.
Quarantine is required if a student is a close contact of a person that has tested positive for COVID-19. Student’s living in Carroll housing should plan to go home to quarantine when it is safe to do so. A student will be released from quarantine when the criteria outlined by the CDC and Waukesha County Public Health Department are met.
The CDC and Waukesha County Public Health Department currently follow the guidelines below, which can also be found on the CDC and Waukesha County Public Health Department websites:
The CDC currently recommends a quarantine period of 14 days. However, based on local circumstances and resources, the following options to shorten quarantine are acceptable alternatives:
- Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
- When diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available, then quarantine can end after Day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. The specimen may be collected and tested within 48 hours before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation (e.g., in anticipation of testing delays), but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7.
Carroll University will utilize the current CDC and Waukesha County Public Health quarantine guidelines. Students must meet all requirements set by Carroll University, including appropriate symptom monitoring and submission of proof and appropriate testing, to be cleared for a shortened quarantine period. Carroll University officials will decide, confirm, and approve all quarantine timelines of students. Failure to meet Carroll University’s requirements can result in a student not having a shortened quarantine timeline.
Quarantine and Isolation Living Arrangements
- Students who live on campus and are expected to quarantine or isolate will be given the option to complete their quarantine or isolation period at home or at a hotel provided by Carroll University. We recommend students think about these options prior to returning to campus so they are prepared to decide if they are asked to quarantine or isolate during the spring semester.
- Commuter students will need to quarantine or isolate at their off-campus residence.
*Close Contact
An individual will be considered to have had close contact if meeting any of the following criteria:
- Direct physical contact with a person (e.g. hug, kiss, handshake, high-five).
- Being within six (6) feet of a person(s) who has tested positively for more than 15 minutes.
- Direct contact with any respiratory secretions (e.g. coughed/sneezed on, contact with dirty tissue, sharing a drinking source, food, towel or other personal items).
- An overnight stay for at least one night in a household with the person(s).
Face Masks / Coverings
Face coverings/masks must be worn in campus owned and/or operated buildings, houses, and in public outdoor settings where other physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Face coverings/Masks are strongly encouraged when practicing physical distancing. Students are encouraged to plan and bring a set of masks with them for use. To assist, students will receive a free Carroll University branded mask upon arrival to campus.
Daily Health Checks
We are asking all students, faculty and staff to perform daily self-checks on symptoms related to COVID-19. All Carroll community are encouraged to take personal responsibility when exhibiting symptoms.
Social Distancing
The Carroll community will maintain a minimum of 6 feet separation when in contact with others for longer than 10 minutes, regardless of face mask/covering. This includes both indoor and outside spaces.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Carroll has placed 150 hand sanitizing stations across campus along with sanitary wipe stations in all classroom and resident hall buildings. We have enhanced our cleaning procedures by utilizing EPA and CDC approved supplies and protocols for COVID-19 sanitation. Additionally, facilities staff has had increased education of proper sanitation techniques and safety precautions. The university has also updated heating and ventilation systems to improve air quality.
Shuttle Service
Public Safety passengers are required to wear a face covering when using the shuttle. The shuttle will only allow for 3 students. The shuttle will be cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis.
Dining Services
We are following all federal, state and local guidelines and recommendations, including daily wellness checks and PPE for all associates, ongoing cleaning and sanitizing, and daily disinfecting in all areas. All food will be pre-packaged or served by associates. Seating in all dining areas will be reduced to maintain physical distancing.
Testing Services
During the academic year, students with any COVID-19 symptoms will be asked by the University to get tested. When ill, students should stay home except to get medical care. Students should not go to class, work, athletics, dining facilities, or participate in any other activities if they have symptoms or have tested positive. Avoid using public transportation or ride sharing.
Students can call the Health Center at 262.524.7233 to make an appointment for evaluation and testing. Students may also go to their health provider or other local clinic to get tested and should report positive results as outlined below.
Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 must text 262.218.2379 or covid19report@carrollu.edu to report their positive test.
If your questions are not answered here, please visit https://my.carrollu.edu/ICS/Departments/Health_Services/
General Questions
Who needs to report a positive COVID-19 test?
Everyone working, living, learning or otherwise spending time on campus are required to notify the contact-tracing team if they are diagnosed with COVID-19. Please submit test results to covid19report@carrollu.edu.
What is considered a close contact?
A close contact is someone who has been:
- Within 6 feet of an infected person for 15 minutes or more.
- Living in the same household or a roommate of a positive case.
- In direct contact with infectious secretions of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, sharing utensils, kissing, etc.) during the infectious period.
What is the timeframe for the infectious period?
From 48 hours before symptoms developed to 10 days after symptoms began.
What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?
According to the CDC:
- Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
- Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
What happens if a student is diagnosed with COVID-19?
Once a case is confirmed, the university will act promptly to limit virus spread. Carroll will conduct on-campus contact tracing and use information gathered to monitor potential outbreaks and assess cleaning needs. This information will also be shared with Waukesha County Public Health to assist their disease investigators.
Carroll will not divulge the name of the student who is positive, but will reach out to their close contacts and recommend (not require) they be tested.
Students who test positive for COVID-19 need to stay in isolation for at least 10 days from their test date if they do not have symptoms. If the student has symptoms, they need to stay in isolation for 10 days from symptom onset, be fever-free without fever medications for 24 hours, and their symptoms must have improved. Carroll will ask residential students to go home to isolate; however, if they are unable to do that, they will be moved to off-campus housing.
When a person reports they have COVID-19, they will be asked to share information relevant to contact tracing and university cleaning needs, such as:
- Date they first experienced symptoms
- Testing date and location
- Date test results were received
- Last day they were on campus
- Identities of Carroll students and employees with whom they have had close contact
Symptoms
Learn about symptoms of coronavirus at cdc.gov.
What do I do if I have symptoms of COVID-19?
Students with any COVID-19 symptoms should stay home except to get medical care. Do not go to class, work, athletics, dining facilities or other activities. Avoid public transportation or ride-sharing. If you feel worse or you think it is an emergency, seek medical care immediately.
- Students with any of the COVID-19 symptoms above should call their primary provider or one of the numbers below to schedule an appointment for evaluation and COVID-19 testing.
- Students with symptoms will need to isolate until their test results are back. Do not go to in-person classes or activities. If you live on campus, notify covid19report@carrollu.edu that you were tested and need to be in isolation until your test results are back.
Testing
Can I get tested at the Student Health Center?
The Student Health Center is currently testing patients who have COVID-19 symptoms and students who have been exposed. Testing is Monday through Thursday, 2-5 p.m. and Friday, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Call 262.524.7233 to schedule an appointment.
How much is a test in Student Health Center?
The center will bill your insurance; if you do not have insurance or wish to pay, $95 will be charged to your student account.
Additional Off-Campus Testing Locations*
Check these websites for details about testing.
ProHealth Care Medical Group - Waukesha Urgent Care*
2130 Big Bend Road (Hwy 59 & 164), Waukesha, WI 53189
262.513.7555
*When going to off-campus for COVID-19 testing, students should provide their local Waukesha address rather than their permanent address on clinic/testing forms. This will allow notifications to go directly to Waukesha Public Health and prevent delays in contact tracing.
Is testing painful?
The procedure uses swabbing the inside of the nose, which may cause watery eyes or some minor response. However, you shouldn’t experience a cough reflex or gagging.
Where do I submit my results?
Send COVID-19 test results to covid19report@carrollu.edu.
What if I get my results over the phone?
We will accept your voice message results. Please go to covid-19info@carrollu.edu and enter your result and note it was by phone.
What if I have had COVID-19?
Retesting is NOT recommended within three months after the date of symptom onset (or date of test in asymptomatic persons) for the initial COVID-19 infection. Students need to report positive test results to covid19report@carrollu.edu.
Does Carroll require any additional testing now that classes are in session?
At this time there are no further testing requirements; however, this is subject to change.
How long should a student wait to get tested after exposure to a direct contact?
You should immediately quarantine, but wait for at least five days after direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 before you yourself are tested. However, if you develop COVID-19 symptoms during quarantine, schedule testing right away.
Will students need to test again after winter break?
This will depend on the pandemic and the status of our virus numbers in Carroll and the surrounding community.
Isolation
What if I test positive but have no symptoms?
Please isolate at home for 10 days unless you present with symptoms. If you develop symptoms, you will need to stay in isolation until 10 days after symptom onset, be fever-free without fever reducing medications for 24 hours, and symptoms must have improved. Once these three criteria are met, then you can return to campus. There is no need to test again after your isolation.
Where do I go to isolate?
If possible, we ask you to isolate at your permanent residence. If you cannot, Carroll has secured off-campus housing where residential students will be asked to stay. Meals will be delivered to you by Public Safety. Be sure to get information about how to order meals before you isolate/quarantine.
If my isolation period is scheduled to end before my roommates’ quarantine period, can I return to our suite or apartment?
No. All members of the suite or apartment must be done with quarantine and isolation before rooming together again.
If a student has to isolate at Carroll, will Health Services be checking on them? Will this be an additional cost?
The Student Health Center will be remotely checking in with students in isolation at no extra charge.
Quarantine
Where does a student stay while awaiting test results if they have no symptoms?
On-campus students who have no symptoms but are a close contact of someone who tested positive will be asked to quarantine.
Can I quarantine in a traditional residence hall?
No, this is not possible in a traditional residence hall. You will be asked to quarantine at your permanent residence or asked to stay at an off-campus site during quarantine. Meals will be delivered to you by Public Safety. Be sure to get information about how to order meals before you isolate/quarantine.
Can I quarantine in a suite or apartment if I have my own bedroom?
Students may be able to choose to quarantine in a suite if all suitemates have had the same exposure and date of exposure. Students with different exposure risk and dates than their suitemates will be asked to quarantine at home or in off-campus housing. Meals will be delivered to you by Public Safety. Be sure to get information about how to order meals before you isolate/quarantine.
If a student has been tested and is waiting for their results, should their close contacts be quarantined? Or should close contacts quarantine only if the test result is positive?
Out of an abundance of caution, close contacts could quarantine, but it isn’t required. If the close contact shows symptoms while waiting for test results, quarantining is recommended.
Contact Tracing
What happens during contact tracing?
When a student notifies the university of a confirmed case, a Carroll contact tracer will:
- Determine which students, faculty and staff at Carroll they were in close contact with two days before symptoms began/before a positive test and notify this group. The name of the person with COVID-19 and identifying details will not be used. Close contacts will be required to quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure date.
- Determine if any additional notifications are required. For example, if a campus area needs to be closed for cleaning, people who work/live in that area will be notified. Again, the name of the person with COVID-19 will not be used.
- Provide the individual and other impacted persons with information related to required isolation or quarantine. Determine what, if any, additional cleaning is required.
What information do I need to provide to the contact tracer?
When students or employees report a confirmed case, they will be asked to share information relevant to contact tracing and university cleaning needs, such as:
- Date they first experienced symptoms
- Testing date and location
- Date test results were received
- Last day they were on campus
- Identities of Carroll students and employees with whom they have had close contact
Closing Campus
Has a threshold of positive cases been determined where campus would close?
No, it will depend on the situation and if there are clusters of cases that could be contained. Carroll is working closely with Waukesha Public Health officials and keeping them continually updated.