Reporting COVID-19 cases, symptoms or exposures at NIC
The following process for self-reporting to Rapid-Trace* applies to all NIC students and employees who:
- have tested positive for COVID-19
- been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or
- who have symptoms of COVID-19.
When placing calls to Rapid-Trace during high call times, you may receive a recorded message. Please leave a voice message with your contact information and someone from Rapid Trace will get back to you as soon as possible.
- Rapid-Trace will assist with information to navigate effective isolation and quarantine, confidentially notify NIC on your behalf, provide information and resources in the local area, and confidentially notify anyone else who may have been exposed.
- Students and employees who test positive will be asked to identify all areas where they were physically present within three days prior to the onset of symptoms.
Latest CDC guidelines for Quarantine and Isolation
QUARANTINE
If you were exposed: Quarantine and stay away from others when you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19
ISOLATE
If you are sick or test positive: Isolate when you are sick or when you have COVID-19, even if you don't have symptoms
WHEN TO STAY HOME per the CDC
If you test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status:
- Stay home for 5 days and isolate from others in your home
- If you had symptoms, end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving
- If you did not have symptoms, end isolation in 5 full days after your positive test.
If you were exposed to COVID-19 and ARE NOT up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations:
- Stay home and quarantine for at least 5 days
- Get tested. Even if you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19
- Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19
- If you develop symptoms: Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results.
- Wear a mask for 10 full days any time you are around others
- Avoid travel and avoid being around people who are at high risk of developing serious illness with COVID 19
If you were exposed to COVID-19 and ARE up to date on vaccinations COVID-19 vaccinations:
- You do not need to quarantine unless you develop symptoms
- Get tested. Even if you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19
- Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you had close contact with a person with COVID-19
- If you develop symptoms: Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results
- Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others
- Avoid travel and avoid being around people at high risk of developing serious illness with COVID-19
If you were exposed to COVID-19 and had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days (you tested positive):
- You do not need to quarantine unless you develop symptoms
- Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you had close contact with a person with COVID-19
- If you develop symptoms: Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results
- Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others
- Avoid travel and avoid being around people at high risk of developing serious illness with COVID-19
Source
COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation - CDC
More info
Why CDC Shortened Isolation and Quarantine for the General Population
Note
Per the CDC, their recommendations for shortened quarantine and isolation times do not apply to the following groups:
- Children < 2 years of age, or other individuals who are unable to wear a mask.
- People who cannot wear a mask, including children < 2 years of age and people of any age with certain disabilities, should isolate (if infected) and quarantine (if exposed) for 10 days.
- People who have moderate or severe illness
People who have moderate COVID-19 illness should isolate for 10 days.
People with severe COVID-19 illness (e.g., requiring hospitalization, intensive care, or ventilation support) should isolate for at least 10 days and may need to isolate longer after symptom onset. They should consult with their healthcare provider to determine the appropriate duration of isolation.
People who are immunocompromised
This guidance is not intended for people who are immunocompromised who might have a longer infectious period. For guidance on moderately or severely immunocompromised people with COVID-19 in non-healthcare settings, please see Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19: Interim Guidance (cdc.gov).
Updated Jan. 13, 2022
Academic Expectations for Students
Students will need to communicate with professors directly to establish a plan for keeping pace with course material and submission of assignments during the quarantine period.
As with any absence from class, students are responsible for contacting all of their professors to make arrangements for keeping pace in courses. The same holds for students who have to quarantine.
Students with additional questions should email StudentHealth@nic.edu.
Employees with questions should email EmployeeHealth@nic.edu.
Health Professions students in need of more information should email hpnstudentcovidreporting@nic.edu.
Learn more about what do if you are sick and about notifying people you have been in close contact with.
What is Close Contact?
Close contacts are someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes.
Mask wearing does not factor into close contact, but does reduce the risk of transmission.
Daily Health Self-Check
To prevent the spread of illness and to reduce the risk of exposure to the NIC campus community, students and employees are asked to monitor their own health on a daily basis before coming to campus and to self-report COVID-19 symptoms, possible exposures and positive tests to Rapid Trace at (813) 699-3551.People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.
The CDC offers an online Self-Checker to help you assess your health.
People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- 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
If you have any of the symptoms listed above:
- Do not attend in-person classes or come to campus
- Report your symptoms to Rapid Trace at (813) 699-3551
* Many authorities use either 100 (37.8 degrees Celsius) or 100.4 F (38.0 degrees Celsius) as a cut-off for fever, but this number actually can range depending on factors such as the method of measurement and the age of the person, so other values for fever could be appropriate. CDC has public health recommendations that are based on the presence (or absence) of fever. What is meant by this is that the person’s temperature is not elevated beyond their norm.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If you or someone you know show any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- Confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
If it’s an emergency medical situation, don’t hesitate. Call 911 and notify the operator that you are seeking care for yourself or someone who has or may have COVID-19 with emergency warning symptoms.
Student Privacy
In all instances, and as per the CDC Confidentiality and Consent Guidelines, North Idaho College will work to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of those students who report possible exposure or test results for COVID-19 and those who may be part of any contact tracing efforts.Definitions
Physical Distancing - Keeping at least 6 feet of space between yourself and others (indoors and outdoors). Physical distancing does not replace the need to wear cloth face coverings, practice good hygiene behavior, or good cleaning and disinfecting protocols.Self-Isolation - Separation and restricting movement of COVID-19 positive individuals, those who may have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual or those who are exhibiting symptoms.
Contact Tracing - An effective disease control strategy that helps interrupt disease transmission. Contact tracing involves working with an individual who has confirmed COVID-19 and the close contacts of that individual. Close contacts may need to self-isolate if there is concern of exposure. The privacy and confidentiality rights of a confirmed case and close contacts will be maintained at all times.
*About Rapid-Trace
To help limit the spread of COVID-19 on our campus and ensure the safety of our community, North Idaho College has partnered with Rapid-Trace, an independent company dedicated to tracing and contacting individuals who have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19.
Rapid-Trace contact tracers work collaboratively with NIC’s Student Monitoring and Support Team and Office of Human Resources to notify students and employees who are determined to have had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Names will not be shared and any personal information will be kept private. Your participation in this process will greatly reduce the spread of COVID-19, keep our campus community healthy and safe, and allow us to continue face-to-face instruction.
NIC continues to follow local, state, and federal guidelines for contact tracing and notifying individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 positive students, faculty, and staff.