University updates COVID-19 protocols

Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley shared the following message with the university community on Tuesday, March 12, following changes in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. 

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Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

You may be aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance for respiratory viruses including its COVID-19 isolation protocols, responding to the changing threat of COVID-19. Over the course of the past four years, Elon has maintained our commitment to remain adaptive and responsive as conditions evolve. The Infectious Disease Response Team has reviewed the CDC guidance and continues to work with local and state health officials to update university protocols as appropriate.

Elon’s Campus Health Status & Alerts webpage has been updated to reflect a number of shifts in the university response to COVID-19:

• Under the new CDC guidance, extended isolation following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis is no longer required, however the University recommends following the CDC guidance that anyone who becomes sick with a respiratory virus, including COVID-19, remain at home until 24 hours after: 1) your symptoms are getting better overall; and 2) you have not had a fever and are not using fever-reducing medication. Read the complete CDC guidance for more about protecting yourself and others if you get sick.
• In keeping with the CDC’s recommendations, the university will not require an extended period isolation following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
• Continue recommended mitigation strategies to prevent the spread of viruses. Students, faculty and staff should follow measures to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses on campus. The university continues to encourage members of the university community to follow CDC guidance for staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination.
• Symptomatic testing for respiratory viruses will continue to be available on campus. Diagnostic testing for those with symptoms will continue to be available at Student Health Services and the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic as part of regular appointments for those seeking evaluation for illness.
• Sick Leave and Continuity of Work/Instruction policies are available on the Human Resources website. Staff may access available sick leave as indicated in the Staff Manual and the continuity of work policies online. Since the CDC is no longer requiring isolation following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, the application of these policies may be affected.

This information is available on the Campus Health Status & Alerts page of the HealthEU website. The site includes additional information about prevention strategies (masking, testing, vaccines), what to do if you feel sick, and absence policies.

Elon will remain adaptive and responsive as conditions evolve. The university’s Infectious Disease Response Team meets regularly, monitoring campus conditions and working closely with local and state health officials to offer recommendations, as needed, to support the university community.

Thanks for your continued commitment to a healthy community for learning, living, and working!

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Jon Dooley, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life