Keep Wes Safe

COVID-19 Policies

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

All faculty, staff, and students are required to be fully vaccinated and, if eligible, receive at least one booster, unless granted an approved medical or religious exemption. We will continue to evaluate whether there is a need to require additional boosters, but at this time, only one booster is required.

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all those eligible receive an updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, which targets the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. The University is strongly encouraging all those in our community to get the updated COVID-19 booster when they become eligible. Details on eligibility can be found on the FDA’s website. We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to book an appointment with your vaccine provider (pharmacy, health care provider, community clinic, etc.), as appointments become available. We will update Keep Wes Safe with the latest information.

Visitor Policy

Wesleyan expects that all visitors (contractors, vendors, and attendees at athletic events, conferences, and performances) be vaccinated and boosted. If a visitor is unvaccinated, it is expected that they will wear a mask both inside and outside when visiting campus. Please note that some events, conferences, or performances may require visitors to be fully vaccinated and boosted.

Masking Policy

While masking is optional for fully vaccinated students, faculty, and staff, masks may be required in certain situations including classes, events, and performances. Faculty, students, and staff should always carry a mask with them. We ask that you are accommodating to those who are more comfortable with everyone wearing masks during meetings. As a health care facility, masking is mandatory in Davison Health Center.

Masking is required for students, faculty, and staff who are not fully vaccinated.

Testing Policy

The University will provide rapid antigen tests for students who are symptomatic. Students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms may obtain a rapid antigen test at Davison Health Center. After hours and on weekends, students can pick up a test at Public Safety. Faculty and staff who are symptomatic should obtain tests from local pharmacies or health care providers. Use the CT Testing Locator to locate the nearest off-campus testing site. These are covered by most insurance plans.

Testing Positive

If a student tests positive for COVID-19:

• Students who test positive should immediately complete the COVID-19 Health Update form. Davison Health Center staff will reach out directly to the student if they report experiencing severe symptoms. Residential Life staff will follow up with students, as needed. In the rare instance that the student is experiencing worrisome symptoms, they will be transported to Middlesex Hospital for further care. Otherwise, they will be asked to isolate in their residence on campus and not attend class until they are cleared by health services.
  • In most situations students will isolate in their residence on campus or, if they live within driving distance, they can isolate at home.
• COVID-positive students will isolate in their residence for at least five days, beginning at the time of the positive test and/or the onset of symptoms. During the isolation period, students will be permitted to go to campus dining locations to pick up meals to eat in their residence or outdoors while social distancing. After five days, if the student receives a negative rapid test result, is feeling better, and has been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours, they may return to their normal activities, but must continue to wear a mask and not eat with others until they reach their tenth day of isolation.
• For students who are in close contact with a COVID-positive roommate, it is likely they have already been exposed to the virus, therefore will not need to relocate to another room. Those close contact students will be permitted to attend class but should wear a mask and take a test if symptoms develop.
  • If an immunocompromised student would like to be temporarily relocated during their roommate’s isolation, that student should submit an isolation request form. A limited number of rooms are available for this purpose.

If a faculty or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 they should:

• Notify Donna Brewer in Human Resources. She can be contacted at dbrewer@wesleyan.edu or 860.510.1193.
• Stay home until medically cleared and report the illness to their supervisor.
• Contact their primary care physician for medical advice.

Learn more about employee health care and leaves of absence.

Contact Tracing

Updated Contact Tracing Procedures

• The most effective method of contact tracing is personal outreach from those who test positive. If any member of our community tests positive for COVID-19, please contact all those with whom you have spent 15 minutes or longer (within six feet) over the past 48 hours.
• For those notified that they are a close contact, please follow the protocols outlined below.

If you are identified as a close contact, there are different protocols depending on your health status:

• If you are asymptomatic:
  • No need to quarantine
  • Wear a mask indoors and outdoors for 10 days
  • Get tested close to five days from the day of contact
  • If you develop symptoms, self-isolate and contact the Davison Health Center for further direction (if you are a student) or your primary care physician (if you are an employee)
• If you are currently experiencing any COVID-related symptoms such as cough, fever, congestion, or sore throat:
  • Self-isolate and contact the Davison Health Center for further direction (if you are a student) or your primary care physician (if you are an employee)

What if I Previously Had, and Recovered from, COVID-19?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that COVID-19 molecular material can persist for up to 90 days, causing persistent positive PCR test results even past the point that patients are infectious. However, if a rapid antigen is taken within the 90-day window and is positive, it should be assumed that the individual does indeed have COVID-19.

Questions and Concerns

If you have any questions, please contact the Health Services team at 860.685.2470.