Covid-19 Information and Resources
These requirements apply to students and employees regardless of vaccination status, previous infections, or lack of symptoms.
If you have been in the same room or vehicle as someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, you should take precautions to protect others. In larger spaces (such as a warehouse or open plan office of more than 400,000 cubic feet per floor), you should take precautions if you were within six feet of a person with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
Everyone who has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should:
- Watch for symptoms. If you develop any symptoms, test and stay home. If you use a home antigen test and the result is negative, you should test again after 48 hours.
- Get tested. This could be a PCR test or a home antigen test. If you do not have symptoms:
- Home antigen test: Test on Days 1, 3, and 5 after last exposure to the person with COVID-19. See how to get no-cost home antigen tests.
- PCR test: Test on Day 5 after last exposure to the person with COVID-19. ( See testing options in SLO County.)
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days following your last exposure. This means avoiding situations where you would need to remove your mask around others, such as eating at a restaurant. It is especially critical in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19.
- If you test positive, isolate.
In addition, you may choose to temporarily avoid contact with people at higher risk of severe illness, to protect them from possible exposure.
If a person develops symptoms, they may not come to campus while waiting for test results.
Employees must report close contact exposures to Human Resources at hr@cuesta.edu.
Visit the County of San Luis Obispo COVID-19 Testing page for current information on testing.
Employees must report a positive COVID-19 test to Human Resources at hr@cuesta.edu within 24-hours of testing positive.
Students who test positive and were on campus in the 48 hours before symptoms began or before they tested positive, must report the COVID-19 infection to the Office of Instruction by completing the COVID-19 Student Report Form. If a student was recently on campus (within 48 hours) they should report the case within 24 hours of testing positive.
Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected. If you have COVID-19 or have symptoms, isolate and do not come to campus.
These requirements apply to all students and employees regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms.
HOW LONG DO I NEED TO ISOLATE?
Anyone with a positive test for COVID-19 must isolate for 5-10 days and wear a well-fitted mask when around others for all 10 days. Use this isolation and quarantine calculator to find out when you can return.
Isolation can end after 5 full days if you've had:
- No fever for the last 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine (like Tylenol or Ibuprofen); AND
- No symptoms are present, or symptoms are improving
A negative test is no longer required to end isolation before 10 days, as long as you meet the above criteria. You need to wear a mask for 10 full days.
If you have a fever, continue to isolate until 24 hours after your fever resolves. If you have symptoms other than fever, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.
A small number of people who recover from COVID-19 may experience “COVID-19 rebound” in which symptoms return and you test positive again, after testing negative. If you experience this rebound, you should re-start your isolation period from Day 0 and contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns. If you do not have a regular health care provider, you may contact the Public Health Department at 805-781-5500 and ask to speak with a specialist.
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
1. Do not leave home to go to work, school, or public areas.
While in quarantine, you must not leave your home, even if you feel well. Do not let delivery persons or visitors inside your home.
2. You may leave home to get essential medical care.
- Call ahead before visiting your doctor.
- Drive yourself alone, if possible. If you cannot drive yourself:
- Keep as much distance as possible between you and the driver and others (e.g., sit in the back seat), and
- Leave the windows down, and
- Wear a mask or cloth face covering.
3. Stay away from household members.
If you live with other persons:
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- Try to limit your contact with them and wear a face covering if you do. Stay at least 6 feet away from others.
- Use a separate bathroom if available.
- Avoid sharing personal household items like dishes, towels, and bedding.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Wash your hands often.
- Disinfect surfaces you touch frequently.
4. Do not answer the door for deliveries, if possible.
If someone delivers something at your home, ask them to leave the delivery at your door, if possible. Pick them up after the person has left. If you need to answer the door:
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- Keep as much distance between you and the other person as possible, and
- Wear a mask or cloth face covering.
5. Help is available.
- There are a variety of local assistance services and programs to help with food assistance and delivery, health insurance coverage, disability insurance, and much more.
- Unemployment may be available for people who cannot work because they, or a family member, need to isolate or quarantine. Visit the California EDD website for information.
Campus Access COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire
- Do you have a fever (over 100.4 F) without fever reducing medications or feeling feverish (chills, sweating)?
- Do you have a new cough (for those with allergies/asthma, a change in cough from baseline)?
- Are you experiencing difficulty breathing?
- Do you have a sore throat?
- Are you experiencing muscle aches or body aches?
- Do you have vomiting or diarrhea?
- Are you experiencing a new loss of taste or smell?
- Do you have a new onset of severe headache, especially with fever?
- Have you been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are you currently under orders to self-isolate or quarantine by a medical professional or a local public health official?
If you answer yes to any of the above, do not return to campus.
For more information, review the "what do I do if I test positive" section above.
Employees should contact Human Resources at hr@cuesta.edu or (805) 546-3129.
Students should contact their primary care provider or Student Health Center at studenthealthcenter@cuesta.edu or (805) 546-3171.
Cuesta College strongly recommends, but does not require, masks be worn indoors, regardless of vaccination status. All protocols, including masks, are subject to change in accordance with SLO County Public Health guidance.