Isolation Notification for Staff

West Virginia University is committed to the health and safety of our campus community. When a member of our community tests positive for the COVID-19 virus, they need to begin isolation immediately.

WVU has been notified that you have tested positive for COVID-19.

While in isolation, you should work with your supervisor to determine a remote work assignment. If a remote work assignment is not possible, sick leave must be used. If sick leave is exhausted, annual leave may be charged.

If all available leave is exhausted, time off related to isolation will be authorized as unpaid. You are encouraged to contact your HR Partner if you have any additional questions regarding remote work opportunities.

The information in the letter below should answer your questions regarding your isolation.

It is your responsibility to notify your close contacts that they have been exposed to COVID-19. For more information on identifying close contacts, please view the CDC website definition for exposure. You also can reach out to the WVU Care Services team at CareServices@mail.wvu.edu with any additional questions.

If you are too ill to work for more than five consecutive workdays or are hospitalized, you will need to contact medical management at medicalmanagement@mail.wvu.edu.

The University has set forth the following guidelines for those who have recently tested positive. These guidelines are necessary measures to keep everyone safe.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, must isolate for at least five days. This includes any positive PCR test or any positive rapid antigen test. You should remain in isolation until all of the following criteria are met:

• You are at least five full days from your test date.
• If you experienced symptoms, those symptoms have significantly improved, AND you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• If you continue to have fevers and/or symptoms that do not improve within five days, you should remain in isolation until you meet the above criteria.
• If you do not develop symptoms, you may discontinue self-isolation six days after the date of your first positive test.
• You should wear a well-fitted face mask for an additional five days following the completion of your isolation period when around other people, practice physical distancing when possible and avoid large social gatherings.

If you were asymptomatic and develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset.

Those connected to WVU Athletics will be contacted by the Athletics health team and may have different protocols required by the Big 12 Conference. Anyone who falls under Athletics must follow the BIG 12 Conference isolation guidelines.

It is our understanding that you will be contingently released from isolation on [DATE].

• We will set your release date six days from your test date. We will send you a letter with additional instructions the day before your contingent release.
• You may be released on day six (five full days after your test date) if:
  • You are asymptomatic OR if you are at least five full days from symptom onset and those symptoms have significantly improved, AND you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, you can return to your everyday activities.
  • You must agree to wear a well-fitted mask for an additional five days after your release.

If you have any symptoms or medical questions, please contact your primary care provider.

Thank you for doing your part to promote a safe and healthy campus community by following WVU’s COVID-19 protocols. We are here to support our University community throughout this process.

Contact Care Services at Careservices@mail.wvu.edu if you have any questions.