CDC Self-Care for Coronavirus

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention provides guidance for those who either test positive, have symptoms, or have been a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

If You Are Ill

Do not attend class, work, or other social gatherings.
If you have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, get tested. At-home COVID test kits are available in most pharmacies. After May 11, 2023 many health insurance providers will no longer reimburse the cost of these over-the-counter tests. You may also want to contact your healthcare provider or UB Student Health Services (716-829-3316) for an appointment to get tested.
Reporting
- You can report your positive COVID-19 home test result to Erie County Department of Health.
- Inform your professors: directly contact your instructors to keep up with coursework and class commitments while you’re unable to attend in-person classes. UB Student Health Services does not excuse absences.
- Tell people you had recent contact with that they may have been exposed , and they should:
  - Test at least 5 full days after their exposure:
    - Even if they test negative for COVID-19 using an at-home antigen test, they should repeat* the test again 48 hours after the first test.
    - If both tests are negative, then they should repeat testing after another 48 hours for a total of three tests.
    - *(PCR testing can be used as an alternative to repeat testing.)
  - Wear a tightly fitted mask whenever they are around any other person for the next 10 days
  - Monitor themselves for symptoms; and isolate when/if symptoms develop at any time or they test positive
If you are ill and tested positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for treatment to help prevent severe disease. Please call your healthcare provider or UB Student Health Services to find the treatment that is best for you.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you should isolate for 5 days after symptom onset or test date, whichever was earliest (day 0 (zero) is the day when symptoms appeared or you tested positive and day 1 is the next full day). After 5 full days of isolation, you may return to classes if you have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications). You need to isolate for days 1-5.
If you test positive, your isolation location options include:
- Your current residence — meaning your on-campus room, suite or apartment, or your off-campus apartment, depending on whether you are an on- or off-campus student. On-campus housing uses ‘isolation in place’ for those who have tested positive.
- Your permanent residence, or the off-campus home of a family member or friend
- Another off-campus location, such as a hotel
  - If traveling to an off-campus location for isolation, use private transportation.
Monitor your symptoms: Most COVID-19 symptoms can be self-managed using non-prescription cough/cold/fever medication. If your symptoms are severe or worrying, call UB Student Health Services for consultation: 716-829-3316 (24/7). Severe symptoms include any of the following: fever >102F, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe headache, severe sore throat, and vomiting.
Isolation ends at the end of 5 days, if you never had symptoms or if symptoms are improving including being fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Continue to wear a high-quality mask around any other person for an additional 5 days. (EXCEPTION: People who are immunocompromised, and those who are unable to wear a mask for 5 days after isolation, should self-isolate for 10 days instead of 5).
- If you need documentation that your isolation period has ended, use the Affirmation of Isolation form available through the Erie County Department of Health.

Use the Coronavirus Self-Checker to assess your symptoms

CDC Self-Care for Coronavirus

The CDC has several resources for what to do if you are sick or caring for someone who is sick with COVID-19. When directed by your health care provider, please consult this resource:

View CDC Home Care Instructions