If a student or employee tests positive for COVID-19, the student or employee should isolate at home or as directed by Student Affairs (in the case of a student at the College) for at least five (5) days after symptoms started or five (5) days from the date of a positive COVID-19 test.

If the student or employee has symptoms, the student or employee should stay in isolation until all three of the following are true:

• It has been five (5) days since the student or employee first felt sick. Day zero is the day symptoms started. Day one (1) is the first full day after symptoms began.
• The student or employee has had no fever (Temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) for at least 24 hours, without using medicine that lowers fevers.
• The student or employee feels better. Any cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms the student or employee had experienced have improved since symptoms started on day zero.

If the student or employee does not have symptoms, the student or employee should stay in isolation and away from others for five (5) days after the positive test date. Day zero is the day the student got tested.

• If the student or employee develops symptoms during this time, the student or employee must start isolation over. Day zero is the day symptoms start. Day one (1) is the first full day after symptoms began. Refer to the above section above on what to do if you have symptoms.

After the isolation period ends, the student should continue to do the following for another five (5) days:

• Wear a well-fitting mask, preferably an N95 or KN95 mask, or double up on a cloth mask when indoors around others and in public.
• Avoid others at risk for getting extremely sick from the COVID-19 virus, including older adults, those living in long-term care facilities, and people with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, or weakened immune systems.
• Avoid places where a mask needs to be removed to participate in an activity (e.g., gyms, restaurants) and avoid eating near others at home and work. Use grab-and-go options in the dining hall.
• Avoid travel. If travel is required, wear a well-fitting mask.

The university will quarantine students who live on the Winona Campus and are a close contact of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. The university requires other students attending in-person, on-ground courses and all employees to quarantine if they are a close contact of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. Close contact includes:

• Living in the same residence hall room as an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19;
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19;
• Being within six (6) feet of an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes during a 24-hour time period starting from two (2) days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic individuals, two (2) days prior to a positive specimen collection) until the time the individual is isolated; or
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.).

After exposure to the virus, these students or employees must:

• Wear a well-fitting mask for ten (10) days when around others, even at home, preferably an N95 or KN95 mask, or double up on a cloth mask. The ten (10) days start from the day after the student’s or employee’s last close contact with someone with COVID-19. The actual day of close contact is counted as day zero.
• Get tested at least five (5) days after close contact. Remember, day zero is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19. If the student or employee tests positive, the student or employee must now follow isolation recommendations. The student or employee must start counting for the isolation period, with day zero being the date of the positive COVID-19 test.
• Watch for symptoms for 10 days after close contact. If symptoms develop, stay home and away from others (isolate) and test immediately for COVID-19. Start counting again from day zero (day one (1) is the first full day after symptoms start) and follow the CDC’s isolation recommendations.
• Avoid travel. If travel is required, wear a well-fitting mask, preferably an N95 or KN95, or double up on a cloth mask.
• Avoid places where the student or employee may need to remove a mask (e.g., gyms, restaurants). Use grab-and-go options in the dining hall.
• Continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others, preferably an N95 or KN95, or double up on a cloth mask.

Effective March 11, 2022, masks are no longer required on any campus with the following exceptions:

• During classes: Faculty may require students to wear masks during class and lab time. Faculty will be asked to notify their classes about their requirements. Students must respect and comply with masking requirements from faculty.
• In individual offices or departments: Masks may be required in individual offices, at the discretion of individual employees.
• At other large events/gatherings: Masks may be required at events in university theaters or other large events or gatherings, as determined by the university.
• In the Wellness Center on the Winona Campus.

Visitors are expected to follow the same masking requirements as students and employees.

All members of the Saint Mary’s community are expected to keep a mask with them at all times and follow masking requirements when notified or when indicated signage.

The university supports everyone who chooses to wear a mask even when it is not required. Everyone is expected to respect individual choices about masking, remembering, for example, that people may choose to mask because they are simply uncomfortable without a mask, they are immunocompromised, or they have small children at home who cannot be vaccinated.

Effective March 14, 2022, the university will cease all contact tracing investigations for students and employees who test positive for COVID-19. After that date, students and employees must notify their close contacts. Failure to do so will constitute a violation of university COVID-19 protocols.

Close contacts are people you have been within six (6) feet of for 15 minutes or more during the 48 hours prior to the onset of your symptoms or prior to your positive COVID-19 test. Your close contacts should watch for symptoms, get tested, and follow the recommended quarantine guidance. You should provide your close contacts with these instructions so that they can take steps to protect themselves, their families, and the Saint Mary’s community. Students and employees who are close contacts are expected to follow the guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health. Failure to do so will constitute a violation of university COVID-19 protocols.

If a student on the Winona Campus is a close contact and needs quarantine housing or academic accommodations, the student should contact covid@smumn.edu immediately after notification that they are a close contact.

• CDC
• Handwashing guide
• Guidance for travelers
• CDC travel warnings
• About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• MDH
• COVID-19 guidance

• Minnesota vaccine data
• Information, data, and guidance for COVID-19 vaccine in Minnesota
• Key things to know about COVID-19 vaccines
• When you have been fully vaccinated