Quarantine and Isolation

If students receive a positive COVID-19 test result, the health department in the state in which you tested in will reach out to you regarding the need for isolation until the infection clears. This may mean your arrival to RIT is delayed. RIT is prepared to support your educational efforts if this must occur.

Students who live in on-campus housing requiring isolation will be moved to alternative housing. Students in isolation will have their own sleeping room and bathroom. Students who do not reside on campus are expected to isolate or quarantine at their off-campus residence and comply with all instructions from the local health department. If off-campus students do not have the ability to isolate in place, the Monroe County Department of Health may be able to assist.

Employees with positive tests will be required to follow isolation procedures as dictated by the Monroe County Department of Health. They should also report this information through Oracle’s MyInfo application.

Individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 should speak with their personal health care provider (employees) or the Student Health Center (students). Need for testing, quarantine, and isolation will be determined based upon each individual’s situation and risk assessment. 

Testing for cause (having symptoms or significant exposure) and randomized surveillance testing for students will be overseen by the Student Health Center, in an on-campus testing area dedicated to COVID-19 testing. Faculty and staff will be directed to their personal provider for testing or a New York State Department of Health testing site. Most insurance covers testing for cause.

Any student reporting symptoms via the Daily Health Screening will be directed to contact the Student Health Center to be assessed. Assessment will include a review of symptoms and their health history. If a symptomatic student does not reach out directly, a staff member from the Student Health Center will make contact with the student. If testing is recommended and/or symptoms are of sufficient concern, students will be placed in precautionary quarantine or isolation, depending upon the circumstances. Testing for cause (having symptoms or significant exposure) will be available on campus at the Student Health Center. In the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, contact tracers will interview the student and determine whether there are additional individuals who need to be placed in quarantine or isolation. RIT will have trained contact tracers to assist the Monroe County Department of Health.

RIT will work with students who live on campus and must travel to a restricted state for an emergency to see if quarantine space is available. If space is available, quarantine housing will be provided. Students can connect with [email protected] for post emergency travel quarantine options. Students living off campus will have to quarantine in their off-campus housing or make other arrangements.

Students traveling to the RIT campus from international locations, including Canada, must adhere to all NYS Travel Guidelines and RIT requirements.

RIT’s public dashboard includes the number of students in precautionary and mandatory quarantine, while the state dashboard only tracks the number that are in mandatory quarantine. On the state dashboard, precautionary isolation cases are included in the precautionary quarantine numbers.

Quarantine means that you will have to stay in your assigned quarantine housing for 10 days. You must monitor yourself for any potential symptoms of infection including cough, fever, chills or muscle aches, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, or new loss of sense of smell or taste. You must check your temperature in the morning and evening, and report symptoms or elevated temperature to your health care provider. We expect all students to participate in our Daily Health Screen every day, throughout the semester.

If you are in university housing or university sponsored quarantine, you will report any concerning symptoms to our Student Health Center at 585-475-2255. You do not need to wear a mask when you are alone in your room.

No. You cannot go to work or school, participate in social activities, or visit any public places. You should stay in a well-ventilated room that is your own living space in a home or apartment setting, or a single hotel room. You should not be spending in-person time with friends or family.

All students will continue to have access to telehealth and telemental health student services. Faculty will work with isolated or quarantined students to ensure they can continue their academic work. Students residing on campus will also be supported by meal delivery for their applicable on-campus meal plans, trash pickup, and laundry support.

Students in isolation and quarantine can use their meal plan funds, dining dollars, or Tiger Bucks to pay for their meals and supplemental grocery boxes. Meals need to be ordered by the student on the myLife portal where they also indicate dietary restrictions and preferences. Microwaves and fridges are in each room. Packs of bottled water will be available in the rooms. Students can also order food to be delivered from outside vendors at their own expense, if they wish.

If students experience concerning symptoms, they should call RIT Student Health Center at 585-475-2255. A health care provider is on-call and available by phone for urgent concerns when our RIT Student Health Center is closed.

Students in isolation and quarantine can use their meal plan funds, dining dollars, or Tiger Bucks to pay for their meals and supplemental grocery boxes. Meals need to be ordered by the student on the myLife portal where they also indicate dietary restrictions and preferences. Packs of bottled water will be available in the rooms. Students can also order food to be delivered from outside vendors at their own expense. Instructions on how to order from off-campus vendors are provided to students when they arrive.

We encourage students who can isolate or quarantine at home to do so. They need to be able to get home by private vehicle. Parents can come and pick up their children. We would recommend all wear masks in the car to reduce risk of exposure to parents.