Supporting Our Students in Isolation and Quarantine
Isolation is required for people who test positive for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19 and need to be separated from others to avoid infecting them. Quarantine is a way for individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 through close contact with an infected individual to limit their contact with others while it is determined whether they have COVID-19.
Preparing and Moving to Isolation or Quarantine Housing
Health Services will contact students who test positive for COVID-19 or who are identified through contact tracing as a close contact of someone who tested positive. Students who are contacted directly by the Vermont Department of Health and instructed to quarantine should remain in their room and notify Health Services for instructions. Students who test positive are moved to designated residential space (isolation housing). College staff will provide specific instructions on where the student will complete the quarantine period (either in their current room or a residential space designated for quarantine).
Students will be instructed to pack up belongings they will need for their stay in isolation or quarantine housing, including:
- Any medications that are taken daily/regularly.
- Fever reducing medication (Tylenol/acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
- Thermometer and toiletries (include wash cloths, towels).
- Clothes (for four days or more - washer/dryer is available in isolation housing, and students should plan to be in isolation for a minimum of 8-10 days).
- Electronics, chargers, books, notebooks.
- Supplies/activities to keep you occupied, e.g. yoga mat, art supplies.
- Water bottle.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Sheets and a pillow will be provided in the room.
An Isolation and Quarantine Coordinator will call the student to provide a room assignment and make arrangements for moving to the temporary room. Information will be provided about building access and services provided during the stay in isolation or quarantine (meal delivery, trash pickup, laundry access, etc.).
Students who have tested positive will be contacted by a Middlebury staff member who will begin contact tracing by calling the student to ask about other people they have been in close contact with during the time when they may have been infectious and able to transmit the virus. The Vermont Department of Health may also contact the student to identify any close contacts. It is important to work with contact tracers in identifying close contacts to prevent further spread of the virus.
What is Required While Living in Isolation and Quarantine Housing
Students must remain in their room. Students may leave their room to use the bathroom and to pick up meals at a designated delivery point for the building. Students should remove trash and recycling from their rooms and bring to the collection area designated in the building.
When students must leave their room, they should sanitize hands, always wear a well-fitted face covering, and keep a six-foot distance from others.
Students may not gather with other students who are in isolation or quarantine housing and no visitors will be permitted.
Students in isolation who feel well enough to do so can continue to participate in course work and other activities virtually until they complete the isolation period. Students in quarantine will generally participate in course work and other virtual activities until they complete the quarantine period. If you have any questions about your academic work please contact your Student Life dean.
Services Provided to Students in Isolation and Quarantine
Medical and Mental Health Support
TheCenter for Health and Wellness Health Services staff will provide direction about daily monitoring of your symptoms through the student health portal IN ADDITION to your daily symptom check on the BacktoSchool (Policy Path) app.
Staff will check in with students regularly via Zoom, telephone or secure messaging, or in person, depending on the individual situation. Students with moderate to severe illness will likely be referred to Porter Medical Center or the University of Vermont Medical Center for further care and monitoring. Mental health support will be available for students through Counseling and 24/7 through MiddTelehealth. Student Life staff will be available to support students as well.
Being separated from your friends can be challenging and stressful. We encourage you to maintain connections with friends and family. If you would like to speak with a counselor, please contact Counseling Services at 802-443-5141.
If you are in quarantine over the weekend and you need medical care, you can contact MiddTeleHealth. If you have an urgent medical concern, contact Public Safety at 802-443-5133 to request a ride to Porter Medical Center. Please notify the hospital on arrival that you are a Middlebury student to ensure continuity of care. If you have symptoms that may be related to COVID-19, please review the CDC Guidelines for self-care. If it is an acute emergency, dial 911.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please reach out to the Center for Health and Wellness nurse line at 802-443-3290.
Meal Deliveries
When arriving at isolation and quarantine spaces, students will receive a nourishment kit that is stocked with some food and supplies that may be needed during your stay. Self-care stations are set up in the building for students to resupply or pick up other items they may have forgotten to bring.
All meals will be delivered while the student is in isolation or quarantine. Students may leave their room to pick up meals at a designated delivery point for the building.
If you have questions or special requests regarding your meals or deliveries please email dining@middlebury.edu or call 802-443-5959.
Custodial Services
Custodial Services has set up the isolation and quarantine housing to be self-sufficient. There are extra paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap, trash bags, and disinfecting supplies in the kitchen/dining area of your building. In-room trash and recycling bins are outfitted with extra trash bags. Students should remove trash and recycling from their rooms and bring to the collection area designated in the building. Please tie bags firmly. There is no need to sort your materials – for safety reasons, all waste from isolation and quarantine housing is disposed of.
When custodial services are needed in the buildings, services will be provided between midnight and 4 a.m. You will receive an email notification on evenings when custodial staff will be in your building. In these instances, you will be required to remain in your room to minimize contact with staff.
For custodial or facilities needs please call the Customer Service Center at 802-443-5473 during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). For after hours facilities emergencies that cannot wait until the next business day, contact the Department of Public Safety at their non-emergency number at 802-443-5133 and they can reach Facilities Services personnel after hours when necessary.
Other Needs While in Isolation or Quarantine Housing
If you are in need of other items while in isolation or quarantine, or if you have questions but are not sure who to call, please reach out to the Isolation and Quarantine Coordinator.
Moving Out of Isolation or Quarantine Housing
Students must remain in isolation or quarantine housing until cleared by Health Services.
For students who do not have symptoms before testing positive for COVID-19, isolation will normally last 10 days from the date of the positive test. However, some students may require additional time in isolation, depending on the course of their symptoms.
Students required to quarantine from being in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 will remain in quarantine housing for 14 days from the date of exposure or until they receive a negative Day 7 test, if they have had no symptoms. If symptoms develop, the quarantined individual must be evaluated for active COVID-19 infection and must continue to follow Vermont Department of Health guidelines.