Quarantine and Isolation

Last Updated: Feb. 15, 2022

Updated Isolation Guidelines

Bentley has adopted the isolation and quarantine guidelines of the CDC, meaning that those who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, are required to isolate for five full days. If on day 6, you display no symptoms of COVID-19 and have been fever-free for 24-hours without the aid of medication, you may exit isolation but must wear a mask in all settings for five full days. 

The university may ask that students who live within a reasonable distance to campus (within 200 miles) isolate at home during this five day period, and return to campus on day 6 if symptom free. 

For students exiting isolation on campus 

• You must continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home or in your residence hall, around campus, and in public until day 11 (day 6 through day 10). Expect to need to wear a mask every time you leave your room. If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for 10 days. Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease until after at least 10 days. 

• If you develop symptoms after exiting isolation, contact the Health Center and self-isolate from others until you are given guidance. 

• Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until 10 days after the day of your positive test. You may not eat in at any campus dining locations. When dining halls are open, take-away meals will be available for you to pick up. 

• You may participate in individual fitness and conditioning activities and must continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others. 
   

For students exiting isolation off campus

• You must continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home, around campus, and in public until day 11 (day 6 through day 10). Expect to need to wear a mask every time you leave your home. If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for 10 days. Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease until after at least 10 days. 

• If you develop symptoms after exiting isolation, contact the Health Center and self-isolate from others until you are given guidance. 

• Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until 10 days after the day of your positive test. You may not eat in at any campus dining locations. When dining halls are open, take-away meals will be available for you to pick up. 

• You may participate in individual fitness and conditioning activities and must continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others. 
   

For students who test positive before moving in 

• Follow the isolation guidance from the CDC or from local public health authorities, if contacted. 

• Do not travel during your minimum 5-day isolation period. After you end isolation, you should avoid travel until 10 days after the day of your positive test. You may return to campus on days 6–10 but it is recommended you delay your move in until after a full 10-day period if possible. 

Those who test positive will be asked to provide a list of close contacts from the 48 hours prior to your positive test or symptom onset, whichever came first. A close contact is someone with whom you were within 6 feet (whether masked or unmasked) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes while indoors over a 24-hour period. Any close contact who is up to date on vaccination will NOT be required to quarantine. They will instead be asked to monitor for symptoms for 14 days. This information is vital to the health and safety of our campus populations and you are expected to cooperate with this process. The intention in gathering this information is to help quickly prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others.   

Updated Quarantine Guidelines

Those who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccination, including having received a booster shot, OR those who are within the 90-day period since testing positive for COVID-19 do not require quarantine if displaying no symptoms. We do ask that you self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and contact the Health Center for further assessment should symptoms present. Developing symptoms does not mean you will immediately be quarantined.

For those who are unvaccinated or not up to date on vaccination, meaning you are vaccinated but have not received a booster, you must quarantine for five days. Residential students must quarantine on North Campus for five days and will be provided a rapid test on day six. Those who test negative will be allowed to exit quarantine housing.