This information provides updated protocols and guidance about COVID-19 and other communicable diseases on Guilford’s campus, as cases continue to occur within and around our community.
While the threat of COVID-19 has lessened due to high rates of community vaccinations and people having experienced the illness, Guilford College Student Health Center staff continues to provide support and intervention around cases of COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses.
Student Health Services and other leaders remain aware of regional trends and will provide any updates as needed. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact studenthealth@guilford.edu.
Recommendations around masking:
Masks are available at the Info Desk in Founders Hall or by contacting Student Health studenthealth@guilford.edu. Other than the guidance outlined below, masking remains optional campus-wide although certain spaces may require individuals to wear a mask (certain offices or classrooms). Please continue to keep a mask handy.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms…
Anyone who feels symptomatic should take measures to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including wearing a mask and testing for COVID. Guilford’s partnership with Eagle Physicians allows for students to receive a test for COVID, RSV and two strains of Influenza at their Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic, located at 5701 West Friendly Avenue (across the street from campus, next to Jam’s Deli). This location is open 11 am - 7 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am - 2:45 pm on Saturday and Sunday. You will only be tested if you have at least 3 of the symptoms listed. Be aware that the earlier you present with symptoms, the more options are available to you to mitigate possible long-term effects.
If you test negative on a rapid test (such as an at-home kit)…
Do not assume that you do not have COVID as timing of the test from the time of exposure is critical to an accurate result. Individuals should remain masked and then test again after 2 more days to confirm that they are not COVID positive. For more information about upper respiratory disease prevention, see this source from the CDC.
If you test negative on a clinical test (such as at Eagle) with symptoms…
Continue to monitor symptoms and take measures to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. If you feel too unwell to attend classes, contact the professor to make arrangements.
If you test positive…
Any individual who tests positive should isolate until you are without symptoms AND are fever-free without medication for 24 hours. At that point, you may return to normal activities as long as you mask for 5 days after symptoms end. Full recovery is recommended in order to prevent possible long-term symptoms known as “long COVID.”
Students: Please contact Student Health at studenthealth@guilford.edu (336-316-2163) if you test positive so we can work with you to determine next steps and support you.
Residential students: During an isolation period, you may leave isolation for necessities (bathroom, picking up to-go meal from the Dining Hall) while masked, but otherwise you should remain in isolation and take all possible measures to prevent spread. Those who share a bedroom with a roommate may be relocated to a single room until your isolation period is over.
Faculty and Staff: Please contact our HR office (hr@guilford.edu) AND your supervisor/department chair if you test positive.
If you were exposed or in close contact with someone who tested positive…
Anyone who is in close contact or was exposed to someone who tested positive is encouraged to test and mask, but we are not requiring that you wear a mask unless you are experiencing symptoms or test positive.
As a reminder, all tests are most accurate once a person experiences symptoms and is 3-5 days past a known exposure. Testing too early while asymptomatic could lead to believing you are not contagious when you really are.
We appreciate your efforts to keep yourself and our community safe and healthy, so we can focus on the community tasks of learning and creating an engaging student experience. We will also have an on-campus flu and COVID vaccination clinic this fall -- you’ll receive announcements with more information later in the fall. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact studenthealth@guilford.edu.