UMass Dartmouth continues to follow all guidance from the CDC, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Dartmouth Board of Health to promote a safe and healthy living, learning and working environment on our campus. All of our actions will be guided by, and meet or exceed local, state and federal public health guidelines, with particular attention to factors specific to the UMass Dartmouth campus.
Below is a collection of important information to help you navigate COVID-19.
MassNotify is a tool that works through smartphones, with a focus on privacy, to alert users who may have been exposed to COVID-19. You can enable MassNotify on your iPhone or Android phone to add another tool to our fight against the spread of COVID-19.
- If you are on campus, go home and isolate, then inform your Department Chair/Supervisor.
- If your job can be performed remotely and you feel well enough to work, work remotely until you get tested.
- If your job cannot be performed remotely or you feel too ill to work, use your accrued sick time.
- Test at home with an at-home rapid COVID-19 test kit or visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s testing locator website to find an appointment near you.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Symptoms may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Immediately isolate yourself for 5 days and wear a medical grade mask for 10 days.
- Notify your close contacts that they have been exposed so they can monitor themselves for symptoms and test on Day 6 following exposure. Serial testing is recommended.
- Contact Human Resources, and your supervisor/department chair.
- If your job can be performed remotely and you feel able to work, work remotely.
- If your job cannot be performed remotely or you feel too ill to work, use your accrued sick time or the COVID sick leave bank.
- If after 5 days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you may leave isolation on Day 6 but continue to wear a medical grade mask around others until Day 11.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you continue to have symptoms.
Yes. Paxlovid is for individuals age 12 and older who have tested positive for COVID-19, are at increased risk of severe disease, and have developed COVID-19 symptoms in the last 5 days, even mild ones (such as runny nose or cough).
Free telehealth consultations are available for eligible individuals 18 or older who are currently living in Massachusetts and insurance is not required. Visit the Massachusetts COVID-19 telehealth website for more info.
If you were exposed to COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status, the CDC recommends that instead of quarantining, you wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested 5 full days after your last exposure (Day 6). Serial testing 48 hours apart is recommended.
No. The university no longer requires faculty, staff and students to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Student immunization requirements and recommendations are listed on the Health Services website.
Faculty and students who participate in clinical settings where the vaccine is required should follow the agency’s vaccine requirements. Staying up to date on vaccines, including boosters, is the most effective way to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. While vaccine protection decreases over time, boosters restimulate the immune system and increase vaccine efficacy again. Boosters are an important defense, even if you’ve already had COVID.