Respiratory Virus Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance for people who test positive for COVID-19. The CDC no longer recommends a five-day isolation for those infected with the virus. Instead, individuals can leave home after they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours and have mild and improving symptoms. This move aligns COVID-19 guidance with other common respiratory viral illnesses, such as the flu. 

Stay home and away from others if you are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory virus, including fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose and headache.  

You may return to normal activities when both are true for at least 24 hours: 

  • Symptoms are improving 

  • Fever-free without using fever-reducing medication  

Reporting COVID-19 

For COVID-19, taking an antigen test can help you know how likely you are to spread the virus. A positive test tends to mean it is more likely that you can spread the virus to others. If you test positive for COVID-19, please report your results to Columbus Public Health COVID-19 Self-Report Survey. 


Please reference this website for the most up-to-date guidelines. The university’s COVID-19 Transition Task Force’s Safe Campus and Scientific Advisory Subgroup will continue monitoring changing conditions and consult with local and state health authorities. Recommendations and requirements will be refined as needed.