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. 

Wexner Medical Center Employees

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published separate guidance for healthcare workers. All employees of the Wexner Medical Center should follow these Employee Exposure Guidelines. 

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.