COVID-19 Information

1. Asymptomatic Pool Testing (if you have no symptoms)

• RT-PCR testing
• Performed at COVID testing sites on campus (College Club and Beebe Dining Hall) 
• Students tested twice per week
• Anterior nares testing, self administered
• Performed through the Broad Institute 
• Results typically available within 24-hours
• Results available online 

What happens if there is a positive pool?

• Members of the positive pool will be called back for individual testing that will include: 

1. Rapid Antigen test- results within 15 minutes
2. RT-PCR test- results within 24 hours

• Quarantine/Isolation protocols will be followed as appropriate based on positive individual tests 
• Individuals will not be quarantined/isolated until individual testing is performed 

2. Symptomatic Testing (if you have symptoms) 

• RT-PCR testing
• Performed at Health Services (when open). After hours testing can be arranged at a Newton-Wellesley testing site 
• Students tested only if symptomatic and recommended by Health Services 
• Testing for travel can also be performed (check with insurance regarding coverage)
• Anterior nares or nasopharyngeal testing
• Performed through Newton-Wellesley Hospital or the Broad Institute
• Coming soon: Rapid PCR testing availability in Health Services! 
• Results typically available within 24-hours
• Results available online

Please let Health Services know ASAP about any new symptoms you may be experiencing.

• Call Health Services at 781-283-2810

• Fill out the daily Symptom Tracker

Symptoms may include:

• fever, body aches, unexplained fatigue, loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea 

If you are experiencing symptoms, stay in your room until you speak with Health Services! 

Quarantine: you are a close contact of a positive COVID case (you have been exposed but are not positive for COVID) 

If you are fully vaccinated:

• No quarantine is required if you have no symptoms
• You will be required to test on day 3-5 after the exposure
• You will be required to wear your mask consistently for 7 days
• You should monitor symptoms carefully and report any symptoms to Health Services 

If you are not fully vaccinated: 

• You will quarantine for 10 days from the last contact you had with the case (as long as you have no symptoms and test negative on Day 8). 
• Quarantine space in the College Club (private bathrooms)
• You will continue to be tested in your quarantine room 
• Daily check-ins from Health Services 
•  

Isolation: you have COVID-19

• You will isolate for 10 days from the positive test or day of first symptoms
• Isolation space in Dower (shared bathrooms)
• You will not be re-tested for 90 days after your positive test
• Daily check- ins from Health services 

Students are required to be fully vaccinated in order to be on campus. A very limited number of exemptions have been granted. 

Please contact Health Services if you need assistance with vaccinations

• cumentation of any vaccine received to Health Services via email or uploaded directly to the Patient Portal. 

1. Log into Patient Gateway
2. Go To “Ask a question”

• You can click on this directly from the right sidebar

OR

• You can click Messaging on the top sidebar → Ask a question

3. Click on “Non-Urgent Question"

4. Click on the drop down “Choose a Recipient” and select Health Service Provider (Jennifer Schwartz or Patricia Wefald)
   *If you do not see either of these names, this means you have never ben seen for a visit at our office. In this case, please call us at 781.283.2810 during business hours and we can send you an email to reply to.
5. Click on the drop down “Select a Subject” and select “Non-Urgent Medical” Question”
6. You can write a brief message in the text box (ie: Here is my COVID vaccine proof.
7. To upload forms, click on the “Attach an Image” button on the bottom of the screen

8. Hit send when all the fields are filled in and the documents are attached

Massachusetts travel requirements: for anyone entering MA (including residents/students)

• Quarantine for 10 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival. If not obtained before entry to Massachusetts, a test may be obtained after arrival, but you must immediately begin the 10-day quarantine until a negative test result has been received.

For destinations requiring COVID PCR tests prior to travel

• The campus Broad tests are PCR tests and should satisfy this requirement.

• You can email CampusKey to request a particular test day based on your travel.

• Do not wait until the last day to complete your testing. Results can take 24 hours to return. If your test comes back invalid/unable to be processed, you will need to get retested in order to have appropriate results. 

• If you need a medical form verifying your results, Health Services can help. Please allow up to 24 hours for forms to be completed

• Lab certification/travel information: Some countries require ISO 15189 accreditation or equivalent recognized in the place where the laboratory is located. CRSP is not ISO 15189 accredited but is CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited, which is considered the equivalent. Here is the relevant information you may need:

For destinations requiring COVID antibody testing prior to travel 

• Basic antibody testing can be performed through Health Services (~24 turnaround).

• For some countries, you will specifically need proof of a COVID IgM antibody.

• Here are two options for securing this more specific test:

1. Blood can be drawn at Health Services. The specimen will be sent to a Quest lab for processing. Turnaround time can be 1-3 days.

2. Blood can be drawn at a Quest Diagnostic location. Visit the Quest website to book a test.

• Antibody testing is not typically covered by insurance so there may be an out of pocket cost for this.