What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19, wear a mask and avoid contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick.

  • Isolate from others for a minimum of five (5) days AND until you are fever free for 24 hours and your symptoms are improving.
  • Report your positive test through the COVID-19 reporting form:
  • Students should notify their professors that they will be absent from class.
  • Faculty and Staff should notify their immediate supervisor.
  • Wear your mask though day 10.
  • After you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.

How to Count Days for Isolation

When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:

If you had no symptoms:

  • Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
  • Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
  • If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset

If you had symptoms:

  • Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
  • Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

Ending Isolation

  • If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.If you had symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5 if:
    • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and
    • Your symptoms are improving

    If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.

    For additional information on COVID-19, please visit the CDCs COVID-19 Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 page.

Millsaps College’s COVID-19 Archive

Questions? Email info@millsaps.edu