COVID-19
COVID infections continue to pose a health issue to all members of our college community and region. As a result, NCC is strongly recommending individuals (faculty, staff, students, visitors) use core prevention strategies to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.
When alerted, the NCC Health Center staff will investigate potential COVID cases individually and determine the level of risk of exposure that occurred when the individual was on campus. COVID-19 test results and an individuals’ health status are considered Protected Personal Information and will be handled confidentially.
Health Center staff members are qualified to handle confidential health information and are also trained in contact tracing to be able to counsel our faculty, staff and students to maintain the highest levels of safety.
For more information on community spread visit:
*Masking protocols at NCC are subject to change depending on infection rates and CDC recommendations to protect the health and safety of our campus community. Allied health programs are required to follow their clinical agency health requirements.
What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are exposed to COVID-19*
- If you are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19, please contact the Health Center at 610.861.5365, healthcenter@northampton.edu and stay home.
- If you are living in a residence hall and become symptomatic or test positive for COVID, contact the Health Center and your Residence Hall director ASAP.
- If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately, test as soon as possible and contact the Health Center. They will guide you with next steps.
- If your test results are positive, contact the Health Center ASAP and isolate immediately. Do not come to campus.
- Residence hall students may test in the NCC Health Center..
- Masks continue to be highly recommended but are optional. If our region moves to a CDC “high community level,” masking may be required on campus.
How to count days since exposure/infection
Consistent with CDC guidelines, begin counting days starting with Day 0 (first day of symptoms or exposure) and continue through Day 5. You can test to see if you are positive beginning on Day 1. If you are symptomatic, you can test to see if you are positive beginning on day 1. If your first test is negative, you should test again 24 hours later.
*Based on updated COVID guidance from CDC and NCC recommendations.
Home Testing
COVID-19 home testing kits can be purchased at many pharmacies. If you are uninsured or live in an underserved community, you may be able to obtain a low or no-cost COVID-19 test provided by the federal government. Reach out to the sites below for more information:
Isolation and Precaution Recommendations for COVID-19
If you have been exposed to COVID-19, or have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. There are precautions you should take to prevent spreading it to others: isolation, masking, and avoiding contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick.
Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19.
These recommendations do not change based on COVID-19 Community Levels. If you have COVID-19, also see additional information on treatments that may be available.
Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below.
When to Isolate
If you test positive for COVID-19, and you have a fever and/or are experiencing significant symptoms, stay home and isolate from others in your home until you have been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine and your symptoms are getting better overall. Even if you don’t have a fever, and you are experiencing only mild symptoms, you are likely most infectious. During the first 5 days, wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
- Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
- Do not travel.
- Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
- Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
- Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
- Monitor your symptoms.
- If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
When to End Isolation
- If you had no symptoms or very mild symptons - you do not need to isolate, but you should still mask for five days from the date of your positive test.
- If you had symptoms - you may end isolation when
- You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
- Your symptoms are improving
- If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.
- If you had moderate illness (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you may need to isolate longer than 5 days.
- If you had severe illness or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.
- If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.
Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.
Removing Your Mask
After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving), you should wear your mask through 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.
For more information, view the CDC website.
