COVID-19 Information for Residents
Last updated November 30, 2022
winter Break Testing
Prior to leaving campus for winter break, we strongly recommend that you take a COVID-19 test. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on holiday celebrations, testing in advance of gatherings, particularly with others from multiple households or who are in different areas of the country, is an additional precaution to protect yourself and others, including your loved ones. In addition to testing, we recommend getting a flu shot as another measure of protection during holiday travel and gatherings.
REQUIRED TESTING AFTER winter
All residential students are required to get COVID-19 tested following winter break, whether or not you remain on campus or go home. Pick up a COVID-19 rapid test at your community front desk. You will receive instructions on how to self-administer the rapid test, which must be completed within 1 (one) hour of return to your residential community or by Jan. 16 , whichever comes sooner, and uploaded to HealtheConnect. When uploading the rapid test results, please ensure the file meets the following requirements:
File Requirements:
- Must be smaller than 4 MB.
- Images must be: .gif, .png, .tiff, .tif, .jpg, or .jpeg
- Documents must be: .txt or .pdf
- No special characters in the file name (such as #, %, &, !, -, *)
- HEIC photo format (iPhone) is not accepted. Please convert the HEIC photo to one of the accepted formats listed above.
As a reminder, students who do not complete this testing requirement may be referred to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities for disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct, and are subject to sanctions ranging from probation to suspension.
Students who test positive through either of these required COVID-19 testing return-protocols will be provided with instructions and support for how to isolate as per the Office of Housing Administration COVID-19 protocol.
Housing Modifications
Following the most up to date CDC, state and county guidelines, Housing plans to continue the implementation of COVID-19 modifications to our residential communities during the 2022-23 academic year. These modifications include but are not limited to:
- Enhanced cleaning for health in all of our community areas
- Sanitation dispensers in building entrances and exits
- Signage throughout each residential community with reminders and instructions on healthy practices, self-checks and public health guidance
Our university will continue to be attentive to guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state of California, and San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency to continue quickly responding to pandemic conditions and changes.
For additional information regarding COVID-19 and the university’s ongoing efforts in support of individual well-being and public health, visit the public-facing COVID-19 site.
Cleaning
- Housing Facilities Services (HFS) clean the residential communities each day using EPA-registered disinfectants.
- High touch areas such as doors, furniture and handrails are cleaned twice daily.
- Residents are responsible for cleaning their own room or suite. While residents are encouraged to bring their own cleaning supplies, additional supplies (disinfectant, general purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, sanitizing wipes, etc.) are available at each community front desk.
Housing Policies
Please visit Policies & Procedures for comprehensive Housing policies for the 2022-23 academic year. Additional COVID-19 information can be found on SDSU’s public-facing COVID-19 site, which is regularly updated.
Facial Coverings
Facial coverings are not required in on-campus housing. However, any students experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms must wear a facial covering while on campus. We fully support and respect those who wish to continue wearing facial coverings, which remains an effective way to protect oneself and others from other illnesses, not just COVID-19.
Guests
All students living on campus may host up to two (2) guests in their space. Guests may include, but are not limited to, SDSU students, family members, and friends not attending SDSU. Guests in first-year communities must register a valid photo ID for entry at the community front desk.
Isolation & Quarantine
In accordance with the San Diego County and Imperial County public health orders, San Diego State University updated its isolation and quarantine policy for all university community members. There are important distinctions between “isolation” and “quarantine” and in the protocols student residents must follow.
- Isolation is for students who have tested positive for COVID-19.
- Quarantine is for students who were exposed to COVID-19 to see if they become infected.
Here’s what to expect when a student resident tests positive for COVID-19 while living in on-campus housing*.
*On-campus housing includes students with a housing license agreement through SDSU. It does not include students in SDSU-affiliated housing.
Step 1: The student is tested for COVID-19. If tested at SDSU, the results are typically ready within 1-2 days. If not tested at SDSU, the student should report their positive test within 2 hours to the university by completing the COVID-19 Reporting Form.
Step 2: The student is notified of their positive COVID-19 test by SDSU or by their off-campus medical provider. Following the positive test result, the student is contacted by an SDSU assessment and response team member to help understand onset of symptoms, assist with notification of close contacts as needed and to advise on the length of isolation.
Step 3: The student is instructed to isolate in place in their assigned room for up to 10 days. The student is expected to stay in their room unless they need to use the building’s facilities (bathroom, shower, kitchen, laundry, etc.), pick up food or attend a doctor’s appointment. When using the building’s facilities or picking up food, the student must avoid physical contact with others (excluding roommates that are in the same unit) and wear a facial covering at all times. The student may pick up food on campus or order food using delivery app services such as Doordash, GrubHub and AmazonFresh.
Step 4: The student is assigned an SDSU Housing staff member who will serve as a case manager for the duration of the student’s time in isolation. The case manager checks in with the student daily to ensure support, provide assistance with any supplies or needs and to connect the student to resources.
Step 5: Based on the San Diego County public health order, the required isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases is 10 days. In some cases, students may end their isolation period prior to the 10th day, but this early release must first be approved by the SDSU COVID Clearance team. To exit isolation prior to day 10, the student must submit a negative COVID-19 test that is taken on day 5 of their isolation period or later and complete the Housing Isolation Exit Testing Form. In addition, the student must commit to wearing a facial covering for the full 10 days, regardless of their symptoms and vaccination or booster status.
FAQs
The California State University system’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement allows for students, faculty and staff to seek an exemption based on medical or religious grounds. Information on submitting an exemption request can be found online.
Yes, in an effort to keep our residential and campus community safe and healthy, students who will be in residential housing for the fall 2022 semester will be required to test both before and upon move-in. Students will not be permitted to move in without testing on file. See the move-in testing requirements on the Move-in site.
We understand you may have questions about sharing a room with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Under the isolate-in-place protocol, residential students who test positive for COVID-19 will isolate in their room, even if their roommate(s) are negative for COVID-19.
Due to high vaccination and booster rates within the SDSU community along with higher population-level immunity and mutations in the virus that are associated with milder illness, SDSU is well-positioned to use the isolate-in-place protocol. It’s important to keep in mind that residential students who become sick with other illnesses, such as the flu or a cold, usually remain in shared rooms with their roommate(s) while recovering.
