COVID-19 Information for Residents

• 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.

• Appropriate cleaning protocols are in place to respond to a positive COVID-19 case.

A guest is any person who is permitted by a resident and approved by the Residential Education Office, to occupy, visit and/or reside in, for a limited time, a housing facility. 

Guests, including residents of other on-campus housing buildings, must register a valid photo ID for entry at the front desk. Guests must be escorted and be in the physical presence of the resident at all times. Residents are responsible for ensuring their guests properly check out at the front desk when leaving the building. A resident accepts responsibility for the behavior of their guests and must inform guests of university regulations. 

Consistent with fire marshall requirements, residents are allowed no more than two guests in their room. 

Residents living in designated over-the-break housing may have only one guest at a time during break periods. 

Overnight guest(s) privileges are extended to residents on a temporary and occasional basis after securing approval from all roommates and registering the guest(s) with the residential education staff. Overnight guests must be housed only in the hosting resident’s room. An overnight guest is considered anyone whose visit lasts more than six hours, beginning or falling between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The same guest may not stay in a residential community for more than four (4) nights per calendar month (freshmen only) or eight (8) nights per calendar month (sophomore and above only) and may only stay two (2) consecutive nights per calendar month. Disciplinary action will be taken, and a guest fee will be charged to the resident for any guest whose stay exceeds this limit. The university reserves the right to deny access to any person. This policy is suspended during any period in which guests are prohibited from being in residential spaces.

• Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Here’s what to expect when a student 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.

Step 2: The student is notified of their positive COVID-19 test by SDSU or by their off-campus medical provider. 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 3: The student is contacted by an 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 4: Housing provides instructions to the student for transfer to isolation housing. The student is asked to pack essential items including:

• Prescription medication (if applicable)
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Body wash
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Feminine hygiene products
• Laptop
• Cell phone
• Chargers
• Thermometer

Step 5: The student moves to isolation housing.

Step 6: 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. Case managers will begin reaching out to students the morning after they have moved into their isolation location.

Step 7: The student is expected to stay in isolation housing and avoid physical contact with others (excluding roommates that are in the same isolation unit) until the determined isolation period is complete (up to 10 days). This duration will be determined by symptom onset date or test date, consistent with CDC guidance.

Based on the San Diego County public health order, the required isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases is 10 days. In some cases, individuals may end their isolation period prior to day ten 10, with the approval of the SDSU COVID Clearance team.

In order to exit isolation prior to day 10, you must submit a negative COVID-19 test that is taken on day 5 of your isolation period or later and complete the Housing Isolation Exit Testing Form. In addition, you must commit to wearing a facial covering for the full 10 days, regardless of your symptoms, and regardless of your vaccination or booster status.

Step 8: A food delivery program provides lunch, dinner and breakfast (for next day) around noon Monday through Friday for each day in isolation. Meals and snacks for the weekend are included on Friday’s delivery.

Students may order additional food, groceries or other items using delivery app services such as Doordash, Grubhub and Amazonfresh.

Laundry pick up and delivery services are provided. The student can connect with their case manager for laundry needs.

Any mail or packages may be retrieved after the isolation period is complete.

Step 9: The student completes the isolation period.

Step 10: The student receives an email the day before their isolation end date with details on how to check out and return to their on-campus residence. The student should plan to leave by 12 p.m. on their release date. If the student has a conflict and needs to leave later in the day, they should let a housing representative know. Per CDC guidelines, students should not get re-tested for COVID-19 until 90 days after onset of symptoms. Students who have tested positive can be around others after:

• 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
• 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*

*Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​.

In some cases, individuals may end their isolation period prior to day ten 10, with the approval of the SDSU COVID Clearance team. Students may not exit isolation until they have approval from the COVID Clearance team and instructions from the Office of Housing Administration on the isolation exit process.

Contacts:

• Student Health Services (Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.): 619-594-4325
• Nurse Advice Hotline (evenings & weekends): 858-255-3105
• Medical Emergency: 911

Here’s what to expect when a student is exposed to COVID-19 while living on-campus.

Step 1: The student consults with Student Health Services. The student is advised to quarantine in their on-campus room unless otherwise recommended by Student Health Services.

Step 2: Housing provides quarantine instructions. The student is expected to follow these instructions until the quarantine period is complete (up to 10 days).

• Stay home and avoid contact with others to ensure your health and well-being and the wellness of others. Do not go to work or school. Do not take public transportation, taxis or ride-shares. You may leave your room for essential needs such as groceries, medicine/prescriptions, laundry, mail or for medical appointments.
• Practice physical distancing from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).
• All students who have been identified as a close contact to someone who was COVID-positive are encouraged to test on the 5th day following exposure using COVID-19 testing options available on campus or in the community. Please note that a negative test does not, automatically, allow students who are unvaccinated and unboosted to exit their 10 day quarantine.

Step 3: The student is able to leave their room to conduct essential business including grocery store and dining pick up, laundry and mail.

Students may use the laundry facilities at their assigned residence and retrieve mail from the mailbox. If a package arrives, the front desk will contact the student to pick up the package at a designated time.

Step 4: SDSU Housing staff members, serving as case managers, will contact quarantined students daily to ensure support, provide assistance with any supplies or needs, and to connect the student to resources. Failure to respond to the case manager will result in an in-person check.

Step 5: The student completes the quarantine period.

Contacts:

• Student Health Services (Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.): 619-594-4325
• Nurse Advice Hotline (evenings & weekends): 858-255-3105
• Medical Emergency: 911