COVID-19

Click on the following links to get to the information you need!

• When To Seek Medical Attention
• COVID-19 Vaccination
• Exposure to COVID-19
• What To Do If You Have Symptoms of COVID-19
• COVID-19 Testing Resources  
• Covid-19 Isolation Guide  
• Campus Resources for Students  

If you are experiencing any of the following emergency warning signs for COVID-19, please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911:

• Trouble breathing 
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest 
• New confusion 
• Inability to wake or stay awake 

• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone 

The CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group. The COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended to keep our campus community safe and can be obtained free of cost to enrolled students at Campus Health & Wellbeing. Please call 805-756-1211 to schedule an appointment. Additional community resources can be found here for COVID-19 vaccines and booster.

You can assess your exposure risk with the CDC guide. If you have a recent exposure to COVID-19 with a close contact who has tested positive, you should take steps to help protect yourself and those around you in case you have been infected.  Monitor for symptoms for 10 days after last contact and follow exposure instructions from SLO County Public Health.

What to Do If You Are Exposed to COVID-19

Get tested if you have any of these common COVID-19 symptoms. There may be other symptoms not on this list. Symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 can be very similar and  impossible to tell the difference unless you have tests done.

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 90 days and now have developed symptoms of COVID-19 again, use an antigen test only. A PCR test may be positive for up to 90 days after you have COVID-19. 

• Campus Health and Wellbeing offers same-day nurse triage visits and scheduled office appointments for medical evaluation and testing. Please call  805-756-1211.
• At-home COVID-19 tests can be purchased at the Cal Poly Pharmacy located in Campus Health and Wellbeing.
• Additional testing resources including free COVID-19 rapid test kits are available through San Luis Obispo County Public Health.
• Did you know that at-home COVID-19 tests have expiration dates? Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to learn more about at-home COVID-19 tests, their expiration dates, and more.  

Cal Poly follows the latest isolation guidelines from CDC, CDPH, and SLOPH.  

Recommendations for Cal Poly students who test positive. If you are a student employed by the university, please click the Employee Health Information page link above.

• Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms​ are mild and improving.​
  • ​​If you do not have symptoms, you should follow the recommendations below to reduce exposure to others.
• Mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days* after you become sick or test positive (if no symptoms). You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is symptom onset date or positive test date.
• Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days*. Higher-risk individuals include the elderly, those who live in congregate care facilities, those who have immunocompromising conditions, and that put them at higher risk for serious illness.
• Seek Treatment​. If you have symptoms, particularly if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, speak with a healthcare provider as soon as you test positive. You may be eligible for antiviral medicines or other treatments for COVID-19. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5-7 days from when symptoms start.
• Separate yourself as much as possible if you live with others. Avoid contact with household members and pets. Notify close contacts so they can also take precautions. Do not share cups, utensils, or towels. During the 10-day masking period avoid eating with other people since you will need to remove your mask to eat.
• Monitor your health. For many people, COVID-19 does not require emergency services, but if experiencing any emergency warning signs, call 911 and seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Care for mild symptoms. Rest and stay well hydrated. Symptomatic management with OTC medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen as directed can be helpful. Call CH&W at 805-756-1211 to schedule an appointment if you have any concerns. We also have walk-in nurse triage for same-day care.

Class and Work Attendance

• For students: Campus Health and Wellbeing generally does not provide doctor's notes, unless it is an extreme and rare circumstance. Please visit your Health and Counseling Portal to obtain a screenshot for verification of your Health Center appointment as proof of illness. If additional accommodations are needed as a result of your illness, please discuss this directly with your provider during your health appointment.

Students are encouraged to reach out to the following Cal Poly support services: