Health and Wellness

The College of Charleston has a voluntary face mask policy. This means that face masks will no longer be required in instructional spaces such as classrooms, labs and libraries.

Individuals who test positive are required to wear a high-quality mask such as a KN-95 for at least 10 days when around others at home and in public.

• Residence Hall front desks 

• Student Health Services, 181 Calhoun Street 

• Stern Student Center, 71 George Street

• Human Resources, Suite 36, Lightsey Center basement, 160 Calhoun Street

• Public Safety, 89 St. Philip Street

• Campus Services HQ, 162 Calhoun Street, first floor of Berry Hall 

• Mobile ordering using the Transact app for the College of Charleston
• Einstein Bros. Bagels (MT, CC, DD, PC)
• Marty’s Place (MT, CC, DD, PC)
• Starbucks (CC, DD, PC)
• Chick-fil-A (CC, DD, PC)
• Already prepared meals (MT, CC, DD, PC) at Market 159
• Reusable to-go-box program (MT, CC, PC)
• City Bistro
• Liberty Fresh Food Co.

Are you experiencing COVID-19 symptoms? They include:

• Fever or chills (over 100.4° or 38°C)
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New loss of smell or taste
• Cough
• Sore throat
• New or unusual headache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Congestion or runny nose
• New onset of any gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite

I'm not feeling well and/or have symptoms:

1. Follow CDC Guidelines 
   
2. Stay at home or in your dorm room until you can get a medical evaluation and avoid taking public transit
3. Separate yourself from others
4. Students: contact Student Health Services at healthservices@cofc.edu or 843.953.5520 to make an appointment and be sure to report all positive test results
5. Faculty and staff: contact your supervisor and primary care physician
6. Find a COVID-19 testing location near you.
7. If your test is positive, report your result via a secure self-reporting form for a positive COVID-19 test.

I have been in close contact (within 6 feet for 15 or more minutes) with someone who has been diagnosed with or tested positive for COVID-19:

• Wear a well-fitted mask around others for 10 days — both indoors and outdoors;
• Monitor your symptoms and get tested if you develop symptoms at any time; and
• Get tested after day 5 of exposure. Note that a negative test does not shorten the 10-day mask-wearing period.

People go into isolation when they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and either are awaiting test results or are known to be positive. On-campus students who are positive for COVID-19 should plan to move off campus for isolation immediately. Students who have exhausted all options to leave campus for isolation should initiate an isolation-in-place protocol with their roommates. Students will isolate in their own housing, ideally in a single room with private use of a bathroom. On campus students who are COVID positive and  isolation should only leave isolation briefly to pick up their meals and then return to their isolation space to eat. 

Quarantine is a period of watchfulness that is used for those who may have had exposure to a positive case (someone who is/was infected) and may become infected. Quarantine does not mean that someone is infected, sick or will definitely become infected. In many cases, people who enter into a period of quarantine never become ill or infected.

In the case of COVID-19, because people can transmit the illness before they show signs of being ill (or even if they become infected but never feel very sick at all), while CDC does not require quarantining, wearing a well-fitting mask for 10 days following close contact with a COVID-19 positive case remains in place as does testing on day 5 or if symptoms develop.

COVID-19 Positive students both on and off-campus as well as faculty and staff (regardless of vaccination status):

• 5-day isolation away from campus required. 
• Your isolation period is determined from the date of the positive COVID-19 test. Day 1 of isolation begins the day after the positive test date. 
• If you have no symptoms after five days and you are without fever for 24 hours and not on fever-reducing medicines, you may return to campus but  MUST wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional five days. 
• If your symptoms have not improved on day 5, a full 10-day isolation away from campus is required.

For individuals identified as close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case,

• • No quarantine required. 
  • Masks are required for 10 days in public spaces following exposure.       
  • Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. If symptoms develop, stay home and seek testing.  
  • If asymptomatic, testing is encouraged on day 5 or after, but is not required.     

Individuals with a documented positive COVID-19 test in the last 90 days both on- and off-campus:

• No quarantine recommended if documentation is on file at Student Health Services
• Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms
• Reach out to your primary care provider if you have concerns or questions

Students who are not compliant with College of Charleston Isolation Protocols may encounter conduct violation charges which will be addressed by the Office of the Dean of Students.

The College has compiled some important information and resources about preparing for and entering isolation for COVID-19. Please take some time now to review this information and refer back to it as needed.

No quarantine is required if documentation of a positive result is on file at Student Health Services.

Monitor your symptoms and get tested if you develop symptoms at any time.

No. In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and S.C. DHEC guidelines, the College of Charleston strongly recommends its students, faculty and staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, please note: a COVID-19 vaccination is not required for any student to enroll or participate in campus activities. Nor is the vaccine required for any employee to work at the College of Charleston.  

The College has partnered with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to provide 24/7 virtual care to actively enrolled students. Any actively enrolled student with a CofC email address will have access to this care at no additional cost. This service will augment the usual care that is offered at Student Health Services, M-F 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information visit https://studenthealth.cofc.edu/after-hours-weekends-alt-care/index.php. 

If a student is determined to have been in class while thought to have been contagious with COVID-19,  individuals may be considered a close contact of the positive case. 

• • No quarantine required. 
  • Masks are required for 10 days in public spaces following exposure.       
  • Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. If symptoms develop, stay home and seek testing.  
  • If asymptomatic, testing is encouraged on day 5 or after, but is not required.    

Students should reach out to the Center for Disability Services to discuss the accommodations process.