UTC Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Contact Tracing

The University’s Campus Support Team includes the Office of Student Outreach and Support, University Health Services, Housing and Residence Life, and the Contact Tracing Team.

Under the direction of the Hamilton County Health Department, the Team follows U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Tennessee Department of Health guidelines to provide support and guidance to all students and staff affected by COVID-19.

Guidance Summary:

  • Any student or employee—regardless of vaccination status—should submit the COVID-19 Notification Form in the event of:
    • Testing positive
    • Exposure to someone who tested positive
  • A member of the Contact Tracing Team will reach out as soon as possible to provide guidance and instructions.
  • You can calculate your expected quarantine or isolation period via the State’s Quarantine and Isolation Calculator. You can use your last day of exposure (for quarantine) or first day of symptoms (for positive), with the State of Tennessee’s Quarantine or Isolation Calculator.

Updated Jan. 8, 2022

Positive Cases

Positive cases are people who have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. We encourage all who self-test at home call their local health department to self-report. Hamilton County residents should call 423-209-8383, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

UTC requires that if you are positive, you should

  • Isolate away from others (stay at home)
    • We strongly recommend isolation for 10 days from the day your symptoms began; or if you don’t have symptoms, ten days from your test date.
    • Per CDC guidance, you may choose to isolate for five days, and then to strictly mask for five additional days. This may be done as long as you are asymptomatic or your symptoms are significantly improved by day 5.
    • Await confirmation from Contact Tracing before returning to campus.

Quarantine for Close Contacts

Campus Support will help students and employees determine how long to quarantine based on each individual’s circumstances and CDC guidance.

Questions?

  • Call 423-425-1351; M-F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the difference between quarantine and isolation?

    Quarantine

    You do not have symptoms and you have been identified as a close or household contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

    Isolation

    You have tested positive for or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

     

    How long?

    To calculate your expected quarantine or isolation period, you can use your last day of exposure (for quarantine) or first day of symptoms (for positive), with the State of Tennessee’s Quarantine or Isolation Calculator.

  • Do I need to quarantine if I’m vaccinated and a close or household contact?

    If you are fully vaccinated (more than two weeks after your second dose of a two-dose vaccine or single dose vaccine) and you do not have symptoms, you do not need to quarantine.

    Instead:

    • Wear a mask for the next 14 days
    • Get a COVID-19 test three to five days after you were in contact with the person diagnosed with COVID-19
    • Report symptoms via the COVID-19 Notification Form if they occur during the 14-day self-monitoring period.
      • Then get tested and isolate.
      • You will receive a notice with a link to submit test results. Submit your results and await further instructions from Contact Tracing.
  • I am vaccinated and I have symptoms for COVID-19—what should I do?

    If you test positive for COVID-19:

    • Isolate—avoid contact with others and stay home
    • Fill out the UTC COVID-19 Notification Form
    • Stay put and wait for more guidance from the UTC Contact Tracing Team

    To calculate your expected quarantine or isolation period, you can use your first day of symptoms (for positive), with the State of Tennessee’s Quarantine or Isolation Calculator.

  • How long will I need to quarantine or isolate?

    Campus Support will help students and employees determine how long to quarantine based on each individual’s circumstances.

     

    To calculate your expected quarantine or isolation period, you can use your last day of exposure (for quarantine) or first day of symptoms (for positive), with the State of Tennessee’s Quarantine or Isolation Calculator.

  • What if I live on campus and need to quarantine or isolate?

    Please be aware that limited temporary housing is available for on-campus students who are needing to isolate or quarantine. Students who live on campus should consider plans for off-campus isolation or quarantine.

     

    Housing and Residence Life makes the final determination for all on-campus students and staff regarding that individual’s quarantine/isolation residence on campus.

     

    Learn more at utc.edu/isolate-quarantine.

  • What if I took an at-home test?

    If you fill out the COVID-19 Notification Form and have tested positive with an at-home test, you will be sent a link for submitting your test results.

     

    We encourage all of those who self-test at home to call their local health department to self-report since lab results will not be available. Hamilton County residents should call 423-209-8383, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

  • I’m not vaccinated and I’m a close contact—what should I do?

    Fill out the COVID-19 Notification Form.

     

    Stay home and await further guidance from the Contact Tracing Team.

     

    Quarantine time is a minimum of ten days. You can use the State of Tennessee’s Quarantine or Isolation Calculator to calculate your expected quarantine time.

     

    • The length of time of quarantine is determined by the date of exposure and whether symptoms develop.
    • Those who have symptoms may be required to quarantine for 14 days.
    • If a close contact wishes to apply for a quarantine time exception, they must test on day five or after with a PCR or rapid antigen test through a medical provider and submit a COVID Notification form with the negative results attached and attest to being symptom-free. If approved, they would be released on day eight of the original quarantine period.
  • I’m not vaccinated and I’m a household contact—what should I do?

    Fill out the COVID-19 Notification Form.

     

    Stay home and await further guidance from the Contact Tracing Team.

     

    You can use the State of Tennessee’s Quarantine or Isolation Calculator to calculate your expected quarantine time.

     

    The length of time of quarantine is determined by the date of exposure and whether symptoms develop.

    • Household contacts that continue to live in the home with a positive case should quarantine for longer; sometimes up to 24 days.
    • Household contacts can apply for a shortened quarantine if they test on or after day 15 (10 days for their positive household member + 5 days of their own quarantine period) and remain symptom-free. If approved, they would be released on day 18 of their original quarantine period.