If you contract, have symptoms of, test positive for, or are exposed to COVID-19, follow the steps below. Students should comply with case investigator and contact tracing health assessment emails. Make sure to notify Drexel if you test positive: Report positive test results through the Drexel Health Checker or email COVIDtracing@drexel.edu. Do not come to campus if you don’t feel well or if you suspect you may have COVID-19.
*You can use an at-home rapid antigen test (which you can obtain at the Student Health Center) or schedule a PCR test through the Drexel Health Checker.
Report Your Result
If you received your positive test at a Drexel testing site, you should be contacted by the Drexel COVID Tracing Team. If you do not hear from them within 24 hours, email COVIDtracing@drexel.edu.
If you received your positive test result elsewhere, report your test result through the Drexel Health Checker or email COVIDtracing@drexel.edu.
Drexel Health Checker
A staff member of the COVID Tracing Team will contact you to facilitate testing and assist with isolation or quarantine if needed. Student Health will also try to identify where you may have been exposed to the infection and work to identify and confidentially alert additional contacts so they do not spread the virus. Make sure to answer your phone so that contact tracers can reach you. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms and feel you need medical attention or have additional questions, please call the Student Health Center right away by phone (215.220.4700).
Isolate in Place
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, students who receive a positive COVID-19 test will be asked to isolate for 5 days. If you live in a Drexel Residence Hall, Fraternity house, or Sorority house, you must isolate in your assigned room or elect to isolate at your off-campus home. “Isolate in Place” protocols allow the University to prioritize isolation housing accommodations for residential students most in need, such as those with medical conditions that place them at higher risk from COVID.
We strongly encourage students who can return to an off-campus home by a private car to isolate at home.
Note: Drexel will not provide a quarantine location for non-residential students. Students who reside off-campus must isolate in place in their residence or return to their home.
If a student living on campus is diagnosed with COVID-19, Drexel will identify the area(s) of exposure and follow CDC and Philadelphia Health Department guidelines in order to clean and disinfect areas used by the ill student (students are responsible for cleaning their own dorm rooms).
When in isolation, you may not leave your room. Exceptions may include picking up campus dining-provided meals from designated pick-up locations, using the bathroom, or for a pre-approved appointment at Drexel Health, and you must wear a well-fitted, high filtration mask (KN95, KF94 or N95) and maintain social distance.
If you have roommate(s):
- Always wear a mask around your roommate(s) except when you are sleeping.
- Try to avoid shared bathrooms when others are using them.
- Use good hand hygiene.
Consider discussing isolation precautions (such as mask-wearing, shared items, and cleaning) with roommates in advance so everyone is prepared to stay safer.
After isolation ends, you must continue to wear a well-fitting, high-filtration mask around others for 5 days. Avoid social activities (such as shared meals) that require you to take your mask off around others.
Reporting a Concern
Drexel Housing and Residence Life informs residential students about guidelines and expectations when isolating. Any residential student concerns regarding how their peers are following guidelines, may be directed to their residence hall’s Resident Director or the Front Desk of their residence hall (Van R for Fraternity and Sorority houses). Students can also report issues through the Drexel incident reporting form: General Incident Reports Form (maxient.com). Students who do not follow isolation guidelines and expectations may be referred to Student Conduct for additional follow-up.
Support Services
Student Health Services will provide ongoing support for students who are living in campus residential housing and have tested positive for COVID-19. These services may include:
- Meal pickup, with meals ordered by the student to suit dietary needs (Housing and Residence Life will contact you upon notification of a positive test)
- Communication of short-term medical leave and coordination with academic advisors to provide academic materials and study support for students during the isolation period
We know that isolation can be stressful, and we encourage students to utilize virtual resources available through the Drexel Counseling Center.
Residential students: see FAQs below for more information.