Student Quarantine

Here you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about students that need to go into quarantine. If you have a question that is not answered in the FAQs, you may contact our University Call Center at +1 (509) 313-7070.

Looking for ways to keep busy during quarantine? Check out the Quarantine Retreat (myGU login required).

Quarantining helps to prevent more people from getting sick and protects other students. When a student has been identified as COVID-19 positive, our contact tracing process identifies all individuals who had recently been in close proximity (a close contact) with that student. Students are placed in quarantine given their history of interaction with that individual.
 
A close contact is defined as any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes, or in direct contact with an infected person, starting from 2 days before illness onset, or for asymptomatic individuals, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection.
 

A Contract Tracer calls students to notify them of their need to relocate to a quarantine space. Students have 30 minutes at minimum to pack their items and wait in their rooms to receive a call from a Residence Director (RD) with specific move in instructions. The RD updates their residence information and meets them with a move in cart/bins for their personal items.

The relocation time is variable; some students are moved within an hour of notification and others may wait several hours for the transition. This is highly dependent on the volume of moves occurring at the same time. Students who test positive for COVID-19 are prioritized in moving order.

 
Students need to pack for being away from their residence for 14 days. Given transport capacities, we ask that students only bring with them their academic and personal essential items, including clothing, academic necessities (laptop, books, notes), a thermometer, hygiene products, snacks, and smaller hobby/activity items. We ask that students not bring any large items with them (e.g., TVs, PlayStation, etc.) given capacity concerns. Students may choose to bring additional comfort items, such as a favorite pillow or blanket, but full bedding will be provided.
 

When students arrive at their quarantine space, the RD provides them with their room key and personal belongings, and they can then get settled.

The rooms for students vary based on the facility they are placed in. Generally, these rooms have their own personal restroom as well as provisions for food storage.

When students arrive at their quarantine room, Zag Dining connects with them regarding specific dietary restrictions.

Finally, each room has a welcome care package for your student as well as fliers with QR codes to scan using their phone. One of the fliers takes them to an online Student Quarantine Guide (myGU login required) with all the resources they will need during their time in quarantine.

 
Per Spokane Regional Health District and CDC guidelines, students have to quarantine for 14 days following their last exposure to a confirmed positive individual. If a student is exposed on the first of the month, their last full day of quarantine will be the 15th, and they will return to their residence hall on the 16th.
 

If students have a meal plan, they continue to receive meals each day delivered to their quarantine room. Currently, meals are delivered between 10am and 12pm each day. Students can order off of an online menu provided by Sodexo with lots of choices to accommodate additional preferences and portion needs. Snacks and beverages are also provided.

If students do not have a meal plan, they have meals delivered to their quarantine room and their student account is charged (if they are in need of financial assistance, please know that support is available). All quarantine rooms come with a refrigerator and microwave for student use.

If there are any questions specific to dining, they can contact Hayden Thrasher, Dietitian with Zag Dining, and her team at (509) 217-4570 for assistance.

 
All of our processes and policies have been developed in partnership with Spokane Regional Health District. At this time, given health concerns and for the protection of delivery staff, students cannot have any meals delivered from services such as Grub Hub/Door Dash/UberEats while in quarantine. Zag Dining is focused on providing students a highly nutritious and plentiful menu from which to order so students have what they need when they need it. Students in quarantine should not be leaving their room, and have food delivered straight to their door.
 
For on-campus students, many items are provided in their quarantine space. However, if they need additional items (toilet paper, garbage bags, etc.) or if they have a maintenance or cleaning issue, they can call Plant Services at (509) 313-5656.
 
Student rooms come with two sets of linens, bath towels, washcloths and blankets (these will be laundered every 3 days). For personal laundry, students can make a reservation for services. Specific instructions for laundry services are found in the Student Quarantine Guide (myGU login required).
 
Student rooms come with trash bags, soap, disinfectant spray and paper towels. Garbage is picked up daily. Specific instructions for cleaning services are found in the Student Quarantine Guide (myGU login required).
 

It is very important to us that students have the tools and resources needed to stay caught up academically. There are many virtual resources available. They can reach out to Academic Advising & Assistance (509-313-4072) for guidance. Additionally, Foley Library can provide your student with temporary access to online content (509-313-5931).

When students arrive in quarantine, they should email their instructors to let them know they will be attending classes remotely.

 
We have developed a series of weekly outdoor structured activities which allow students to have some structured outdoor time following public health directives, including masks and physical distancing. We are asking students to try not to leave their room for daily activities.
 

When students are moved to a quarantine space, they need to be tested for COVID-19 if they have not been tested already. It is best to test at 5-7 days past their last known exposure to a positive case.

Students need to schedule an appointment to be tested by calling Health and Counseling Services at (509) 313-4066. Contact Tracers will work with your student to assist with this process.

 
After exposure to a confirmed positive individual, even if your student tests negative for COVID-19 during quarantine, they still need to quarantine for the full 14 days due to the incubation period of COVID-19. Testing gives us good information but only provides a snapshot for a particular moment in time.
 
If a student’s test comes back positive, they will likely need to move to an isolation space. Isolation is similar to quarantine, just at a different location. Students who test positive and are symptomatic isolate for 10 full days following the onset of their symptoms given they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and have improving symptoms. Asymptomatic students isolate for 10 full days following the date of positive specimen collection.
 
Contract Tracers call students regularly to check in and see how they are doing. We encourage students to let Contact Tracers know if they are having any issues or unresolved needs that we can assist with. Students are provided an additional list of contact information and resources in the online Student Quarantine Guide (myGU login required).
 

We all know that COVID-19 has been a stressful time, and we have to rely on coping skills that build resilience. Students experience quarantine in different ways. Some have coping skills to get them through, others may feel more stressed. Access to remote activities and resources are provided and help students get through this brief and temporary time. Despite the legitimate worries that we have, many students have already completed a quarantine process and are back to regular campus activities and doing well.

Parents are in a prime position to support their student remotely. Scheduling a “meal time” via FaceTime or Skype, or just calling on a regular basis during quarantine can be of great help.

Students also continue to have access to our health care providers and counseling staff at Health and Counseling Services. These experts can provide telehealth visits for medical and mental health concerns. Students can reach out to Health & Counseling Services at (509) 313-4066 if they are having concerns about symptoms, need support during this stressful time, or have other health-related concerns. Also, our Center for Cura Personalis staff are here to support your student, especially with emotional health concerns. Students can call their staff at (509) 313-2227 to receive additional help.

 

Mail Services is notified that a student is in quarantine. Their mail is held with Mail Services until they have been cleared and released from quarantine and can pick it up.

If there are essential items that need to be delivered (e.g., medication, legal documents, academic materials), there are delivery options. Students must send an email to mailservices@gonzaga.edu to put in their request.

Specific instructions for mail services are found in the online Student Quarantine Guide (myGU login required).

 
Yes! Simply address your care package to your student and clearly mark IN CARE OF RESIDENCE LIFE. Mail Services will deliver your package to the Residence Life staff who will make sure that it arrives at your student’s isolation space.
 
We understand that students may want to return home rather than quarantining for 14 days; however, given their exposure to COVID-19, it is not recommended that they travel out of their quarantine space. Students who travel outside of their space could possibly expose others in areas outside of campus and outside of Spokane. We are therefore asking that students stay in their quarantine space rather than leaving campus.
 

Students receive a call from a Contact Tracer or the RD when it is time for them to move out of quarantine. They can begin packing up their belongings and the RD gives them specific move out instructions, updates your student’s residence information, and brings a move out cart. Your student is then transported back to their normal housing and keys are collected.

When a student arrives back to their residence hall, they should email their instructors to let them know when they will be returning to in-person classes. Students do not need to re-test to exit quarantine, nor do they need documentation of completion to return to classes.

 
The Student Quarantine Guide (myGU login required) has all of the information students will need during quarantine. Additional information can be found on the Zag On website (www.gonzaga.edu/zagon) and the COVID-19 Hotline (509-313-7070) has colleagues ready to answer any additional questions you or your student may have.
 
Students can access the Student Quarantine Guide (myGU login required) for more information.
View the Guide