COVID-19 Health Guidelines

home covid testThe Foothill-De Anza Community College District is following current guidance from Santa Clara County and California health authorities, which is summarized on this webpage. 

Click each tab to learn what you need to do, if you have

  • COVID-19 symptoms
  • a positive test result for COVID-19
  • or close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19

These guidelines have been updated to align with new recommendations issued Jan. 9, 2024 by the California Department of Public Health.

COVID Symptoms

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms

  1. Take a COVID test right away
  2. Stay home and avoid others until:
    • You have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine, and
    • Your other symptoms are improving
  3. Wear a mask if you must be around other people
  4. If test is positive: Follow the guidelines for a positive test result
  5. If test is negative: You can return to normal activities if:
    • You have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine, and
    • Your other symptoms are improving
  6. If your negative result was from an at-home (antigen) test, you should test again at least a day later

Positive Test

If you have a positive test result for COVID-19

  1. Stay home if you have COVID symptoms and avoid others until
    • You have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine, and
    • Your other symptoms are improving
  2. Follow the additional steps below, regardless of whether you do or don't have symptoms
  3. Wear a mask  around other people for 10 days after you noticed symptoms or tested positive
    • You can remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have negative results from an two at-home (antigen) tests, with at least one day in between tests
  4. Avoid contact for 10 days with people at higher risk for COVID
  5. Talk with your doctor right away to see if you are eligible for COVID medication or other prescribed treatment

Close Contact

If you learn that you've had close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19 and you have symptoms, follow the guidance for COVID symptoms.

If you've had close contact and don't have symptoms, follow these steps regardless of your vaccination status:

  1. Consider getting tested within 5 days of exposure and before contact with people at higher risk for COVID 
  2. If you're in a higher-risk group, or are in contact with higher-risk people, get tested within 5 days of exposure
  3. Wear a mask indoors if you are around people at higher risk for COVID for 10 days after your last close contact with someone who had COVID
  4. If symptoms develop, 
    • Get tested and follow the recommendations for COVID symptoms
    • If test is positive, follow the recommendations for a positive test


Reporting Forms

Notes and Definitions

  • What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

  • How can I get tested for COVID-19?

  • How do you count days for isolation?

  • What does "close contact" mean?

  • When is someone with COVID potentially contagious?

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