COVID symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

 Stay home, as you may infect others without knowing it.

 Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are on the VCCCD information technology webpage.

  Test right away. Upload results to the app.

  Contact the Student Health Center: 805.378.1413.

  Isolate (stay home and separate yourself from others) while waiting for test results.

If the result is negative, stay home at least 24 hours, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without fever reducing medications, and other symptoms are mild and improving. If your symptoms continue, consider another antigen test after 48 hours or take a PCR test as soon as you can.

Stay home if you have COVID symptoms you may infect others without knowing it. 

Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are on the VCCCD information technology webpage.

Contact the Student Health Center: 805.378.1413 for next steps.

Speak to a healthcare provider about treatment options, especially if you develop symptoms.

If you have symptoms, isolate for 24 hours.  If no fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication AND symptoms are mild and resolving contact the student health center to be cleared to return to campus.

Wear a well-fitting mask indoors around others for 10 days. Day 0 is the day your symptoms began or the day you test positive if no symptoms. May stop masking if 2 sequential negative tests 2 days in a row at least 24 hours apart.

Please report any classroom/workspace exposures you become aware of to the Student Health Center (SHC) as soon as possible: 805.378.1413.

The SHC will send an exposure notice to employees and/or students who were exposed. The information will include

• Date(s) of exposure
• Testing recommendations/how to access free testing
• Masking requirements
• SHC contact information if there are questions

• If you have new COVID-19 symptoms, you should test, mask right away, and contact the health center.
• If you do not have symptoms, and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection and would benefit from treatment, you should test within 5 days. 
• If you do not have symptoms and have contact with people who are at higher risk for severe infection, you should mask indoors when around such people for 10 days. Consider testing within 5 days after the last exposure date (Day 0) and before contact with higher-risk people. For further details, see CDPH COVID-1​9 tes​​ting guidance​.​

• The new protocols apply to our campuses and the district office only.
• Health Sciences students will need to check in with their clinical instructors to ensure they are following clinical site COVID requirements.

COVID-19 is still with us, so the Student Health Center coordinators and the District’s HR leaders created this handy FAQ to help employees who have questions.

Where can I get FREE COVID-19 test kits?

Call the Student Health Center on your campus to see if they have test kits available for you to pick up, or use the Ventura County Recovers website to find the complete list of testing sites in the county.

District Administrative Center employees, contact Oxnard College’s Student Health Center or use the Ventura County Recovers website to find the complete list of testing sites in the county.

Can I use an at-home test kit to determine if I have COVID-19?  

At-home test kits (antigen tests) are completely fine to use, but remember to test 3–5 days following exposure. If you test too soon, the result will not be accurate. You do not need to go to a medical facility to be tested.

I have been exposed to COVID-19. Now what?

• If you do not have symptoms you may come to campus.
• Test 3–5 days following your exposure regardless of whether you have been vaccinated or boosted.      
• Consider testing as soon as possible to see if you are already infected. If you test negative before Day 3, test again 48 hours later.
• If you had COVID-19 in the last 30 days, you do not need to test. If it has been over 30 days, follow the testing recommendations above.
• If your test result is positive, isolate, report on the MyVCCCD App, and seek treatment if needed.
• Wear a well-fitting mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or surgical mask) around others (even at home) for 10 days following exposure—even if your test is negative.
• Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days. If symptoms develop, test immediately and stay home.
• Consider getting vaccinated or boosted if you have not done so yet. The best way to protect yourself from getting very sick from a future COVID-19 exposure and infection is to get vaccinated and boosted now.

I have COVID-19 symptoms. Now what?

• Please do not come to campus, as you may infect others without knowing it.
• Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are on the VCCCD information technology webpage here.
• Contact the Student Health Center; staff may not be available immediately but will contact you as soon as possible.
• Contact your supervisor.
• Test right away. If the result is negative on first day of symptoms, continue to wear a well-fitted mask around others and test again 48 hours later. Rapid home tests increase in accuracy by third day of symptoms.
• Isolate (stay home and separate yourself from others) while waiting for test results.

I tested positive for COVID-19. Now what?

• Please do not come to campus, as you may infect others without knowing it.  
• Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Upload your positive test results. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are on the VCCCD information technology webpage here.
• Contact the Student Health Center; staff may not be available immediately but will contact you as soon as possible.
• Contact your supervisor.
• Contact HR if you are off work more than five working days, as you will need to complete leave of absence paperwork.
• Speak to a healthcare provider about treatment options, especially if you develop symptoms.
• Persons who have tested positive for COVID-19: 
  • Start counting isolation days with Day 1 being the first full day after your symptoms began (or the day after your positive test if you have no symptoms).
  • End isolation after Day 5 with return to campus on Day 6 if: Symptoms are not present, or are mild and improving; AND They have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
  • If symptoms are not improving or worsening by Day 5 continue to stay home, contact your healthcare provider, and inform the Student Health Center you will not be returning on Day 6.
  • Continue to wear a well-fitted mask around others for 5 more days after ending your isolation. You can take your mask off sooner if you test negative two days in a row.
• If you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, or experience confusion, please call 911.
• If you have any questions or need clarification about your return to campus date, please contact the Student Health Center.

HR INFORMATION

I tested positive. Can I work from home?

No. You need to take care of yourself and focus on getting well.

Are the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act & the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“Emergency FMLA”) still available?

No, they have expired.

REGARDING STUDENTS:

My student informed me they have COVID symptoms. Now what?

Inform the student to:

• Not come to campus, as you may infect others without knowing it.  
• Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are on the VCCCD information technology webpage here.
• Contact the Student Health Center.
• Test right away. 
• Isolate (stay home and separate yourself from others) while waiting for test results.
• If the result is negative, test again 48 hours later.

My student informed me they tested positive for COVID. Now what?
 

Inform the student to:

• Not come to campus, as you may infect others without knowing it.  
• Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are on the VCCCD information technology webpage here.
• Contact the Student Health Center.
• Speak to a healthcare provider about treatment options, especially if you develop symptoms.
• Isolate for 10 days or end isolation sooner if symptoms are resolving and you have a negative COVID test 5 or more days after symptoms start or a positive test.
• Start counting isolation days with Day 1 being the first full day after your symptoms began (or the day after your positive test if you have no symptoms). 
• Wear a well-fitting mask if you need to be around others during your isolation period.

For more info, visit California Department of Public Health Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine.

• Get vaccinated

• Wear a mask

• Stay 6 feet away from others

• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often

• Cover coughs and sneezes

• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces

• Monitor your health daily

• Stay home and get a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms

If You’re Not Feeling Well

Please don't come to campus—contact your primary care provider or clinic. VCCCD Student Health Centers are available for phone evaluations.

Be sure to email your professor and keep them updated. Please do not return to campus until you’ve tested negative.

The following information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control.

Symptoms

People with COVID-19 report a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

• Sign up for Ventura County alerts
• County of Ventura Coronavirus Information
• Ventura County Health Care Agency
• Ventura County Emergency Information
• Centers for Disease Control
• California Department of Public Health
• California Community Colleges State Chancellor's Office
• California Department of Public Health (English)
• U.S. Department of Education Coronavirus Information

Student Health Centers provide student-centered medical care, mental health counseling, and valuable wellness resources.