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 Public Health COVID-19 Information 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 Public Health COVID-19 Information 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.
- If you have new COVID-19 symptoms, you should test and mask right away.
- Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.
- 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-19 testing guidance.
- 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.
- 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.
- Please do not come to campus, as you may infect others without knowing it.
- If you have new COVID-19 symptoms, you should test and mask right away.
- Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are below in the MyVCCCD App Health Screening Instructions.
- Contact the Student Health Center; staff may not be available immediately but will contact you as soon as possible.
- Contact your supervisor.
- If a person has COVID-19 symptoms and tests negative on an antigen test, they should test again at least a day later (note that antigen tests in infected people may not be positive right away even if symptoms are present). If a person has a negative result on the second test and is still concerned that they could have COVID-19, they may consider antigen testing again at least another day later after the second test (for a total of 3 tests) OR getting a laboratory-based molecular test (such as NAAT/PCR).
- Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.
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 below in the MyVCCCD App Health Screening Instructions.
- 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:
- Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.
- Mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days* after you become sick or test positive (if no symptoms). You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is symptom onset date or positive test date.
- Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days*. Higher-risk individuals include the elderly, those who live in congregate care facilities, those who have immunocompromising conditions, and that put them at higher risk for serious illness.
- Seek Treatment. If you have symptoms, particularly if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, speak with a healthcare provider as soon as you test positive. You may be eligible for antiviral medicines or other treatments for COVID-19. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5-7 days from when symptoms start.
- 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.
- Test right away.
- Isolate (stay home and separate yourself from others) while waiting for test results.
- Report it on the MyVCCCD mobile app. Instructions for downloading the mobile app are below in the MyVCCCD App Health Screening Instructions.
- Contact the Student Health Center.
- If a person has COVID-19 symptoms and tests negative on an antigen test, they should test again at least a day later (note that antigen tests in infected people may not be positive right away even if symptoms are present). If a person has a negative result on the second test and is still concerned that they could have COVID-19, they may consider antigen testing again at least another day later after the second test (for a total of 3 tests) OR getting a laboratory-based molecular test (such as NAAT/PCR).
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 below in the MyVCCCD App Health Screening Instructions.
- Contact the Student Health Center.
- Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.
- Mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days* after you become sick or test positive (if no symptoms). You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is symptom onset date or positive test date.
- Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days*. Higher-risk individuals include the elderly, those who live in congregate care facilities, those who have immunocompromising conditions, and that put them at higher risk for serious illness.
- Seek Treatment. If you have symptoms, particularly if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, speak with a healthcare provider as soon as you test positive. You may be eligible for antiviral medicines or other treatments for COVID-19. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5-7 days from when symptoms start.
