Skip to Content
Enroll Now myClarkState
Community
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Information for Students
Coronavirus (COVID 19) Questions

Coronavirus (COVID 19) Questions

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person:

  • Between people who are in close contact with one another.
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.

Recent studies show that the virus can be spread by people before they develop symptoms or who never develop symptoms. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Although the virus can survive for a short period on some surfaces, it is unlikely to be spread from products or packaging. Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19.

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

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

This list does not include all possible symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.

Clark State emergency response teams meet to discuss federal, state, and local guidance on this evolving situation. We are working day and night to provide a clean and sanitary environment. This means increased levels of cleaning, new tools to combat an array of communicable diseases, increased levels and durations of cleaning, updated policies, plans and procedures to prepare for events that may change the way we operate, and more.

Most people who get COVID-19 will be able to recover at home. CDC has directions for people who are recovering at home and their caregivers, including:

  • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
  • Use a separate room and bathroom for sick household members (if possible).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Provide your sick household member with clean disposable facemasks to wear at home, if available, to help prevent spreading COVID-19 to others.
  • Clean the sick room and bathroom, as needed, to avoid unnecessary contact with the sick person.

If someone around you appears to have symptoms, please understand that there are a variety of reasons that someone may be coughing or sneezing. Many people may have allergies or other causes for what may appear to be symptoms.

Isolation and quarantine protocols

The following isolation and quarantine protocols provide guidance for individuals who test positive for COVID-19, individuals exposed to COVID-19, and individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 in alignment with CDC guidance and as directed by the Ohio Department of Health. The following protocols are effective for Clark State’s students, faculty, and staff.

If You Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolate)

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should do the following:

  • Stay home/Isolate for five days.
  • Contact the Dean of Student Engagement, Nina Wiley at 937.328.7936 or wileyn@clarkstate.edu.
  • If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave isolation.
  • Continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.
  • If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.

If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine)

If you have been boosted OR completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna within the last five months OR completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last two months, you should:

  • Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • Test on day five, if possible.
  • If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.

If you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna over five months ago OR completed the primary series of J&J over two months ago and are not boosted OR are unvaccinated, you should:

  • Stay home and quarantine for five days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.
  • Contact the Dean of Student Engagement, Nina Wiley at 937.328.7936 or wileyn@clarkstate.edu.
  • Test on day five if possible.
  • If you develop symptoms get a test and stay in quarantine at home.

Additional resources can be located on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.  

If you test positive for COVID-19 (or present with several of the most common symptoms), you should contact Nina Wiley, Dean, Student Engagement and Support Services. If you received positive test results, Nina Wiley will notify the Health Department in your county of your residence and, if different, the county where your classes are located. Following College protocol, the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Senior Vice President Technology, Safety and Strategic Initiatives will be notified. Decisions will be made regarding necessary actions to communicate to individuals and/or spaces on campus that need to be quarantined.  

Settings such as large meetings or conferences and any place that has declared a state of emergency due to the virus should be avoided. Travel guidance from the U.S. Department of State and public health agencies continues to change, and there is no way to anticipate if, or when, additional travel restrictions may be issued that could impact your ability to return to campus. 

What if I am scheduled to travel to a state or city with a known case or if I am planning on traveling out of the country?

One of the best resources available to you is using the CDC guidance for travel. This site provides details on the various travel advisories to locations.