Frequently Asked Questions

There will not be mandatory surveillance for the start of the Spring 2023 semester. Instead, employees and students will have access to rapid antigen tests if you are feeling ill or if you are a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. For more information on when and how to test, please see the FAQ’s below.

There will be no arrival testing for the Spring 2023 return to Keene State College. Prearrival testing is not required but is strongly encouraged. If possible, please take a rapid antigen test or a PCR test within 24 hours of returning to campus. We encourage you to test again during the first week of the semester. For more information about when to test and where to get a test, please see FAQ’s below.

If you are feeling ill, you can use an at-home rapid test. If you are a student and want to get tested in person or talk to a medical provider, please contact the Wellness Center at 603-358-2200. You can also visit a local pharmacy or Convenient MD to receive a COVID-19 test. If you have an appointment with The Wellness Center, you will be tested prior to your scheduled appointment.

Rapid antigen tests will be available in the entrance to the Mason Library, while supplies last. Additionally, students can pick up tests from the Wellness Center lobby in the Elliot Center or from their CA if living on-Campus.

You can also receive up to 8 free tests per month through most health insurance plans. KSC employees are encouraged to visit this website for more information on how to obtain COVID-19 tests that are covered by their insurance.

You should test if you are feeling ill, especially if you are experiencing any of the following 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

Those who experience the above symptoms and test negative, should retest on day 2 and day 4 of symptoms. During this time period, one should avoid other people as much as possible and wear a mask when exposure to others is necessary.

You should also test if you were a recent contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If you have symptoms, test right away. Otherwise, test on days 2 and 5 after exposure.

No. KSC is no longer tracking positive cases since the CDC has ended the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11th.

If your symptoms continue, please retest on day 2 and day 4 of symptoms. During this time period, avoid other people as much as possible and wear a mask when exposure to others is necessary. If your symptoms worsen or you are concerned and if you are a student, please call the Wellness Center to talk to a health care provider at 603-358-2200. If you are an employee, please contact your health care provider.

This will be edited for the Fall 2023 semester, stay tuned for details.

• If you test positive, you must isolate for 10 full days per CDC guidance, with the day of positive test or symptoms onset being counted as day 0.

• If you are symptom-free on day 5 you may opt to test-out of isolation by taking a COVID test on day 6 or later. If the test is negative, then you are free to resume normal activities on Campus. However, even those who test out of full isolation MUST continue to wear a mask around other people for the entire 10 day period. You do not need to submit the test results from your “test-out”, but please do wait until the test is negative, or until 10 full days of isolation have passed to return to Campus.

Yes, more details to follow.

• Your isolation date begins on the day that you tested positive or that you first experienced COVID-19 symptoms. This day is counted as day 0. For example, if your symptoms began on Monday, Monday would be day 0 and you would be eligible to test out of isolation on Sunday, if symptoms have resolved. If you are still feeling ill on day 6, please continue to isolate until symptoms have resolved.

• If symptoms have resolved, use a rapid antigen test. If negative, you are free to leave isolation and return to Campus. If positive, please continue to isolate until the test is negative or until you have isolated for a full 10 days.

You must mask around other people for a full 10 days after contact with the positive person except when you are sleeping.

• The last date of contact is day 0
• Masking around others is required regardless of vaccination status
• You should use grab and go options for dining and avoid other situations where you cannot mask and are with other people. Monitor for symptoms and test if symptoms appear. If no symptoms appear, test on day 2 and day 5 after exposure.
• If the test is positive, follow guidance above for isolation
• If the test is negative, continue to wear a mask around others for the full 10 days.
  If your tests are negative and you remain symptom free, you can continue to attend class, work and other campus events.

Per CDC guidelines, individuals will not need to quarantine regardless of vaccination status. See FAQ above about what to do if you are considered a close contact.

It is important that you keep up with your classes, even if you are in isolation. Please reach out to each instructor and let them know that you will be missing class. Your professor will work with you so that you can stay caught up with work during isolation or will help you catch up, if you are too ill to work. If you need further support, please reach out to the Dean of Students office at deanofstudents@keene.edu

College can be hard and isolation can be an added stressor. While you are in isolation, try some of the following to reduce stress:

• Meditation and Yoga- there are many online resources (Youtube alone has a ton, such as the very popular Yoga with Adriene) , and the following apps can connect you with 1000’s of guided meditations or yoga:

1. Insight Timer (free!! With access to thousands of guided meditations, music, and yoga)
2. Headspace
3. Calm
4. Breathe2Relax (also free! With guidance to breathing meditation)

• Stay connected: reach out to friends and family. Text, call, message, video chat, whatever way you like to communicate! Connect with others daily.
• Rest: take time to nap, read books, color, draw. Enjoy the opportunity to take it easy!
• Gentle activity: if you are feeling up to it, some gentle movement can help reduce stress while in isolation. Take breaks every hour to get up and walk around.
• Dance! This is a great way to move a little, release tension and feel better. Put on your favorite tunes and get moving!
• Get outside: If you are isolating at home and can be away from others, take some time for short walks or even just sitting outside can help one feel better.

If you need more support for your mental health, please do not hesitate to reach out to the counselors at the Wellness Center by calling 603-358-2200. If you need support outside of business hours, please call the 24 hour crisis counselor at 603-358-2436. In emergency, call 911 or campus safety at 603-358-2228.

From the CDC:

• Everyone aged 5 years and older if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose.
• For children aged 6 months-4 years who completed the Moderna primary series and if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose.
• For more information, see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

Vaccinations are not required at Keene State College but they are strongly encouraged. Vaccination continues to be one of our best tools to reduce the incidence of severe disease and hospitalization.

• At this time there are no vaccine clinics scheduled for Spring 2023. Please check your KSC email regularly for information if a new vaccine clinic is scheduled.
• You can also receive a COVID vaccination at several locations in NH. Check out this website to find a COVID vaccine near you.

Yes! You can still get the COVID-19 vaccine if you already had COVID, as long as it has been at least 10 days since your infection began and your symptoms have resolved. If you are unsure, please contact your health care provider or the Wellness Center to discuss your situation.

Masks are required in The Wellness Center, and may be required in classrooms for short time periods to reduce the risk of upper respiratory disease transmission when case rates are very high. Temporary mask requirements will be communicated via email and posted at the following webpage.

You must still mask around others if you are feeling ill, if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for covid-19 within the last 10 days, or if you have tested out of isolation but are still within 10 days of testing positive. Even though masks are not currently required, you should carry a mask with you at all times as someone may request that you wear a mask. Certain events, classes and office spaces may require masks at their discretion, so it is best to be prepared and ready to comply. Masks are a great tool for reducing spread of the COVID-19 and therefore reducing the disruption that may come from getting sick. Masks are very welcomed and encouraged at Keene State College, especially in crowded indoor locations and for people who are at a higher risk for severe disease. Please respect another person’s decision to wear a mask, and do not ask about their or their family’s health situation.

Yes, please mask if any of the following conditions apply to you:

• If you are experiencing symptoms of any respiratory illness, even if they have tested negative for COVID
• If you have completed isolation for covid-19 and are still within days 6-10 of having tested positive
• If you are within 10 days of having had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID
• When visiting the Wellness Center

• Most buildings on campus will have a surgical mask dispenser that you are free to use.
• For other mask requests, please use this online form.

Yes, we recommend using KN95 or N95’s if you are at risk for severe complications of COVID-19 or if you will be in close contact with someone who is at risk for severe complications of COVID-19. There may be other situations, too, where you want to have the better protection that KN95’s and N-95’s offer. To request a KN95 or an N95, please use this online form.