Directions for Students Who Feel Sick (Suspected COVID-19)

The novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.  The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.  Spread is more likely to take place when people are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet)

If you are not feeling well, you should follow these steps for non-emergencies:

1. Monitor your symptoms. COVID-19 causes a wide range of symptoms from mild to severe and may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.  Monitor if you have a fever, 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, or diarrhea.  The CDC has a self-checker here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
2. STAY HOME. If you are on on-campus residents, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR RESIDENCE ROOM.   If you are a commuter student with classes on campus, DO NOT COME TO THE CAMPUS.
3. Call for medical care. Students may call Health Services at 201-684-7536 Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.   Alternatively, you may call you own medical provider.

If you have a medical emergency, you should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.

1. Emergency warning signs of COVID-19 are: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stake awake, bluish lips or face (this list is not all possible symptoms, so please call your medical provider for any symptoms that are severe or concerning to you)
2. Call 911. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for symptoms you suspect are COVID-19 related.

Where to Get Tested for COVID-19

Health Services is offering testing (with a fee billed to the student’s account) for symptomatic students who are ill while on campus. Appointments are available Monday to Friday from 1pm to 4pm by contacting Health Services 201-684-7536.

New Jersey’s COVID-19 Information Hub, has information about where you can get tested for COVID-19. Below, are local Urgent Care Centers open for medical appointments and have COVID-19 testing capabilities.

City MD, Ramsey, 551-497-5679
City MD, Paramus, 551-222-0800
The Doctor’s Office, Midland Park, 201-857-8400
Synergy Health, Montvale, 201-677-8680
Valley Health Urgent Care, Mahwah, 1-800-Valley1 (You must bring a prescription for the COVID-19 test with you)
CVS, Mahwah, 201-529-5930

How to Report COVID-19

Students or employees who test positive for COVID-19 or who are identified as a close contact (defined below) of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 must complete the COVID-19 Reporting Form.

If you’ve been identified as a close contact, quarantine is no longer required, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection the CDC recommends wearing a mask for 10 days from last contact,  counting day 1 as the  first full day after exposure. If you have no symptoms, the CDC recommends to test at least 5 full days after your last exposure.  If you are experiencing symptoms, test immediately and isolate until results are received.

Upon completion of the COVID-19 Reporting Form, you will receive an email from mailadmin@ramapo.edu with further instructions. In addition, a member from Health Services (for students) or Human Resources (for employees) will  contact you to review and clarify, as needed, the information you reported.

As a reminder, you should not report to campus (residential students must go home to complete isolation) if you have tested positive, have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or have had an exposure.