Thank you for participating in monitoring in the OSU community through the TRACE-OSU project for the virus that causes COVID-19. We are conducting this public health surveillance project to monitor the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among OSU faculty, staff and students. The primary goal of this project is to provide local public health authorities and university leadership information on an ongoing basis about COVID-19 in the OSU community to better inform public health control measures and the university’s resumption.
What is my test result?
Your test result indicates the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the sample you provided at the time of your test.
What does this result mean?
This means that the sample from your nose tested positive for the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19. Individuals who have the virus in their bodies are more likely to develop COVID-19 and more likely to spread the virus to others. There is also a possibility that the test result may be incorrect.
If you are an OSU student, a representative from the university’s health service will contact you to offer support and guidance on next steps. If you are an OSU employee, stay home; avoid close contact with others; and contact your health care provider.
We also suggest you follow information included below from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) about what do to if you or some you care for is sick or if you or someone you care for are concerned that they may be exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
What should I do if I test positive or develop symptoms?
If you have no symptoms of COVID-19 you will need to self-isolate in your current residence for 10 days from the date of your test. This means saying in your current residence and not having contact with other people.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, which may include cough, fever, chills, congestion, a recent loss of taste or smell, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) you will need to self-isolate at your current residence for 10 days from the time symptoms started, plus an additional 24 hours after any fever has ended (without use of medication) and after all other symptoms have ceased. For example, fever and cough are common symptoms of this illness and may last for several days (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/end-home-isolation.html). Resting, staying hydrated and sleeping are typically helpful. If you require in-person medical care, call your medical provider to let them know you had a positive test through the TRACE OSU project. They will be able to guide your care.
Remember that 80% of people infected with COVID-19 recover well in their residence. Meanwhile, a medical provider will be able to help determine if you need medical care. If at any time you develop severe trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, begin to experience confusion, disorientation, blue lips or blue facial features, dial 911 to receive immediate medical attention.
I do not have health insurance. What should I do if I need to see a medical provider?
We recommend contacting a local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHCs are in most cities and in many rural areas. They are dedicated to providing high quality, affordable care to everyone and will help you, even if you have no health insurance. Find the nearest FQHC at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.
Questions
We encourage questions about TRACE OSU and project testing. If you have questions, please contact the TRACE OSU project team at 541-713-0450 or toll free at 844-541-4219 or email us at support@trace.oregonstate.edu.
Resources
Please visit our Resources page for additional information.