Student COVID policy summary

Updated September 21, 2023

Wayne State University School of Medicine follows Wayne State University policy regarding COVID-19.  Students are expected to maintain the guidelines outlined below and follow any additional parameters if they are communicated to them from their assigned clinical sites. 

If you experience possible symptoms of COVID-19: You are encouraged to test immediately.  You should isolate if you are sick and suspect you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results.  You can do a home test or complete a PCR test at Campus Health or another health facility. 

Positive COVID Test: The first day of symptoms and/or your positive test is day 1 (whichever came first).  Isolate for days 1-5.  On day 6, if you are fever-free (without fever-reducing medications) for over 24 hours with symptoms improving, you may return to campus/clinical duties with a mask.  Mask for days 6-10. On day 6, if symptoms are not yet improving and/or you still have a fever, continue to isolate until your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free.  Contact your class counselor for an excused absence if you are missing any required events and to keep them updated on your progress.  Contact your health care provider if needed for treatment.  As for any healthcare reason that impacts testing, if isolation falls during an exam day, you will need to send your class counselor a note from a healthcare provider.

Negative COVID Test, no known exposure: Follow protocol as for any viral illness.  Contact your class counselor if you need an excused absence.  Contact your health care provider if needed for treatment.

Negative COVID Test, known exposure: In addition to the actions described above, even if you tested previously, be sure to test on day 5 following your exposure.  Day of exposure is day 0.  Mask on days 0 through 10.  Monitor yourself for symptoms. You do not need to isolate if your test on day 5 is negative.

Additional Notes Related to Exposure and Absences:

Any missed time due to illness may need to be made up as per the WSUSOM excused absence policy.  Make up time and method are at the course or clerkship director’s discretion. 

A known exposure is defined as more than 15 minutes of contact within a 24-hour period within six feet of a person confirmed to have COVID.

Please note that there is no need to complete a daily screener, no need to contact campus health for contact tracking, and no need for clearance from the campus health center for your return.