A letter from President Wintersteen, Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellness Erin Baldwin and Public Health Coordinator Kristen Obbink outlined how the university would respond to updated quarantine guidance from the state.
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Sept. 29 that quarantine is no longer recommended if both the individual with COVID-19 and their close contacts were wearing face coverings consistently and correctly during their contact. The change applies to business, education, and child care settings. It does not apply to household or health care settings. Iowa State University will be implementing the updated guidance this week.
The revised IDPH guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the number of individuals at Iowa State required to quarantine. Based on data from the university’s contact tracing process, nearly 98% of individuals required to quarantine were exposed in non-classroom settings. This includes household settings – residence halls, Greek housing, and apartments – and dining areas where cloth face coverings are not required at all times.