FAQ: What do I do if someone in my lab tests positive for COVID-19?

Lab Personnel

What should I do if I test positive, am exhibiting symptoms, or come in close contact with someone who’s tested positive?

Stay home. If you are already at your workplace, go home immediately. If you reported your symptoms through Healthway, a Healthway medical professional will contact you shortly. Otherwise, call the Healthway Line at 617-353-0550. Contact your supervisor to let them know you will be staying home.

Healthway will:

  1. Evaluate the report and advise the individual on whether they need testing or other medical attention;
  2. Determine whether the faculty, staff, or student employee needs to be off work and for how long, or whether a student needs to quarantine;
  3. Notify the faculty, staff, or student employee, as well as their manager of any leave or restriction; and
  4. Notify EHS and Facilities of positive cases so they can determine the necessary cleaning and disinfecting of space.

When a positive case is confirmed, Healthway will conduct contact tracing and will notify and advise all potentially exposed persons, following public health guidelines.

For more information, please see the Back2BU chart for faculty and staff who test positive.

Faculty & Building Coordinators

What should a PI do if someone in the lab has COVID-19 symptoms?

Ensure all returning researchers are aware of their screening and reporting obligations, and then await further guidance from Healthway.

Healthway will notify and advise all potentially exposed persons and conduct contact tracing; they will also notify Environmental Health & Safety and Facilities of positive cases so they can determine necessary cleaning and disinfecting measures. EHS will contact the PI about cleaning measures and whether the lab should be temporarily closed. 

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