Testing Positive

Positive Cases

Notification

Members of the community are required to report positive test results. 

Students who receive a positive PCR or rapid antigen test result are required to report the positive to RISD Health Services at (401) 454-6625 during normal business hours. Students who receive a positive test after hours are required to notify Public Safety at (401) 454-6666. Students who test positive are required to isolate for a full 5 days and then wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days. Students are advised to discuss their isolation status with their faculty, supervisors, and close friends. Students will work with Health Services for their isolation requirements. 

Faculty and staff who receive a positive PCR or rapid antigen test result off-campus should report the positive test result through Workday and also contact their primary care provider and follow appropriate guidelines. 

Isolation Protocol

Students who test positive for COVID:

  1. Students who test positive for COVID are required to isolate for a full 5 days and then wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days.
  2. All students are required to report any positive COVID result to RISD Health Services during normal business hours. (401-454-6625)
  3. If a student tests positive after hours, they are required to notify Public Safety. (401-454-6666)
  4. Students are advised to discuss their isolation status with their faculty, supervisors, and close contacts. RISD has discontinued automatic notifications. Students are encouraged to contact Student Affairs via email at studentaffairs@risd.edu if they receive a request from a faculty member to have Student Affairs confirm their positive COVID status. 
  5. Clinical questions should be directed to RISD Health Services. Students should call Public Safety  at (401) 454-6666 if they are feeling ill and are in need of medical care when Health Services is closed. Public Safety provides 24/7 emergency medical services by licensed Emergency Medical Technicians.

Students who live on-campus and test positive for COVID:

  1. Students living in a single room with a private bathroom have the option to remain in place in their residence hall. 
  2. RISD has a limited number of designated isolation rooms in various locations on campus and at a local hotel. This is the primary option for those with roommates based on availability. 
  3. Public Safety will transport eligible students to a designated isolation room. The hotel spaces will be used first. If the hotel spaces are full, students will be moved to a designated isolation room on campus if space is available. 
  4. Health Services will follow-up with the student during normal business hours.  

Students who isolate in place or in a RISD designated isolation space:

  1. Students must remain in their room except to visit Health Services or collect food. 
  2. Students must wear a well-fitting mask at all times during these activities and during any potential exposure to another student.
  3. Students isolating in place may utilize a friend to pick up food for them where possible. Otherwise, meals for lunch and dinner are available using the Grubhub app for both Portfolio and the Met. 
  4. Students isolating at the local hotel will have their meals managed directly by the hotel. Lunch and dinner will will be delivered directly to the student’s room and breakfast will be included with the dinner delivery. Students need to communicate allergies or special diet requests when they check into the hotel.
  5. Students isolating in 15 West will have their means prepared in the Portfolio Cafe. Students can order lunch between 11 – 11:45am and dinner between 5 – 6pm using the Grubhub app. To place an order students will sign into Grubhub and click the ‘Isolation Meals at the Portfolio Shop,” choose food options and add room number at ‘Please specific room number” prompt and complete order. A Portfolio staff member will deliver the meal to the room, knock and leave the meal on the door. 
  6. Students not isolating in 15 West will have their meals prepared in the Met. Students can order lunch between 11 – 11:45am and dinner between 5 – 6pm using the Grubhub app. To order, students should sign into Grubhub, click ‘Isolation Meals at the Met Shop,’ choose food options and complete their order. Students receive a notification from the Grubhub app when their order is ready for pickup. Isolation meals can be picked up on the rack adjacent to the Ozzi machine at the main entrance to the Met. Meals must be picked up within 15 minutes of receiving the Grubhub notification to ensure food safety. 
  7. Documented food allergies or special diet requests should be sent to specialorder@risd.edu.

Students who live off-campus and test positive for COVID:

Students who live off-campus will continue to isolate themselves at their off-campus residence. 

Additional information:

  1. Counseling Services (CAPS) is available for emotional support to students living in isolation. (401-454-6637)
  2. While in isolation, the student’s campus card access will be limited.
  3. Masks are available from various locations on campus. Contact Residence Life if you are a student in need of a mask for isolation. (401-454-6650, housing@risd.edu)