What To Do If Your Roommate Has COVID-19

Living in residence or in a shared space with someone who has COVID-19 can make it hard to isolate. Follow these steps to help protect yourself if your roommate is sick.

1. Ensure you have had all the COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses for which you are eligible. If you still require a booster, please book an appointment with Student Health Services at 519-824-4120 ext. 52131 (M-F 9am-4:30pm) or get your vaccine from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health 
2. Spend time away from your residence room/housing unit while your roommate is isolating.
3. Wear a medical mask in shared spaces with your roommate and when you are out in public (close contacts must wear a mask for 10 days after their last unprotected contact with a case). Your roommate should also wear a mask when you are together in a shared space.
4. Maintain physical distancing. If your room/unit does not allow for six feet of distancing, maintain the maximum distance possible.
5. Open windows when weather permits.
6. Run bathroom and/or kitchen exhaust fans.
7. Clean hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol).
8. Avoid touching your face, nose, mouth, and eyes.
9. Do not share items like towels, cups, dishes, or phones.
10. Frequently disinfect commonly touched surfaces e.g., light switches, doorknobs and sink and toilet handles. Find out which products are on Health Canada's list of disinfectants with evidence against COVID-19.
11. Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, and if symptoms develop:
    1. isolate
    2. complete a student declaration form (SDF)
    3. follow the isolation and masking requirements for individuals with COVID-19

If you have further questions, call the COVID-19 Call Centre at 519-824-4120, Ext. 53906 or email covid.calls@uoguelph.ca .

See Public Health Ontario’s Guide for Household Contacts.