Testing, Isolation & Quarantine

Testing

Asheville Area Testing Sites

UNC Asheville’s Health and Counseling Center is continuing to offer COVID testing to students. Faculty and staff may use community testing services and their personal provider. You can contact the Health and Counseling Center by calling 828.251.6520.

A list of COVID-19 testing sites in the Asheville area is also available on the Health & Counseling website. UNC Asheville has an established relationship with the Range Urgent Care Center, which is in close proximity to campus and offers COVID-19 testing, and expands the medical resources available to students. Mercy Urgent Care and the MAHEC clinic also offer testing.

Testing for employees is covered under the state health plan through area health care providers.

See the FAQ for Vaccines & Testing for more information.

Checking Symptoms

All students, faculty, and staff should check for symptoms related to COVID-19 prior to returning to campus. We recommend using the COVID-19 symptom checker located on the Buncombe County Health Department website. The Buncombe County Health Department is responsible for following up with students, faculty, and staff regarding their medical concerns related to the symptom checker, and they will be expected to adhere to any recommendations communicated to them.

Rapid Tests

The CDC provides more information for the Rapid Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2.

High Risk Individuals

Every person and every situation matters. We will work with every student, staff and faculty to optimize their experience to the best of our ability while following the latest health guidance.

 

Quarantine & Isolation Guidelines

UNC Asheville continues to adhere to the guidelines for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation set forth by the CDC and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).

  • If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home and away from others until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others. 
  • If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine. Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  • If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are unvaccinated, the CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask for 10 days and to get tested at least 5 days after you had close contact with someone with COVID-19. You do not need to quarantine.

Students who live on-campus and would like to request alternative accommodations due to a positive COVID-19 test or symptoms should follow established policies and procedures.

For additional information, please review the CDC’s quarantine and isolation guidelines.

 

Testing and/or quarantine options for returning home

Typically, the quarantine occurs in the state, country, or location you are traveling TO rather than where you have been residing. If a state or country mandates quarantine before entering that state/country then we would have a plan for students to stay on campus before traveling. We would accommodate cases with a positive test that need to remain in quarantine at that time.

International Travel

As of June 2021, the CDC recommends that international travelers be fully vaccinated. For unvaccinated individuals who must travel internationally, the CDC recommends self-quarantining for 7 days after travel. All travelers should get a viral test 3-5 days after travel.