In May 2023, the National Declaration of Emergency and the World Health Organization Declaration of Emergency related to COVID-19 ended. As a result, Elon has:

  • Discontinued requiring students, faculty and staff to report positive at-home test results. Positive diagnoses of COVID-19 are no longer reported to the university or local/state health departments by healthcare providers.
  • Discontinued its quarantine protocols, including providing isolation locations for positive COVID-19 cases and managing contact tracing.
  • Continued mitigating strategies to keep the virus from spreading on campus. The university continues to encourage members of the university community to follow CDC guidance for staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Continued symptomatic testing protocols. Diagnostic testing for those with symptoms will continue to be available at Student Health Services and the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic as part of regular appointments for those seeking treatment for illness.
  • Continued to offer sick leave policies and reporting directions for faculty and staff as determined by Human Resources policies and procedures.

Elon will remain adaptive and responsive as conditions evolve. The university’s Infectious Disease Response Team meets regularly, monitoring campus conditions and working closely with local and state health officials to offer recommendations, as needed, to support the university community.

Sources of information

Additional consultation is available from the following sources:

For students:

For staff and faculty:

Mask policy and information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masking as an important tool in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. Members of the community who are symptomatic for any respiratory illness are encouraged to wear a mask when indoors.

Masks are available at the Moseley Information Desk for visitors or members of the university community who may need one.

Vaccine recommendations

Elon strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to be fully up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and annual flu shots, including booster doses when eligible. Vaccines are available at all local pharmacies, as well as during clinics held on campus in the fall/winter.

Students, faculty and staff are not required to report boosters or additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the university, but may want to keep their own personal medical records updated by communicating with their medical providers.

Although the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine are not required, we know these are effective in reducing severity of symptoms, mitigating the spread of the virus and preserving health care resources. For more information about state-required vaccines please see the Immunization Requirements & Compliance webpage.

Please note: Some clinical placements, internships and/or travel programs may require proof of COVID-19 vaccination and boosters. Check program requirements for details.

Testing resources

Sick visits, including diagnostic testing for those with COVID-19 symptoms, are available for students by appointment at Student Health Services and for staff and faculty by appointment at the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic. Students, faculty and staff who are ill and schedule an appointment will be seen and evaluated by a medical provider.

At-home tests can be obtained free of charge from the CDC COVID-19 test website, and they may also be purchased at local pharmacies. For information on local testing options, visit the NC Department of Health & Human Services COVID-19 test locator page. For those looking for transportation to local pharmacies, check out the Elon Express bus schedule.

What to do if you feel sick

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following updated guidance for COVID-19:

Students who are ill or unable to physically get to the dining halls to access meals can take advantage of Elon’s Under the Weather Meal Vouchers program by calling the Office of The Dean of Students at 336-278-7200 during business hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.) Students who become ill in the evening or on the weekend can call Campus Safety at (336) 278-5555 to access vouchers.

What to do if you've been exposed

Students, faculty and staff who may have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 should follow the CDC’s guidance. This includes:

  • Start precautions immediately (wear a mask)
  • Continue precautions for 10 full days (watch for symptoms)
  • Get tested (at least five days after exposure)

Absence policies

Students should report absence due to illness directly to their faculty and student employment supervisors – as they would any illness. For extended absences (more than 5 consecutive days), emergency absences, or absences during final exams, consult the Student Care and Outreach website for additional guidance. All absences from classes are addressed by individual faculty members in their course syllabi, consistent with the attendance policy in the Academic Catalog and the student absences policies in the Faculty Handbook.

Staff and faculty should consult the Staff Manual and Faculty Handbook for guidance on reporting absences to supervisors. The Human Resources website has information about the Continuity of Work/Instruction Plan for employees who need to be temporarily away from campus due to any infectious disease requiring a quarantine period of 5 or more days.