Coronavirus Updates

Fall 2024

Students – COVID Protocol

Students who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should see Campus Health Services. If a student tests positive for COVID -19, they will be asked to isolate in their room or at home for 5 days starting from the day of onset of their symptoms. After 5 days of isolating, if the student is not symptomatic they are permitted to stop isolation and wear a mask for 5 days and lay low (avoid large social gatherings and/or close contact activities).

During the isolation and/or lay low period, students are permitted to pick-up food from the dining hall with a mask. Students are not permitted to attend class or sporting events. Students should also keep their distance from others for 10 full days, which the length that the virus can replicate and make others sick.

It is the student's responsibility to make their instructors aware that they are ill and will be out of class.

Please always remember to practice proper hand hygiene and cover your cough!

Faculty/Staff COVID Protocol (as recommended by the CDC):

Even if you practice core prevention strategies, you may still catch a virus and develop respiratory symptoms. If that happens, the updated CDC guidance recommends two actions:

Step 1: Stay at home.

As much as possible, you should stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both:

1. Your symptoms are getting better overall, *and*
2. You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

This advice is similar to what has been recommended for flu for decades and will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses during the most contagious period after infection. Not all respiratory virus infections result in a fever, so paying attention to other symptoms (cough, muscle aches, etc.) is important as you determine when you are well enough to leave home.

If your symptoms are getting better, and stay better for 24 hours, you are less likely to pass your infection to others and you can start getting back to your daily routine and move on to step 2.

Step 2:

Resume normal activities and use added prevention strategies over the next five days. This includes wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. Since some people remain contagious beyond the "stay-at-home" period, taking added precautions can lower the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.

Note: Employees are to use their sick time or if they do not have any available, the time off will be unpaid.

On-campus COVID Vaccines:

COVID-19 vaccines are available through Adagio Health on the first Tuesday of every month. (HMSC parking lot)

Resources

• COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• How to Find a COVID-19 Vaccine
• COVID-19 Prevention
• Thiel College HEERF Documentation Repository

*Please note that the College may change Health and Safety Policies at any time. Should any policies change, students will receive an email communication to notify them of the changes.