Respiratory Virus Guidance

The CDC updated these guidelines on March 1,2024.

Vaccination Requirements 

All campus members are highly encouraged to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 and other vaccinations. The COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shots help to protect you from these viruses and reduce the severity and length of illness.  

 

Respiratory Virus Guidance 

If you have a respiratory virus, including the common cold, the flu, or COVID-19: 

Please follow the CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance. 

  1. Stay home if you have respiratory or cold symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND your other symptoms are mild and improving. If you test positive for COVID-19, the isolation period has changed. CDC recommends you isolate until your symptoms are improving and you have been fever free for 24 hours. You may then return to activities wearing a mask and taking the precautions outlined below. 
  2. Mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days after you become sick or test positive for COVID-19. 
  3. Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe illness for 10 days. Higher-risk individuals include the elderly and those who have immunocompromising conditions.
  4. Seek treatment. If you have symptoms, particularly if you are at higher risk for severe illness, speak with a healthcare provider if you test positive for COVID-19 or suspect the flu. You may be eligible for antiviral medicine, which works best if taken as soon as possible after you test positive. 

When you go back to your normal activities, take added precautions until your symptoms have resolved.  Consider taking additional steps for cleaner air, hand hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.

  • Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. 
  • If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.

 

Read the CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance Update FAQs for rationale and additional information.

 

Contact Numbers

  • Security Services: 253.879.3311
  • CHWS: 253.879.1555
  • ResEx  253.879.3317
  • Center for Student Support: 253.879.2751
  • Multicare NurseLine 24/7 (for students only): 253.693.7713
  • UWill Online Therapy Crisis Support 833.646.1526
  • National Suicide and Crisis Line: 988