Respiratory Virus Guidance

The CDC updated these guidelines on March 1,2024.

Respiratory Illness Guidance 

Here are the recommended guidelines to follow on campus if you have a respiratory illness: 

Stay home when you have respiratory illness symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours (without using fever reducing medication) AND your other symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours. 

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 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 precautions when you return to activities.

COVID-19 Guidance

If you test positive for COVID-19, the isolation period has changed. The 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. 

  1. Mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days after you become sick or until you test negative for COVID-19. 
  2. Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe illness for 10 days or until you test negative for COVID-19. Higher-risk individuals include the very young, the elderly and those who have immunocompromising or other health conditions.
  3. 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. You may be eligible for antiviral medicine, which works best if taken as soon as possible after you test positive. 

Read the CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance for more information.

Contact Numbers

  • Security Services: 253.879.3311
  • CHWS: 253.879.1555
  • Residence Life:  253.879.3317
  • Center for Student Support: 253.879.2751
  • Multicare NurseLine After hours/weekends (for students only): 253.693.7713
  • Premera NurseLine 24/7 (for staff and faculty utilizing Premera only): 1.800.841.8343
  • UWill Online Therapy Crisis Support 833.646.1526

  • National Suicide and Crisis Line: 988