The university no longer has protocols specific to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released guidance that brings a coordinated approach to deal with risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Per that guidance, the university has adopted protocols for respiratory viruses, which include COVID-19, RSV, and influenza. For employees, the protocols can be found on the HR website under Employee Information & Resources, Policies, Respiratory Viruses Protocols. For undergraduate students, the protocols can be found on the website under Health Services, Student Health Services, Respiratory Viruses. Graduate students should follow the protocols found on the Student Health Service webpage for undergraduate students.
Those protocols provide the following:
If you get sick with a respiratory illness, please take the following steps:
- Stay home and away from others
- If you have COVID-19 or influenza, seek treatment. Current treatments can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness.
- Return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours both of the following are true
- Your symptoms are improving overall, AND
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)
Once you resume normal activities, take additional prevention strategies for the next five days to curb disease spread.
- Take more steps for cleaner air.
- Enhance hygiene practices.
- Wear a well-fitting mask.
- Keep a distance from others.
Students and employees are expected to follow these protocols so that we can prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses on our campuses.
Together We Are Stronger. Together We Are Saint Mary’s.
