Each year in the United States, respiratory viruses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are actions we can take to help protect ourselves and others from health risks caused by respiratory viruses.
Based on current guidelines, Campus Health has developed this page to serve as a quick guide of recommendations to help the Tulane community lower their risk from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV.
Managing Your Activity Levels When Sick
If you have respiratory virus symptoms—including fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache--that aren’t explained by another cause, the CDC advises you to stay home/in your room and away from others. You may return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
If you develop a fever or your symptoms worsen after returning to normal activities, the CDC advises that you return to staying home and away from others until the above guidelines are true again.
Even once you’re feeling better, you may still be able to infect others for the next few days. To help keep others safe, the CDC advises to take the following precautionary measures for an additional 5 days once your return to daily activities:
- Stay up to date on your vaccinations, which includes receiving your annual flu shot and the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine. Flu shots will soon be available to students via Campus Health, and the details of our annual flu campaign will be announced soon. The latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available via Campus Health sometime within the fall semester, but a timeline for this is currently unavailable. The Tulane student community will be notified when the vaccine is available.
- Avoid unnecessary contact with others and wear a mask or face covering when you must be in group settings.
- Continue to practice good hygiene, including cleaning high-touch areas, washing your hands frequently, and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough.
- Take steps to support to proper air circulation and access to cleaner air.
In addition to promoting these CDC recommendations, Campus Health encourages you to take the following steps when you are sick:
- Monitor your symptoms and get plenty of rest.
- Notify your professors of your health status and communicate with individual faculty members about their policies for making up missed work.
- When leaving your space to pick up food, practice precautions such as always wearing a mask, minimize touching utensils, and sanitize your hands before and after picking up food.
Tips for Living In Shared Spaces
Many students live in close quarters with others and total isolation may not be possible. If you live with others, we recommend some additional precautions to protect your roommates:
- wearing a mask in their close presence
- using a separate bathroom when possible
- increasing ventilation in your living space (ex: opening windows when possible)
- not sharing personal household items such as cups, towels and utensils
If You Need Support During Your Illness
If you need the assistance of a medical provider during your illness, Campus Health is here for you. Please see our guide for making appointments at the Student Health Centers.
If you need medical support outside of Campus Health’s business hours, please see our guide for accessing after-hours care.
You should communicate directly with your professors about your illness.
If you believe you need the assistance of a case manager in Case Management and Victim Support Services (CMVSS), you can request this assistance by completing the concerns report.
