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  4. COVID-19 & Other Repiratory Virus Guidelines - With and Without Symptoms

COVID-19 & Other Respiratory Virus Guidelines - With and Without Symptoms

The Basics

Take an At-Home Test or Get Tested

  • Test as soon as possible
  • Access to free COVID-19 at-home tests or visit your local pharmacy or health services on campus (students only)
  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19 but test negative, be sure to retest
    • Two negative at-home tests performed 48 hours apart
    •  Repeat test again in 48 hours if you are concerned you may have COVID-19

Stay Home or in Your Residence Hall

  • Separate as much as possible from others (including roommates)
  • Use a separate bathroom if available—if shared bathroom space, wipe the area thoroughly after each use
  • Do not share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils
  • If avoidable, do not travel or take public transportation
  • Avoid anyone who is immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease
    • If you have high-risk roommates (immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease) and no private space or bathroom, please contact residence life & housing at 509.777.4533 for information and assistance.

When to Resume Normal Activities and How

Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You're Sick

  • You can go back to your normal activities when both are true:
    • For at least 24 hours
      • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
      • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)
  • When you go back to your normal activities, take added precautions over the next five days, such as masks, physical distancing, steps for cleaner air, hygiene, and/or testing
  • Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better
    • People with COVID-19 are often contagious for 5-10 days after their illness begins
    • People with the flu may be contagious for up to 5-7 days after their illness begins
  • If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, start over with precautions until both are true:
    • For at least 24 hours
      • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
      • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)

 How to Obtain Meals While at Home

  • Ask others to do your shopping or use a grocery delivery service
  • Use DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, or other meal delivery services
  • Access meals from Sodexo (breakfast, lunch, dinner) via the Reusable Container Program

Reusable Container Program (Reusable To-Go Program)

How to use the Sodexo Reusable Container Program for meals during isolation:

Option One (Preferred)

Have your friends get a meal for you.

  • Wipe down your campus card first.
  • Give your campus card to your friend to purchase a meal. If you can do this contactless, that is best.
  • If you are purchasing from one of the campus coffee shops or the café, your friend will simply use your card to pay for the meal.
  • If you are purchasing a to-go meal from the dining hall, your friend will access the Reusable Container Program. Your friend will:
    • Purchase the reusable to-go container for $5.
      • This is a one-time purchase unless you lose the to-go container or carabiner. A carabiner can be used as a placeholder when you don't want to carry a container around. The carabiner lets Sodexo staff know you are enrolled in the program.
        Please let us know if you need monetary assistance for this purchase—see the contact email below.
    • Scan your campus card.
    • Get food from any station in the dining hall and place it in the to-go container.
    • Deliver the food to you through contactless delivery.
  • For your next meal, your friend will:
    • Return the wiped-down container to the dining hall in exchange for a new container for your meal or a carabiner, as a placeholder, for the next meal you choose.
      Please be aware, if the person picking up your meal is eating in the dining hall, they will need to eat first, then scan your card and get your meal. They are unable to sit in the dining room with a reusable to-go container.

Option Two

Get your own meals.

  • Please wear your high-quality mask (e.g. N95 or KN95) when you go to pick up your food.
  • Keep your distance from others when possible.
  • Follow the steps above in Option One to purchase the Reusable Container Program and get your meal to-go.
  • Please exit the dining facilities immediately after obtaining your food and return to your place of residence.

For more information about the Reusable Container Program, please email dking@whitworth.edu.

Information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at CDC COVID-19, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) at DOH COVID-19, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Tests.