Reducing Community Transmission of COVID-19
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
As a follow-up to yesterday’s message from President Van Zandt and Provost Marshall, we would like to remind our community of best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and promote good health. New York City is now experiencing increased community transmission, which means that the virus is spreading between people who cannot trace their infection to a known confirmed case.
It is critical for all of us to act as if we have been exposed to the coronavirus and take increased measures to limit transmission. If you are sick, follow the advice of your health care provider. Even if you are feeling well, please stay at home as much as possible and practice social distancing. If you have been informed that you have been exposed, you are advised to remain in self-quarantine for 14 days after your last exposure.
We urge you to follow these guidelines from the CDC and our local public health authorities:
Best Practices
- If you must go out, practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from others.
- Social distancing doesn’t apply only to strangers. Gather only with members of your immediate household, if possible.
- Practice essential flu-season hygiene: frequent handwashing, coughing/sneezing into your elbow; avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands; waving instead of shaking hands; not sharing food or drink.
- Stay home as much as possible. This step is critical. The less we are in contact with others, the fewer opportunities for the virus to spread. Do not leave your home except to get medical care or to address other essential needs, such as getting groceries.
- Clean surfaces that are frequently touched, such as counters, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures and phones. Clean them after each use or at least once every day. Use household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Stay home if you are sick.
Older adults or people with serious conditions, particularly lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, are at increased risk for serious cases of COVID-19. They should stay home and limit contact with others as much as possible to reduce exposure. There is also evidence that younger people are getting COVID-19 at higher rates and experiencing more severe illness than previously thought.
Symptoms and Treatment
- Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and sore throat.
- If you experience these symptoms, do not leave your home except to get medical care.
- People with mild symptoms do not need to seek medical care. By staying home, you will leave hospital beds available for people with urgent need. If you have symptoms, assume that you have COVID-19. A positive test will not change what a doctor tells you to do to get better. The best course of action is to stay at home.
- People who experience severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, or who are members of a high-risk group should contact their primary care provider (PCP) or their local emergency room to let staff know in advance of their plans to visit.
- If your symptoms do not go away after three or four days, contact your primary care doctor. In about 80% of cases, symptoms resolve by themselves with supportive care (including rest, fluids, and fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol). Stay at home for at least seven days after your symptoms first start, and at least three days after you no longer have a fever (without the help of fever-reducing medications).
Monitoring and Testing
- If you have been in direct contact with someone who is waiting for confirmation, or who recently traveled from a CDC Level 3 area: self-monitor for COVID-19-like illness (see symptoms above) for 14 days from the date of last contact.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, the testing lab notifies the New York City Department of Health. When Student Health Services, deans, and/or department heads are made aware of cases, they protect your identifying information but share with classmates and/or colleagues who may need to know.
We understand that everyone has lots of questions at this time about this growing global issue. Please continue to visit our Coronavirus FAQ, review this NYC Department of Health fact sheet and the CDC’s website, or call the NYS DOH Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 for up-to-date information.
For students who would like to talk to someone, SHS offers telecounseling appointments, which you can make online. Students in need of a medical appointment can also schedule a telemedicine appointment at shsportal.newschool.edu. Everyone should take the time to practice self-care, such as meditating through the free UVM Mindfulness Program or Headspace, taking an online exercise class, or connecting digitally with family and friends. All of these measures can be extremely beneficial at this time.
Know that you are not alone. We will continue to reach out and connect in new ways to help keep our community healthy and thriving. We wish you all safety and good health during this difficult time.