Navigating Campus: Fall 2020
The last school year did not end with any sort of normalcy, and the start of the 2020-21 year is starting the same way 2020-19 ended. We’re here to tell you the most important things you need to know about navigating campus, Fall 2020 edition.
Hygiene
We know that hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent forest fires. Scratch that. Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent the spread of germs, including COVID-19. However, if you do not have soap and water, hand sanitizer will do in a pinch until you can wash your hands. Check out this guide from the CDC about when and how to use hand sanitizer because you might be doing it wrong. Face masks are also incredibly instrumental to curb the spread of COVID-19, but you need to use them properly for them to be as effective as possible.
Social Distancing and Physical Distancing
This is a new term that has emerged as a result of COVID-19. And because it’s so new, it can be difficult to understand. Like most things relating to the pandemic, its purpose and relevancy continue to change. Hopkins Medicine emphasizes the need for physical distancing now that communities are reopening. For our purposes, these terms are pretty interchangeable. We want to encourage students, employees, and visitors to consider others’ health as well as their own by wearing masks in public areas, staying 6 feet apart, and remaining in their room or at home if they are not feeling well.
If you have COVID symptoms or have tested positive
If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, which include a fever, runny nose, sudden tiredness, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and many others, please stay at home or in your dorm. The next step is to get tested and let us know. It is a good idea to inform any peers that you have been around about potential exposure, too. Remember, exposure is defined as close contact for 15 minutes or more without PPEs. Students should submit a COVID Identification Form to report a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or exposure. Depending on your test results, you may need to remain quarantined until you are no longer systematic.
Preventative Measures
Classrooms and common areas, like restrooms and dining centers, are going to get some extra attention in terms of sanitation. Desks will be disinfected between class periods, and students will have access to cleaning materials in the residence halls. We’ve also added some new physical barriers in places like student services and even in some classrooms. Faculty may also choose to wear a face shield as they teach classes.
Stay up to date on Iowa Valley’s response to COVID, and remember, you can be successful navigating campus this fall, and you can prevent the spread of germs, just ask Smokey.
