ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

On behalf of everyone at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, I am delighted to welcome our new community members to the Orange family and welcome our returning students, faculty and staff back to campus. I will be coordinating the University’s ongoing response efforts to the various communicable illnesses we face in a communal living setting, including COVID-19 and influenza, among others this academic year. As we start the fall semester, I am writing to share public health reminders that can help keep you and those around you healthy this semester.

COVID-19

Although the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic declaration ended earlier this year, the illness remains present. As such, we hope you will continue to take necessary steps to protect yourself and our community from COVID-19. Please be sure to continue taking these simple actions:

• Vaccination is no longer a requirement for residential students; however, we encourage our community to consider vaccinations against common communicable illnesses, including COVID. COVID vaccination clinics for students, faculty and staff can be searched at the .
• Monitor for COVID-like symptoms. If you’re a student, contact the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000 if you’re exhibiting symptoms. Barnes Center staff will direct you on what actions to take next. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care provider.
• If you are feeling under the weather, consider wearing a mask to limit the spread of your symptoms. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask is welcome to do so and should be supported.
• Cover your cough and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently, especially your residence hall rooms.

The University will also continue to:

• Provide broad access to at-home COVID test kits for residential students, faculty and staff (low-cost tests are available through );
• Conduct enhanced cleaning and ventilation of campus facilities; and
• Implement isolation protocols for students who test positive for COVID. Students who test positive will be asked to isolate in their residence hall room or in their off campus residence. For more information on the updated isolation protocols, please visit .

Influenza

Like other universities, and other communal living environments, we may experience an uptick in influenza cases later in the fall semester. Please keep in mind the following health practices as the semester goes on:

• Consider getting a flu shot! We strongly encourage our community members to get a flu shot to protect themselves and those around them during flu season. The University hosts flu clinics each fall semester; information regarding flu clinics will be shared in the next several weeks.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are feeling sick, limit your contact with others as much as possible and contact the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid sharing cups, utensils, chapstick, etc.
• Clean and disinfect regularly touched surfaces and objects.
• If you have the flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after a fever is gone, without the need for a fever-reducing medicine.

To learn more about any of these illnesses, I encourage you to visit the .

I recognize I am sharing a lot of information with you. Employing these good health practices can also help prevent widespread illness on our campus this academic year.

I wish you a healthy, fulfilling and enjoyable fall semester.

Sincerely,

Ramesh Raina
Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences