2024-2025 COVID-19 Safety Plan

As a community, we must each take precautions to protect ourselves and others from the spread of respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV.

As a reminder, stay healthy by taking the following steps:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have a tissue, cough into your elbow/upper sleeve. Do NOT cough into your hands and DO NOT cough into the air. Always cover your cough!
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Don't share beverages or eating utensils.

Vaccinations:  Juniata College encourages everyone to stay up to date with COVID, flu, and RSV (for those who are eligible) vaccines. Boosters are encouraged, even if you have been sick with respiratory illnesses previously.

Symptoms: Symptoms of COVID-19 and respiratory viruses include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny or stuffy nose, decreased appetite, sore throat, vomiting, loss of taste or small, headache or body aches, and diarrhea.

Testing: Testing early can detect respiratory illnesses, lead to prompt treatment, and prevent transmission to others. Students experiencing respiratory virus symptoms should test themselves or arrange for a diagnostic test at Broad Top Health and Wellness’s Family Wellness Center. Employees should take a home diagnostic test or arrange testing through their health care provider.

If You Test Positive: Based on 2024 guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone who tests positive with COVID-19, flu, or RSV respiratory virus should isolate until at least 24 hours after symptoms are improving AND there is no fever (and you are no longer using fever-reducing medication). After isolation, return to normal activities but continue to mask and practice good prevention techniques for five days.