On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a change in the COVID-19 isolation recommendations. The newest CDC respiratory illness recommendations state that anyone with a respiratory viral illness, such as flu, RSV, and/or COVID-19 should remain at home and away from others.
Individuals can resume normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, they are fever free without the use of fever reducing medication, AND, symptoms are improving. Upon returning to normal activities, it is still recommended to practice social distancing, masking, hand hygiene, and taking steps to ensure better air quality to protect others.
Starting on Monday, March 18, Student Health Services (SHS) will be adopting the CDC recommendations. SHS will discontinue COVID only testing appointments, however, free COVID-19 tests are still available at the SHS pharmacy while supplies last. SHS will continue to provide COVID-19 testing through illness visits to the clinic. SHS will no longer issue letters that can be used to obtain an excused class absence, as required isolation is not included in the CDC recommendations for COVID-19. Students may still request a courtesy absence notification to be sent to instructors by the Dean of Students Office through the Report an Absence portal.
