Staying Healthy

As we learn to manage COVID-19 in our lives, there are a few simple steps we can do to help keep our campus and community healthy.

1. Get vaccinated: Vaccines are your best protection from getting sick. Vaccines are FREE and are available at the Student Health Clinic. Schedule an appointment by calling 319-296-4224.

2. Stay at home if you are sick: If you are sick or experiencing symptoms of a fever, cough, loss of smell or taste senses, congestion, headache, or body aches — stay at home! Remember to notify your instructors to let them know you will be absent.

3. Get Tested if Experiencing Symptoms: Order FREE quick tests online and have COVID tests on hand if you experience symptoms. Lab tests are available at the Student Health Clinic with results being available within 12–24 hours.

If You Test Positive for COVID-19

• Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during the first 5 days.

• Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.

• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.

• If you have symptoms:

  • Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive.
  • Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started.

• If you do not have symptoms:

  • Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result).
  • Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested.
• If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset.

See the CDC: Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19.

If You Have Been Exposed to COVID-19

Regardless of your vaccination status, begin precautions immediately and continue for 10 days.

• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public as soon after you find out you were exposed. Start counting from Day 1.

  • Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.
  • Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.

• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel web page.

• Take extra precautions if you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

  • CDC: How to Protect Yourself and Others
  • CDC: Factors That Affect Your Risk of Getting Very Sick from COVID-19

• Watch for symptoms

  • fever (100.4°F or greater)
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • other COVID-19 symptoms

• If you develop symptoms

  • isolate immediately
  • get tested
  • stay home until you know the result
• Get tested on day 6 or at least 5 full days after your last exposure. Test even if you don’t develop symptoms.
  • If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see CDC: Choosing a COVID-19 Test.
  • If you test positive, follow the CDC's isolation recommendations.
  • If you test negative, continue masking precautions. You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.

See the CDC: What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19.

Face Masks

Masks are recommended on campus when our community has high transmission rates.