COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Updated Guidance

On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID isolation guidance. The guidance has shifted the recommendation that someone who tests positive for COVID isolate for five days to a timeline based on the progression of the person’s symptoms. The update is part of a larger strategy to provide one set of recommendations for most common respiratory illnesses, including COVID, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The Otsego County Health Department has adopted these updated COVID guidelines. SUNY Oneonta expects all students who test positive for COVID-19 to follow the CDC’s isolation guidelines and the Otsego County Health Department’s guidance.

Updated Recommendation

When you have a respiratory virus which would feel like you have something more severe than a cold, make an appointment with a provider at the Student Health Center. Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.

  • You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
    • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
    • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
  • When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.
    • Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
    • If you develop a fever or start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.

Although the guidance is the same for all respiratory viruses, it could be helpful to test to know what someone is sick with because testing can prevent transmission and there are antivirals available to treat COVID-19 or influenza. The antiviral medications have been shown to reduce disease severity in several different groups, so if you are in a high-risk group, be sure to test early and contact the health center or your healthcare provider so you can get a prescription for an antiviral as soon as possible.

Testing Options

Self-administered rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 are available at the Health Center and in Morris Hall. These may be used to determine whether you’re still infectious and able to infect others. If it is after hours and you are having severe symptoms, testing and acute care are also available in the community at Well Now and Convenient Care clinics. (See Emergencies and after-hours concerns).

NOTE: CDC offers separate, specific guidance for healthcare settings (COVID-19, flu, and general infection prevention and control). Federal civil rights laws may require reasonable modifications or reasonable accommodations in various circumstances. Nothing in this guidance is intended to detract from or supersede those laws.

All student information held at the Health Center is strictly confidential and will not be released without written or phone consent by the student and/or as required by law. Students under 18 years of age, must have parental permission to be seen and treated at the Health Center except for emergency situations, emancipated minors, or reproductive health issues.

Contact

Health and Wellness Center

Phone: (607) 436-3573

Fax: (607) 436-2074

Hours

Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30pm
Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30pm

Location

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