COVID-19 and Respiratory Illness Information
EMU Health Services encourages all students, faculty, and staff to obtain the COVID-19 vaccines and stay up to date with the most recent COVID-19 vaccine/booster. Visit Vaccinate Virginia for vaccination sites in the commonwealth.
Masking is always welcome on campus. The last few years have clearly shown that masks dramatically reduce the spread of airborne infections, including COVID-19. Masks are not provided by EMU. All employees and students are encouraged to bring their own.
Do not attend class, work or gatherings if you are sick. You may self-test if you suspect COVID-19. Refer to the below graphic for prevention strategies as well as what to do when you have symptoms.
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As part of the guidance, CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and strategies:
- Staying up to date with vaccination to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
- Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
- Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
- When people get sick with a respiratory virus, they should stay home and away from others. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities (such as classes, athletics practices, work, social gatherings, etc.) when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.
- Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. *Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems. For these individuals, with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness.
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Masking is always welcome anywhere at EMU, and the last few years have clearly shown that masks dramatically reduce the spread of airborne infections.
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Do not attend work or gatherings if you are sick - inform your professors or supervisor that you are sick.
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Students and Employees are encouraged to visit the VDH website to find free COVID-19 testing sites throughout Virginia. At home tests may also be obtained through participating community libraries (Massanutten Regional Library main branch in Harrisonburg is a participating library - go to the main circulation desk and ask for COVID Tests)
