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Institutions of Higher Education (IHE): COVID-19
On this page:
Prevention strategies
Resources
The following recommendations can help reduce COVID-19 transmission on college and university campuses, sustain in-person learning, and protect those who are most vulnerable to severe disease.
COVID-19 Vaccine and Your Campus
Staying up to date with vaccination remains the safest strategy for preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations and death. These materials support sustaining vaccine promotion, normalizing COVID-19 vaccine on campus, and increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among students, faculty, and staff.
If you have questions after reviewing available guidance, contact the MDH schools team: Health.schools.Covid19@state.mn.us.
Prevention strategies
It is up to all of us to protect ourselves and others by following recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more detailed information on prevention, visit Protect Yourself & Others: COVID-19.
- Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination is the most important precaution you can take. For vaccine information, visit COVID-19 Vaccine.
- CDC: Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
- Check the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Data Channel Weekly Snapshot to find viral illness related hospital admissions levels in your area and increase prevention measures as needed.
- Minnesota specific data: Viral Respiratory Illness in Minnesota (Data & Statistics).
- Wear a well-fitting mask when recommended or required. Visit CDC: Masks and Respiratory Viruses Prevention for more information. You can always choose to wear a mask if it makes you feel safer, regardless of your individual risk or the CDC COVID-19 hospital admission level.
- People who are immunocompromised or at higher risk of severe illness and those who are around them should consider wearing a mask.
- Be aware of medical conditions that place people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Visit CDC: People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors for more information.
- Talk to your doctor if you are at high risk and make plans for what to do if you test positive. You may be recommended to get COVID-19 treatment. Visit COVID-19 Medications for more information about risk factors and treatment options. Treatment should be started as soon as possible (within five to seven days depending on the medication) from the start of symptoms, even if symptoms are mild.
- Consider testing if you develop COVID-19 symptoms. For Minnesota testing information, visit COVID-19 Testing.
- Consider testing with a rapid COVID-19 test:
- Before returning to campus at the beginning of an academic term, and after long breaks.
- If respiratory viruses are causing higher levels of illness in your community. For more information visit CDC: Testing and Respiratory Viruses.
- Before spending time with those who are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. For more information on who is at high risk, visit CDC: People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors.
- If you are sick or test positive, do not attend classes or activities and follow the guidance to stay home and away from others (isolate) at CDC: Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick.
- If you live in a residential hall or with roommates in other settings, follow campus policy and ensure that you plan for how you or your roommate(s) will isolate if one of you is sick with or tests positive for COVID-19.
- Follow your return-to-campus policy and CDC travel recommendations, visit CDC: Advice for Travelers.
Resources
- Viral Respiratory Illness Planning and Response for Institutions of Higher Education (PDF)
Operational guidance for IHE leadership around management of cases and exposures, shared housing, and preventing spread. - American College Health Association: COVID-19 Resources