Updated Guidance for COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Viruses

submitted by farrisr@augsburg.edu

On March 1, 2024, the CDC released updated respiratory virus guidance in response to the decreasing risk that COVID-19 poses to the population. This updated guidance includes strategies to protect people at highest risk of getting seriously ill and applies to COVID-19 as well as other common viral respiratory illnesses like flu and RSV.

Students, faculty, and staff no longer need to complete the Augsburg self-reporting form following a positive COVID-19 test or exposure. Please follow CDC recommendations to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses when you’re sick.

STAY HOME WHEN YOU’RE SICK
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, including fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.

WHEN SYMPTOMS IMPROVE
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).

TAKE PRECAUTIONS
When you go back to your normal activities, keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. Take added precautions for the next 5 days, such as wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.

Learn more about preventing the spread of respiratory viruses from the CDC.