COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update
Dear Upper Iowa University Community,
The health and safety of our students, employees and visitors are a top priority at Upper Iowa University. With this is mind, University leadership and emergency operations personnel continue to communicate with and receive guidance from public health officials with regard to COVID-19.
UIU’s current course of action:
Prevention
There is a lot each of us can do to control the spread of this virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that we frequently wash our hands the right way and also do these other things to stop the spread of the new coronavirus and other viruses:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your cough/sneeze, ideally with a tissue; throw away the tissue and wash hands.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Clean/disinfect surfaces regularly.
- Stay home when you are sick; seek medical advice if you are seriously ill.
If you are traveling, it is recommended that we keep a daily log of our location so we can recall where we were on specific days should that be needed in relation to health-related inquiries. Our University Facilities team is also undertaking a number of precautions at the residential campus to help keep our students, faculty and staff safe, including a deep cleaning of Fayette Campus this week and ongoing increased use of disinfectant.
COVID-19 Print Materials
To access these items, please first log into myUIU. Go to the “President’s Communication” section under the “University Wide” tab. Scroll down to “CDC Print Materials – June 2020” in the “COVID-19 Resources and Communications” section.
If You Have Symptoms
Illness related to COVID-19 is often in the form of mild symptoms, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath; however, some patients, particularly those who suffer from other serious health conditions, have suffered from a more severe form of the COVID-19 illness. Symptoms develop 2-14 days following exposure to the coronavirus. The CDC recommends that any student or employee experiencing acute respiratory illness to include the symptom above, or those who have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, should call the appropriate medical care provider in their area, not go to class or work, and limit their contact with others. Please call your medical provider before going to see them to avoid unnecessarily exposing others.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the appropriate person(s).
If a student:
Student Life
563-425-5215
[email protected]
If in Fayette and after hours:
Campus Police
563-425-5372 (campus)
563-425-3500 (city office)
If an employee:
Human Resources
563-425-5986
[email protected]
Recommendations for well individuals with potential COVID-19 exposure
Stay at home and isolate themselves from others in the home in the following situations:
-
- Taken a cruise anywhere in the world in the last 14 days.
- Traveled internationally to a country with a level 3 travel warning in the last 14 days.
- Close contact with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case in the last 14 days.
Recommendations for all ill individuals
Stay home and isolate from others in the house until:
- You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)
AND
- Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved)
AND
- At least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
If You Have Concerns
It is normal to have questions and concerns about the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. There are a number of great resources on local, state, and federal websites that provide up-to-date information about the coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease it causes. A number of those sites are listed here:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC – Higher Education Guidance
- World Health Organization
- Arizona Department of Health Services
- Iowa Department of Public Health
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Louisiana Department of Health
- Oklahoma State Department of Health
- Texas Department of State Health Services
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services
While we want everyone to be safe, we will also be a welcoming University that embraces diversity and supports each other as we tackle a common foe in COVID-19. Please refrain from making assumptions of the risk of illness about someone based solely on their identity. We will not tolerate anything but a safe and inclusive campus for people of all backgrounds, and we must recognize the harm we do to our community if we allow ourselves to make such assumptions.
If you are a student and are feeling overwhelmed, we invite you to call Counseling Services at 563-425-5786.
Employees may utilize the EmployeeConnect employee assistance program by calling 888-628-4824 or visiting www.GuidanceResources.com. Login credentials and more details about the employee assistance program can be found in this document on myUIU (must login to myUIU to view document).