three students walking and smiling outside of GHH

Respiratory Illness Guidance

With the foundation of our extraordinarily high community vaccination rate, everyone is doing their part and making the smart choices that allow us to be safely together on campus.

We all have a responsibility to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The simple actions you take each day help protect yourself and care for the RWU community.

On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on respiratory viruses 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 provides recommendations for people with common viral illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV.  Roger Williams University has updated its protocols to align with this new guidance.

Updated Respiratory Virus Guide for Students

Protect Yourself from Getting Sick:

Stay up to date with vaccination to protect against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Practice good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, wash or sanitize hands often, and clean frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Take steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

If You Are Sick: 

  1. To prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, stay home and away from others if you have symptoms such as fever, cough, congestion, body aches, fatigue, etc.
  2. COVID and Flu testing is available in Health Services for students who are symptomatic. Students are encouraged to bring a supply of “at home”/rapid COVID antigen tests to campus with them.
  3. Schedule an appointment at Health Services if you would like to be seen by a medical provider. 
  4. Stay home and away from others until:
    1. At least 24 hours after your symptoms are getting better overall, AND 
    2. You have been fever-free (temp < 100.4 F) for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications
  5. Students are responsible for notifying their professors about any illness resulting in absence of class.

If You Test Positive for COVID-19:

  1. Isolate in your residence hall room or off-campus house. 
  2. Resume normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are getting better overall AND you remain fever-free without using fever-reducing medications
  3. Take added precautions over the next five (5) days after time at home and away from others is over:
    1. Wear a well-fitting mask while around others while indoors
    2. Enhance hygiene practices
    3. Keep a distance from others
  4. Students do not need to report a positive test result to Health Services and no longer have to complete the COVID-Self Reporting Form.  

Vaccination Strongly Recommended

We strongly recommend completing the primary series of Covid-19 vaccination and remaining up to date on vaccination and boosters to prevent serious illness.

Students are encouraged (but not required) to provide their Covid vaccination records as they provide and update other vaccination records to Health Services.

Testing

The University will not be providing rapid tests for Covid. As a matter of preparation, all students and employees are encouraged to obtain several home tests in advance in case they are needed. Students who are symptomatic can still make an appointment in Health Services to be tested.

Students who are asymptomatic and know they have had a close contact should monitor for symptoms and use their own rapid tests.  All employee testing must be done at home or through your medical provider.

Masking

With the federal and state emergency orders no longer in effect, RWU returns to mask optional, except in Health Services where masks are required for students presenting with Covid-like symptoms. Students are encouraged to use a proper mask if they have symptoms for Covid and must wear a mask once testing positive.

Each of us should respect another individual's decision to wear a mask. In addition, while our mask-optional policy remains in effect, we ask that each of us be considerate and cooperate when community members request mask wearing in an office, classroom or shared living area. 

Wash Hands Regularly

Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds frequently, as well as whenever you've touched a commonly used surface. This prevents the spread of germs on surfaces and mitigates exposure to viruses.