Healthy Behaviors for a Successful Fall

August 26, 2020
Healthy Behaviors for a Successful Fall

Healthy Behaviors for a Successful Fall

With the semester underway and as allergy, cold and flu seasons approach, members of the Baylor Family are asked to closely monitor their health and behavior. For COVID-19 prevention and mitigation, faculty, staff and students should:

GET A FLU SHOT. Preventing flu is always important, but in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important to do everything possible to reduce illnesses and preserve scarce healthcare resources. COVID-19 is likely to still be prevalent during flu season, and the symptoms of both viruses are similar. This can lead to confusion and difficulty obtaining the correct diagnosis and treatment. According to CDC, there is no evidence that getting a flu vaccine increases the risk of getting COVID-19, and it is recommended that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.

MONITOR YOUR SYMPTOMS DAILY. Before you leave your residence, check for fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, fatigue or severe headache. If you have any of these symptoms, stay home and contact your healthcare provider.

Students Who Have Any of the Symptoms of COVID-19, should call the Baylor Health Center at (254) 710-1010. You may be directed to visit a special Respiratory Clinic in the North Village Community Center. It is very important that you call the Health Center ahead of a visit. The Health Center in the SLC will see patients by appointment only. For your safety and the safety of others, no walk-in appointments will be available. The pharmacy in the SLC will be open for prescriptions and prescription refills.

LIMIT RISKY BEHAVIOR. Whether on campus or off, students, faculty and staff should participate in low risk activities as much as possible.

Lower Risk:

  • Going for a walk on campus
  • Hammocking in Traditions Plaza
  • Studying alone or with a friend, masked, in Moody Library
  • Attending class w/mask
  • Running the Bear Trail
  • Gathering outdoor < 10 people, masked

Moderate Risk:

  • Holding a study group w/masks
  • Eating inside a local restaurant
  • Traveling by plane

Higher Risk:

  • Lunch with a big group of friends
  • Sharing computers or phones
  • Hugging your friends
  • Joining large outdoor gatherings
  • Going to a movie theater

Very High Risk:

  • Going to a bar
  • Attending a large house party

STAY AT HOME IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELL. While faculty, staff and students value being on campus, it is imperative to the protection of others that you do not go to class or to work if you feel sick.

The success of Baylor’s fall semester depends on all members of the Baylor Family acting responsibly and doing their part to prevent COVID-19 on our campus and in the Waco community.