COVID 19
UMW continues to monitor COVID-19 on campus. Please be mindful of symptoms, know how to isolate as needed, find testing, and practice self-care. Protect yourself and others.
If you have a high-risk condition that puts you at risk of serious symptoms for COVID-19, please call the SHC for an appointment to be seen as soon as possible once you test positive. You likely will need medication (to help decrease viral replication).
High-risk conditions of serious symptoms for COVID-19 include:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic lung disease – i.e. Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis
- Heart conditions- i.e. Hypertension, heart failure, cardiomyopathies
- Diabetes Type 1 & 2
- Disabilities – i.e. Spinal cord injuries, birth defects, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, ADHD, or others
- HIV infection
- Immune compromised condition or weakened immune system or take medication that weaken the immune system
- Mental Health conditions – i.e. Schizophrenia, depression, mood disorders
- Overweight and obesity
- Sickle cell or Thalassemia
- Pregnancy
- Smokers, current or former
- Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
- Substance use disorder
- Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
Call the SHC at 540-654-1040 if you have any questions.
Recommendations (Positive COVID -19 with symptoms)
If you test positive for COVID-19, follow CDC guidance for respiratory illnesses. Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick).
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)
When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors. This is especially important to protect people with factors that increase their risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses.
- Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
- If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.
Monitor your symptoms. If you are not getting better or have emergency warning sign ( like trouble breathing), seek emergency care immediately.
If you never had symptoms but tested positive for a respiratory virus (COVID-19)
You may be contagious. For the next 5 days: take added precaution, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors. This is especially important to protect people with factors that increase their risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses.
For COVID-19, taking an antigen test can help you know how likely you are to spread the virus. A positive test tends to mean it is more likely that you can spread the virus to others.
How it works
When you have a respiratory virus infection, you can spread it to others. How long someone can spread the virus depends on different factors, including how sick they are (severity) and how long their illness lasts (duration), This is not the same for everyone.
When, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are getting better overall and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication), you are typically less contagious, but it still takes more time for your body to fully get rid of the virus. During this time, you may still be able to spread the virus to others. Using precautions for the next 5 days can help reduce this risk. After this 5-day period, you are typically much less likely to be contagious. However, some people, especially people with weakened immune systems, can continue to spread the virus for a longer period of time. For COVID-19, taking an antigen test can help you know how likely you are to spread the virus. A positive test tends to mean it is more likely that you can spread the virus to others.
Steps you can take
Individuals can
- Consider using additional prevention tools, such as taking steps for cleaner air, being diligent about hygiene, and using masks when you’re home sick to protect others in your home. This can be especially helpful if you do not have space at home to stay entirely away from others.
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek emergency medical care immediately.
Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations
UMW continues to strongly encourage students to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations/boosters. Please update us with your vaccinations by uploading your vaccination card to the Student Health Portal. Instructions for upload are here.
Symptoms to look out for with COVID-19
- Nasal congestion, and/or sore throat, and/or Headache
- Cough
- Fever and/ or chills
- Fatigue with or without activities and/or generalized weakness
- Sudden loss of smell and/or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches and pains
- Loss of appetite, and/or nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain
- Discoloration of fingers and toes, hands and feet, and/or any new generalized rashes
- Confusion, loss of balance, or localized muscle weakness
COVID-19 can feel like allergies, colds, or no symptoms at all. As recommended by the CDC, if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you have symptoms, please test right away and retest again in 48 hrs. If you do not have any symptoms, then test 5 days after exposure and retest again in 48 hrs for 2 more times. You can get COVID-19 more than once, please take precautions when with others!
Find Testing and Masks
Everyone who has any COVID symptoms, regardless of their vaccination status, should mask, and get tested. Students can contact the Student Health Center for testing. Self-tests are available to purchase in pharmacies including Walmart, CVS, or Giant pharmacy.
It is recommended that you have some self-tests accessible just in case. Note that many of the self-test use-by dates have been extended by the FDA.
Masks are still available to pick up on campus if needed at the Student Health Center and are encouraged in healthcare settings (Student Health Center, Talley Center for Counseling Services, Athletic Training room). Please use a mask if you are having symptoms.
Testing is available at the Student Health Center and locally in Fredericksburg.
If you have any symptoms, please call the Student Health Center from 8 am-5 pm for an appointment. If you need to speak to a nurse after-hours, please call the SHC at 540-654-1040 and press 2 to connect with Fonemed and a nurse will call you back to discuss your health concerns. For any emergency please call campus police at 540-654-4444.
Local Urgent Care / Pharmacy clinics:
- CareNow (multiple locations)
- CVS minute clinic (walk-in clinic within walking distance from UMW)
- Mary Washington Urgent Care (multiple locations – need car)
- NextCare curbside (multiple locations)
- PatientFirst (walk-in clinic at Central Park)
- Pedsplus Pediatric & Primary Care and Urgent Care (walk-in clinic within walking distance from UMW)
- Primecare ( walk-in clinic – need car)
- Primary & Urgent Care (PUC) (multiple locations)
- Virginia Dept of Health has COVID-19 testing sites by region in VA
- Walgreens has COVID testing – (multiple locations)
Practice self-care if you have COVID-19
- Rest – it is important to get adequate rest and sleep. This will keep your immune system strong.
- Drink plenty of fluids – Viral infections are dehydrating. Drink enough so that your urine is a normal pale color. Water, soup, fruit juice, and hot tea with lemon are good choices.
- Take OTC (Over-the-counter) medications for symptoms if needed.
- Tylenol or Ibuprofen to reduce fever or relieve body aches.
- Use petroleum jelly on sore skin that may occur around your nose and/or lips from increased use of tissues.
- A sore throat can be relieved with fluid, cough drops, or Benzocaine containing lozenges i.e. Cepacol or Chloraseptic
*Please read and follow all instructions on OTC labels.
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or go to the ER if:
- If you are not getting better.
- You have trouble breathing. (You can’t speak a full sentence.)
- You have constant chest pain or pressure.
- You are severely dizzy or lightheaded.
- You are confused or can’t think clearly.
- Your face and lips have a blue color.
- You feel like passing out (lost consciousness) or you are having a hard time staying awake.
- You can’t keep liquids down.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- Your symptoms get worse.
- You are not getting better as expected.
Call before you go to the doctor’s office. Follow their instructions. And wear a mask.