Coronavirus Information

If you have a cough and a fever:

• If you have had a test and actually been diagnosed with COVID-19, you need to stay home away from people for 7 days or until 72 hours after your fever and symptoms are gone, whichever is longer. Students in Bellingham should contact the Student Health Center if they haven’t already at 360-650-3400.
• If you have NOT had a COVID-19 test, but you have had close contact with someone who has had a test and been diagnosed (pdf) with COVID-19, you should isolate yourself at home for 7 days OR until 72 hours after your fever is gone and your symptoms get better, whichever is longer. Students in Bellingham should contact the Student Health Center if they haven’t already at 360-650-3400.
• If you have NOT been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should stay home away from others until 72 hours after the fever is gone and symptoms get better. You may have COVID-19 or you may have any number of other respiratory diseases circulating in our communities.

Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care or other health facility without calling first. Your provider will need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic.

The CDC also advises you to:

• Avoid contact with others and do not travel while sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean your hands by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.

Monitor your symptoms closely. Remember that the likelihood is low that you have coronavirus. Take your temperature if you believe you have a fever.

Stay home from school and work until at least 72 hours after your fever ends. If you must go out of the house or be around others, wear a mask and avoid close contact. Be especially careful around infants and small children as well as people who have compromised immune systems and/or are over the age of 65. If you returned from China in the last 14 days, and your arrival date was February 2 or later, you will have received instructions from the CDC and from the local or state health department. Please follow these instructions. Guidelines for travelers returning from other countries are available from the CDC.

Take care of yourself. Rest as much as possible. Drink lots of fluids.

Additional note for anyone arriving recently from China: Based on CDC guidance, if you have arrived in the U.S. on or after Feb. 3, 2020 AND visited mainland China in the previous 14 days, you should stay at home and not attend class or other WWU-related activities until a full 14 days have passed since your last day in mainland China.

Any student who meets these criteria — or is unsure whether they do — should contact the Student Health Center at 360-650-3400. This will assist in ensuring the safety and care of those in need as well as the rest of the Western community.

The SHC no longer performs tests for COVID-19, and instead refers patients to a local testing location.

If you are feeling sick, or think you need to be tested, please call the Student Health Center (360-650-3400) first and answer a series of questions to determine the risk of exposure to COVID-19. We will recommend the next steps for you.

If symptoms are mild, there’s no need for testing. Follow the guidance given by the CDC: stay home, stay away from others, and monitor your symptoms. If you feel worse, call your primary care provider. Do not go to the doctor’s office without calling first for instructions. 

For your review, here are the Washington State Department of Health recommendations for who should get tested for COVID-19:

• Those who are sick with fever or cough and who are at a higher risk for complications from severe respiratory infections (e.g., older people, those with chronic medical conditions including immunosuppression, and pregnant people) should call their healthcare provider to discuss whether they should be tested for COVID-19 or tested and treated for other infections such as influenza or pneumonia.
• Other people with mild illness who are concerned about their health can call their healthcare provider to discuss COVID-19 testing and other possible reasons for their illness. Not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. We don’t currently have medications to treat COVID-19, so whether you test positive or negative your healthcare provider’s advice for managing your symptoms will be the same.

Any student who has been screened for COVID-19 should follow these precautions;

• Stay home except to get medical care
• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
• Call ahead before visiting the Student Health Center
• Wear a facemask
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Avoid sharing personal household items
• Clean your hands often
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day
• Monitor your symptoms

Seek prompt medical attention at the Student Health Center if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call the Student Health Center at 360-650-3400 and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help us to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed.

If/when a student receives a confirmed diagnosis, they will receive medical instructions, and Western will take necessary steps as advised by the Health Department, including cleaning and disinfecting, quarantining and isolating ill students, as well as other actions recommended by medical and public health professionals.

For more information about testing, visit the Washington State Department of Health testing webpage.

If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms, please do not go to a health care provider before calling first. Please follow the directions in the “What do I do if I feel sick?” question if you are ill.

Note to the community: The Student Health Center at Western serves current students on the Bellingham campus. Our small outpatient clinic, which is funded through student fees, does not accept community members or Western employees as patients. The Student Health Center can not provide COVID-19 testing to the community. Test capacity is still severely limited in our region, and we are using them in accordance with CDC recommendations for only students at the highest risk. The ability to perform tests depends on the availability of a lab, availability of specimen collection materials (swab and viral transport media), and availability of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to collect and package specimens safely. We are actively seeking greater test capacity for our student population.

The Whatcom County Health Department recommends that people at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. This includes concert venues, conventions, sporting events, and crowded social gatherings.

People at higher risk include:

• People over 60 years of age.
• Anyone underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes.
• Anyone with weakened immune systems.
• Women who are pregnant.

The Washington Department of Health has created guidelines and advise for higher-risk populations. Your health care team can also help you assess your current medications and conditions to help you think about actions that can minimize risk to you and your household.

Whatcom County has issued a health directive starting May 22 that says people should wear a face covering while at any indoor public space or outdoor public spaces where 6 feet of social distancing is difficult to maintain. Face coverings can include cloth masks, bandanas or scarves covering the person's nose and mouth, and can help to slow transmission of the coronavirus through respiratory droplets. Whatcom County has additional details about how to follow this directive, including where to wear masks, who should wear masks and how to properly wear a face covering.

Western is adopting the county’s guidance and strongly urges all visitors, employees and students to don face masks or face coverings at all times on campus when in the presence of others and in public settings where 6 feet of distancing is difficult to maintain. The use of cloth masks or face coverings is not a substitute for physical distancing, frequent hand washing, and other preventative measures. While the county strongly urges people to follow the directive on face coverings as an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there is no criminal, civil, or financial penalty for failing to wear a face covering and law enforcement will not be involved in enforcing this directive.

Employees who are performing critical functions on campus and have questions in regards proper PPE use should consult with their supervisor and EHS. 

The supply chain for all types of masks are under an incredible amount of stress. Western is continuously monitoring the supply-chain inventory to have masks available for use by our employees and students. As we learn more, the Incident Command team will be sure to communicate accordingly.

•  Learn how to make your own cloth face coverings
•  Read the full Whatcom County directive on wearing face coverings.

The CDC has a guide for individuals, families and communities on prevention and mitigation of the spread of viruses, including COVID-19. These steps include many of those listed above for personal health, as well as others relevant for broader community efforts.

As with any natural or human-inflicted disaster, the novel coronavirus outbreak presents an added layer of stress and worry for members of our Western community who have personal connections to the affected area. This is a critically-important time for all of us to reinforce a community of care on our campus and support one another.

If you would like to talk with someone, support is available to students through campus mental health services at the Counseling Center and to faculty and staff through the Washington State Employee Assistance Program.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.  The emotional impact of an emergency on a person can depend on the person’s characteristics and experiences, the social and economic circumstances of the person and their community, and the availability of local resources. People can become more distressed if they see repeated images or hear repeated reports about the outbreak in the media.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:

• People who have preexisting mental health conditions including problems with substance use
• Children
• People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders

Reactions during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

• Fear and worry about your own health status and that of your loved ones who may have been exposed to COVID-19
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Worsening of chronic health problems
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms. Additional information can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website.

Coping with these feelings and getting help when you need it will help you, your family, and your community recover from a disaster. Connect with family, friends, and others in your community. Take care of yourself and each other, and know when and how to seek help.

Call your healthcare provider if stress reactions interfere with your daily activities for several days in a row.

Things you can do to support yourself:

• Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage of COVID-19.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life.
• Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships.
• Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking.

Share the facts about COVID-19 and the actual risk to others. People who have returned from areas of ongoing spread more than 14 days ago and do not have symptoms of COVID-19 do not put others at risk.

What are quarantine and social distancing?

• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
• Social distancing means remaining out of places where people meet or gather, avoiding local public transportation (e.g., bus, subway, taxi, rideshare), and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others.

Sharing accurate information can help calm fears in others and allow you to connect with them.

Learn more about taking care of your emotional health.

More resources:

For Everyone

• Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event

For Communities

• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health during an Infectious Disease Outbreak

For Families and Children

• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
• Coping After a Disaster – A Ready Wrigley activity book for children age 3-10

For First Responders

• Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself
• Disaster Technical Assistance Center  (SAMHSA)

Additional information and resources on mental health care can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
• People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.

WWU Facilities Management crews have implemented extra measures to clean and disinfect surfaces in public areas that are touched frequently. This includes surfaces such as door handles, banisters, and elevator buttons. An increased cleaning of these “touch points” has been in place since October to reduce health risks during flu season. But we have stepped up these preventative measures to further mitigate risks of the novel coronavirus. We will continue to monitor recommendations from the CDC and WA State Department of Health for preventing the spread of the virus.

The University’s custodial cleaning program uses an EPA-registered disinfectant to clean touch points, public and common area restrooms and kitchens daily. Students living in on-campus housing are expected to clean the private bathrooms in their residences and are provided cleaning instructions.

On campus, our new cleaning protocols are approved by the Health Department, and they confirm that there is no need for additional cleaning in public spaces.

Each of us should clean our own work surfaces, keyboards, touch screens, and phones daily with disinfecting wipes or cleansers. Shared surfaces should be cleaned after each use.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door knobs, tables, keyboards light switches). Use a disinfectant registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a 10% bleach/water solution to clean surfaces. Please avoid putting disinfectant gels or liquids on electronics and other equipment, including elevator buttons, unless they have been indicated as safe to use on those devices.

How to Self-Isolate

If you are asked to self-isolate you should stay home — in your room, your apartment, or your house. Do not go to work, classes, athletic events, restaurants or bars or other social gatherings until you are told it is safe to return to normal activities by your medical provider.

• Stay in your room or apartment. Do not go to work, classes, athletic events, or other social or religious gatherings.  
• Limit contact as much as possible. This also means limiting contact with persons living in your residence. Stay 6 feet away from other individuals at all times.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with your upper sleeve or a tissue, and then discard the tissue immediately in a trash basket. Never cough in the direction of someone else. 
• Wash your hands with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand rubs after coughing or sneezing or throwing a used tissue in the garbage. 
• Avoid sharing household items. Do not share drinking glasses, towels, eating utensils, bedding, or any other items until you are no longer asked to self-isolate. 
• Keep your surroundings clean. While the virus is not spread very well from contact with soiled household surfaces, try to clean surfaces that you share with others, such as door knobs, telephones, and bathroom surfaces (or any other object that you sneeze or cough on), with a standard household disinfectant such as Clorox wipes. Wash your hands after cleaning the area.
• Monitor yourself for for signs of possible infection, including fever (100.4 degrees F or 38.0 degrees C or higher, measured twice a day), cough or difficulty breathing.

This is a strange time as we all cope with the ever changing COVID-19 situation. Being in a situation of uncertainty can be a breeding ground for anxiety. In addition, the disruption to our normal routines and daily living created by switching to off campus instruction and utilizing social distancing can create anxiety. It’s important to be intentional about caring for yourself in a way that allows you to maintain healthy mental wellness. Here are some tips for staying healthy and mentally well during this strange time. 

• Maintain a Routine: It might be tempting to stay in bed all day with your laptop, but try to get up and get dressed like you normally would. Keeping a routine is an important coping skill when dealing with anxiety and/or a stressful event. Though it might need to look different during this time of social distancing, create a new routine for yourself and try your best to stick to it. 

• Get Good Sleep: Getting healthy amounts of sleep is another important coping skill for staying well during stressful times. See our tips for healthy sleep hygiene! Set up a specific place for studying and working on online school that is NOT your bed! Keep the bed for sleep and sex only so that your body continues to associate the bed with sleep. 

• Go Outside: While it is important to practice social distancing as appropriate, it is also important not to stay inside all day. Explore the great outdoors! Going for a walk in a nature preserve, or even just around the block, will help you continue to get much needed Vitamin D from the sun, get some exercise, and not stay cooped up in your home all day. Staying active is key for good mental health. 

• Stay Connected: Isolation can have a very real and detrimental effect on mental health. While practicing social distancing may mean less in person interaction with others, be intentional about maintaining your relationships through texting, social media, and good old fashioned phone calls. Consider using live chat options such as Google hangout to catch up with a group of friends! 

• Take a Break From the News: If you are experiencing a lot of anxiety about the COVID-19 situation, it is important to take some space from the constant news about the crisis. Knowing that not all news is accurate, especially when it is quickly and constantly updating, give yourself permission to step away from it. Checking reliable sources, such as the CDC, WWU’s Coronavirus page, World Health Organization, or the Washington State Health Department website once or twice a day is a good way to stay informed while avoiding possible misinformation.

• Find Purpose: Finding purpose and meaning may be more difficult during this period, especially while spending most of the day in the house. Try a new hobby, work on a project you haven’t had time for, learn to cook, or even do an old fashioned spring cleaning! Find a way to keep yourself busy and to achieve accomplishments each day. 

• Be Flexible: Feeling a loss of control can make anxiety worse, but we know that we are not in control of many things in life, certainly including COVID-19 and the precautions that may become necessary to keep it from spreading. Create structure and routine for yourself, but be sure to maintain a sense of flexibility to help you adapt to changes. Discover what you can control in your life, such as smaller decisions about when to wake up, what to work on each day, and what to eat for meals. Exercising control in these areas may help you be more flexible when dealing with things that are out of your control. 

• Utilize Self Care: Maintaining your self care is even more important during times of high stress. Take breaks to stretch, practice mindfulness, or read a book. Find a library of self care digital resources on the Counseling Center website. See our tips and some tools for practicing self love. 

• Reach Out for Support: A lot of people are struggling with anxiety during the COVID-19 crisis. Experiencing disruption to everyday life, such as taking classes online rather than in person and practicing social distancing, can lead to more anxiety. Be honest about how you are feeling. Talking about your fears is a great way to lessen your distress. Consider reaching out to family or friends to talk about your anxiety. The Crisis Text Line is available as well. Trained crisis counselors can help take you from a hot moment of crisis to a cooler calm, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Text Hello to 741741. 

The physical CASAS Survivor Advocacy Services office is closed to face-to-face meetings.

For many survivors of intimate partner/domestic violence and sexual assault, home is not always the safest place. This time of social distancing can leave survivors more isolated and increase safety concerns. You deserve to feel safe and supported. You are not alone.

24-Hour Survivor Support

Walk-in and in-person appointments are not available at this time, however, if you or someone you know is experiencing violence or abuse, support is still available. 

CASAS has compiled a list of 24-hour survivor support options. Please visit: pws.wwu.edu/24hoursupport

How can students get in touch with CASAS for advocacy support?

• Call 360-650-3700: Leave a voicemail with your name, phone number and email, if it is safe to do so.
  • Voicemail will be checked once a day: Monday-Friday between the hours of 9am-5pm.
• The CASAS Coordinator will follow up with advocacy requests by email or phone.
• CASAS is offering pre-scheduled phone check-ins.
  • Video appointments may become an option as well. 

What is the plan for spring quarter support groups?

• There will be no in-person support groups for spring quarter.
• Plans are being made to transition the group to a self-guided art activity curriculum. 
• Interested students can email  Deidre.Evans@wwu.edu to receive more information.

If you have any other questions, please contact:

Deidre Evans, MSW

CASAS Survivor Advocacy Services Coordinator

Deidre.Evans@wwu.edu

360-650-7982

The Western Foundation has established a Student Emergency Fund to provide relief for students who are experiencing food and housing insecurity, those whose families are confronting job loss or illness, and for those who are hungry and unable to afford even basic necessities. This reserve is a financial lifeline for our students in crisis and will help to ensure that their needs are met and that they are able to remain at Western. You can apply for financial help from this fund here. Also see the information about federal CARES Act funding here.

Yes, the Student Health Center Annex, or temporary respiratory clinic, is located in the first-floor former lock shop space of the Campus Services building. The respiratory clinic is intended to be a separate facility to mitigate any potential risk that may be present as the university eventually transitions to more normal operations. Both the primary Student Health Center and the Annex will serve only Western Students. The temporary clinic will only be open Monday through Friday by appointment, for a couple of hours a day. This is not a drop-in clinic; patients will be informed as to when and how to arrive.

Find out more here.

Our plan includes dedicated quarantine space for on-campus residents who may be exposed to the virus, and for any student who tests positive for the virus we will provide isolation space.  Off-campus residents and employees who are exposed, or test positive, will be required to stay at home until they are cleared to return by a healthcare provider. 

We also expect to be able to work with the county health department to trace proximate and frequent contacts of those who test positive.  In addition, our new temporary student respiratory clinic on the main Bellingham campus will help us isolate and protect students with respiratory symptoms that are more difficult to assess by telemedicine, and, if clinically warranted, be tested for COVID-19. Walk-ins are NOT accepted. To schedule an appointment, individuals must first be screened by a healthcare provider which can be done by phone or via a telemedicine visit at the Student Health Center. 

University Residences will follow the same protocols put in place for spring quarter including a requirement for single-occupancy-only rooms and no more than two residents sharing a suite bathroom.  We will continue increased cleaning and sanitization.   

For dining and retail food locations, we have removed self-service items, including the salad bar, dessert station and waffle bar. These items will now be served by a dining services associate.  We have also removed all high-touch items from dining room tables, such as napkin dispensers and salt & pepper shakers. These items have been relocated into the service area so that they can be cleaned and sanitized every 20 minutes.  In addition, no more than 10 people may be in the dining commons at any one time, and we are implementing additional cleaning measures.