Coronavirus Information

Student Health Center services will be closed during the intersession, March 23-April 5. We will reopen Monday April 6.

However, the 24/7 nurses call center will remain open and a doctor is on call for emergencies.  The closure allows medical staff to recharge and remain healthy.

Student Health Center website

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 Student Health Center is now testing students for COVID-19. Currently, the turnaround time for COVID-19 screens is 7-10 days. Student Health Center staff will follow up with you when results are ready.

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.

Public health agencies currently do not recommend that people wear masks when they are in public. Additionally, scientists are not sure whether wearing a mask in public actually keeps healthy people from getting sick.  It’s most important for people who are sick to wear a mask in a healthcare setting (such as a waiting room) to avoid exposing other people when they cough or sneeze.

In some parts of the world, mask use is customary. People wear masks often for a variety of reasons, including to avoid pollen and air pollution, as a courtesy to others when they have the common cold, and for other cultural and even social reasons.

The Whatcom County Health Department recommends staying home and away from others if you are sick. However, keep in mind that if we see our friends, neighbors or other community members wearing a mask we should not assume that they have been exposed to coronavirus or any other illness (coronavirus is not currently present in our community). Because mask use is customary in some cultures, it’s not appropriate to make assumptions about why someone is wearing a mask or to stigmatize or discriminate against people who choose to wear masks.

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 until at least April 27th.

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 Counseling Center has shifted to remote operations, but is here for phone support throughout spring break.  

We are building our capacity and professional skills in order to provide online services via telementalhealth by spring quarter. 

Students can reach the Counseling Center at 360-650-3164 Monday through Friday  9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you reach us during daytime hours and need to speak with a counselor, we can arrange for a phone consultation.  If a student is in crisis and in need of support when we are closed, they may call 360-650-3164 and press "1" to reach after-hours services.  (Other crisis resources include the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 and the Crisis Text Line: 741-741.) 

Check the Counseling Center website for updates.

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.