New COVID Guidance

Sent on behalf of the Health and Wellness Center

To the Campus Community:

Following the updated CDC recommendations dated March 1, 2024 (CDC updates) and in conjunction with the NYS Department of Health, SUNY and FSC have adopted the following recommendations related to respiratory viruses including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV:

• Individuals should stay home and away from others, including people they live with who are not sick, if they have respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose and headache.

• Individuals can go back to normal activities (work/school) when, for at least 24 hours, both of the following are true:
  • Symptoms are getting better overall, and
  • They no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• When going back to normal activities (work/school), individuals should take added precautions over the next 5 days, including taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and testing when they will be around other people, especially those with weakened immune systems. People may still be able to spread the virus that made them sick, even if they are feeling better.

• If after returning to normal activities, an individual’s fever returns or they feel worse, they should again stay home and away from others, and should once again use the above criteria for returning to normal activities and taking added precautions. Please refer to example 4 listed here.

For a helpful visual guide, please view the Respiratory Virus Guidance Snapshot.