Respiratory Virus Guidance

Respiratory Virus Guidance PDF

As a student, it’s important that you be aware of the recent increase in COVID positivity rates and hospitalizations in the state. To help keep all respiratory virus transmission and infection rates low and to manage positive cases when they arise, please be aware of the following CDC-based recommendations.

Flu, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV):

• If you are ill with a respiratory virus, PLEASE STAY HOME and away from others. This will help everyone.
• If you are in the clinical portion of your education, you must consult with your clinical coordinator or designee before returning to your assigned facility. Each health facility has unique precautionary steps and procedures for the well-being of patients and health care workers. For example, below are actions being implemented by our Oklahoma City hospital partner, OU Health, for you to note.
• If you are in the didactic portion of your education, please note the following:
  • You may return to your in-person classes when your symptoms have been improving overall for 24 hours and you are FEVER-FREE.
  • If a fever is present, please do not return to in-person classes until you have been FEVER-FREE for 24 hours, without the use of a fever reducing medication.
  • Once you have returned to in-person classes, you are encouraged to take precautions for the next five days to curb disease spread, such as by wearing a well-fitting mask and keeping a distance from others.

Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 years of age and those with weakened immune systems.

For patient-facing students, we recommend the following additional precautions, subject to additional facility policy and requirements.

• Encouraging masking during face-to-face patient encounters
• Symptom screening of patients presenting for care [1]
  • Fever within the last 24 hours
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Recent (within 5 days) positive test for COVID or exposure to someone with COVID

[1] For non-urgent care, it is best to reschedule patients who are symptomatic. For patients with urgent issues, offer the patient a mask to wear and encourage healthcare personnel present to wear masks.

No specific accommodations are required for students who have COVID. Faculty and supervisors will follow usual attendance and make-up policies for students who have any respiratory illness or health concern preventing them from being present. If you are ill, contact the appropriate faculty members if you have questions about these policies.

If you have questions about COVID-19 protocols or to make an appointment, please contact:

• OU-Tulsa Campus | OU-Tulsa Student Health Clinic | (918) 660 - 3102