College Life and COVID-19: Is it Possible to Stay Safe?
Parties, cram sessions, tailgating, pledging…
That was college life before COVID-19. While a good deal of these activities shouldn’t be taking place right now, some students across the country are still determined to make the most of their college experience despite the pandemic. We know because we’ve seen the pictures and videos or heard the accounts firsthand. And because of this, campuses and college towns are rapidly becoming hotspots for coronavirus infections.
This time of year is stressful enough for parents who are sending their children out into the world for the first time. On top of worrying about how their kids will do on their own when they’re hundreds or thousands of miles away, parents now have to wonder if their children can manage to stay safe during the pandemic.
“It’s a difficult thing,” says pediatric infectious disease specialist Camille Sabella, MD. “Some college kids might resent the fact that they can’t have their normal college life. Even though they might not be receptive to some of the concerns, it’s certainly worth educating students and encouraging them to stay safe on campus.”
Tips for staying safe in a dorm room
It would be nice if there was a surefire formula for keeping students safe in small spaces. But it’s tough because this is all so new and we’ve never had to think about any of this before. Dr. Sabella believes that while we don’t have all the answers right now, using common sense and practicing the protocols that are already in place can help reduce the risk of infection around campus and even in dorm rooms.
We know that we should sanitize our living spaces often and avoid inviting people who aren’t in our inner circles into them. We also know hand hygiene and wearing masks are helpful, too. But Dr. Sabella points out that communication between roommates is crucial to keeping everyone safe.
“For those with roommates, just knowing where each person is going and what activities both will be participating in is key. To take it one step further, roommates can come to an agreement about practicing a safe campus lifestyle. This means staying away from crowds and wearing a mask. While you can’t control each other’s movements, it would be great to actually have some kind of an agreement about the activities that you both are going to do, and more importantly, not do,” says Dr. Sabella.
Tips for staying safe around campus
It might seem like it’s impossible to avoid infection in college settings, but Dr. Sabella says there are definitely some things students can do to lessen the risks. He urges college students to avoid dining in at restaurants or hanging out in bars with different crowds of people. These things are tough for social butterflies but necessary to stay safe and healthy.
“It’s a very difficult thing for college students because they already feel like their college experiences are being altered. But the bigger goal for most of us is to not get infected and spread COVID-19. So, students really need to think about where they’ll be going and what they’ll be doing even if they don’t really want to. And contrary to what they believe, social distancing, masking, washing hands and staying away from sick people are still very important.”
Here are some additional ways for students to protect themselves while on campus:
Wear a mask or a face shield with a mask in public spaces. Especially during situations where it’s hard to maintain social distancing. Also, avoid touching your face.
Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing. Use a tissue or your sleeve to do it instead of your hands. Throw your tissue away and sanitize your hands when finished.
Practice physical distancing. Stay six feet away from others if possible. If you have the option to take classes remotely, do so to protect yourself. Also, for students who don’t live on campus, avoid going to campus if it’s not necessary.
Follow social distancing guidelines. Avoid group gatherings and crowded places.
Wash your hands often. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
If you are sick, don’t go to class or other activities. If you need to talk to a healthcare provider, contact them by phone or schedule a virtual visit. If things get worse, seek medical attention immediately.
Clean and disinfect your dorm room regularly. Use a virus-killing disinfectant to clean frequently touched surfaces such as phones, tables, desks, keyboards, doorknobs, handles and faucets.
Maintain healthy habits. Get enough rest, eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water and exercise, if you are able, to help keep your immune system strong.