Sindecuse Health Center

Sindecuse Health Center
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5445 USA
(269) 387-3287

COVID-19

If you have a respiratory virus like COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on respiratory viruses advises

You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:

  • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
  • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
Symptoms may include chest discomfort, chills, cough, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, or wheezing. When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors. 

Prevention and treatment

The best way to prevent illness is to get vaccinated. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC recommendations for using a face covering.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.At-home test kits

At-home test kits are popular and widely available. It's important to know that expiration dates may be extended beyond the package label date. A test manufacturer can request that the FDA authorize a longer shelf-life if they have research to support such an extension.  When a longer shelf-life is authorized, the expiration dates are extended by the FDA.  You can check the FDA-published List of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests to see if the expiration date for your at-home OTC COVID-19 test has been extended. Many have been, including the tests given out freely at the health center and other campus locations.

Antigen testing for symptomatic individuals

The health center offers rapid-result COVID-19 antigen testing to individuals who are seeking care for their symptoms. The results are posted to the patient portal under the "Medical Records" menu item and in the "Labs" tab.

Vaccination

When available, we administer the updated COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals. These vaccines are also widely available in the community if we are out of stock. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention update their guidance on COVID-19 vaccination regularly. Please review recommendations at the CDC's COVID-19 vaccination page.