Keeping Our Campus Safe

It’s January and you can feel it in the crisp winter air. It’s the time of year to return back to campus and re-engage in our academic goals. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is as prevalent as ever, especially with the new Omicron variant. ASU is taking it seriously and has implemented some policy changes to help keep us all safe and healthy. Follow the policies and tips during this semester and we can make it a successful, healthy semester for all of us.

1. Complete the daily health checks on the ASU app. This is one of the new policies that is being implemented. You can get the ASU app on your phone or tablet, and through it you can self-assess how you’re feeling and if you have any symptoms of COVID. At the end of the check, it’ll let you know if it is a good idea to come to campus or not. By checking in on a daily basis with how you’re feeling, you’ll be able to know if you show symptoms of COVID, if you should get tested, as well as help keep other Sun Devils healthy and safe.
2. Wear a mask when indoors. One of the ways we can dramatically reduce the spread of COVID is by wearing a mask. Masks have been required in classroom spaces last semester, but this spring, it will be expanded to all indoor settings that you cannot socially distance in. It can be an inconvenience or uncomfortable, but by wearing a mask in populated areas, you reduce the risk of catching the virus as well as reduce the chance of spreading it, helping everyone maintain a healthy community.
3. Get tested regularly. COVID tests are free to ASU students, and it is recommended that students get tested consistently. Since some people can have COVID while remaining asymptomatic, regular tests ensure that you keep our Sun Devil community safe. Testing gets you the information you need to make smart decisions about whether to come to campus or stay home.
4. Social distance whenever possible. We’ve heard this many times since COVID first became prominent and the CDC still recommends keeping 6 feet of distance from people, especially indoors. This is not always possible, but when it is, it’s a good thing to practice. By keeping your distance, you are less likely to catch the virus from someone else, keeping yourself and your community healthy.
5. Frequently wash your hands for 20 seconds at a time or use sanitizer. While COVID is more transmissible through the air, it can still be spread through surfaces and hands. We unconsciously touch our eyes, mouth and nose all the time, and if you have COVID, even if you are asymptomatic, you could be spreading COVID to your hands and everywhere you touch. Washing your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer cleans your hands and greatly reduces the chance of spreading germs and the virus to another person.