What to do if you feel sick

Welcome back new and current students! As we return to campus, please be advised that COVID-19 remains apparent. While we are continuing to transition into life with COVID, we encourage you to monitor your own symptoms, isolate and get tested as according to the Ontario guidelines.

We continue to follow the latest COVID-19 safety guidance from public health and the Ontario government.

1. If you are a student in residence with COVID-19 symptoms OR have tested positive, you will first need to determine your isolation period following Government of Ontario guidelines.

Stay in your room and self-isolate until all of the following apply:

• • your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had symptoms affecting the digestive system)
  • you do not have a fever
  • you have not developed additional symptoms

Learn how to properly self-isolate when you have COVID-19

You should continue to take additional precautions for up to 10 days after your symptoms started.

2. You can choose to isolate in your residence room or seek out an isolation location off-campus. If leaving campus to isolate, this should happen as soon as possible.

3. All roommates or suitemates will also need to determine if they are required to isolate. As per the Government of Ontario the following criteria will be used to determine if individuals need to isolate:

• Roommates/Suitemates do not need to isolate if the following applies:
  • you have previously tested positive in the last 90 days and do not have symptoms
  • you are over 18 years old and have received a COVID-19 booster dose and do not have symptoms
  • you are under 18 years old and are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms

How to Isolate Responsibly

1. Please stay in your residence room and avoid contact with others. If you have a roommate or suitemates, please wear a mask. If you need to leave your room for any reason, you must wear a mask.
2. Contact your Residence Life Community Advisor, RLAC (Residence Life Area Coordinator) or Service Centre or e-mail hcshelp@mcmaster.ca
3. Students will be given the option of isolating in place, in their assigned residence room, or leaving campus for their isolation period and doing so at home or other off-site location. McMaster will not be providing private isolation spaces for students or roommates.
4. Complete the McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF) for academic considerations due to illness and contact their professors
5. You will have the option to receive daily meal service while in isolation, charges will be billed back to your meal plan. The link to the student order form is https://mcmu.ca/selectmeal

mONKEYPOX AWARNESS

As we return to in-person learning, we ask students to please be conscientious of symptoms related to Monkeypox, a viral disease that is transmitted via direct contact with bodily fluids or via respiratory droplets from an infected individual. If you are experiencing excessive fatigue, a headache, fever or show any signs of an unexplainable skin rash, please contact your healthcare provider or visit the Student Wellness Centre.