While your student enjoys the excitement of being on campus and determines what their coursework looks like for the fall, they should be thinking about a few other things too. Inevitably going to college during a pandemic carries greater risk than a typical fall semester. Having difficult conversations now can help your student make smart choices that protect themselves and those around them.
1) Get tested if you need it.
The testing process or maybe the results can seem scary, but this is the best way to manage the spread of infection. Particularly if a student is showing symptoms, they should get tested and abide by quarantine or isolation expectations for the full period advised by a medical provider.
2) We’re in it together.
As the virus continues to spread, it’s winning – but we can fight back by working together and thinking of one another. While your student may not get very ill if they contract COVID-19, public health officials say that 10 percent of students will become very ill. Help your student understand how their actions or illness may impact your family and their friends.
3) Tell the truth.
Contact tracers and epidemiologists have the difficult job of putting together a 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzle – without the full picture on the box. Every piece of information that we can provide them helps to prevent another individual from getting sick. If your student is contacted by a contact tracer, encourage them to be honest and upfront with information.
4) Find a social bubble – and stick with it.
It’s normal that college students will want to socialize; and how they do it has ramifications more than ever before. Tell your student to stick to a small dedicated friend group for grabbing meals, exercising, movie nights and more. They’ll develop close-knit relationships while also keeping themselves at a limited risk of catching and spreading the virus.
5) Wash hands often.
Hand sanitizer is readily available throughout the Nebraska campus. Remind your student to use it regularly.
6) Layer on the protection.
When choosing between physical distance or a face covering, opt for both! As college campuses try to remain open to offer in-person experiences, students hold the future in their hands. The more they do to prevent the spread, the more likely they’ll find themselves on campus later this semester.
More details at: https://covid19.unl.edu/