Dear Colleagues:
I would like to update you on our current public health priorities. There are many respiratory viruses circulating at this time both on and off campus. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) case levels have increased in the greater Worcester community. RSV typically can be asymptomatic or it presents as mild, cold-like symptoms for most, but for infants, young children, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions and weakened immune systems, the illness can lead tomore serious symptoms.
With all this information, we recognize that you have to navigate this landscape within the context of your personal risk and risk to loved ones at home. There are many personal mitigation measures we can all take to avoid illness, including masking, vaccination, and handwashing. At this time, I recommend that people who are at-risk or have family members at-risk consider masking to prevent severe infection. Please remember as faculty, you can require masking in your classrooms if you are concerned about risk for yourself and/or loved ones. As staff, you can require individuals to mask in personal spaces. One-way masking is also effective in preventing exposure to COVID-19 and RSV.
We are also approaching flu season amidst other respiratory viruses. Getting your influenza and bivalent COVID booster are important interventions to prevent serious illness. There is a Bivalent COVID Booster and Flu clinic this Friday, November 4th from 9am-12pm. The clinic was previously full, but more spots have been added. This is a great time to get vaccinated as the holidays are coming up and it can take 2 weeks to reach full immunity. You can sign up for one or both vaccinations here.
With personal risk, it is important to take personal responsibility by testing for the flu and COVID, stay home when sick and if well enough, to mask while having mild symptoms. I encourage you to talk with your colleagues, supervisors, and student staff about mitigation measures you would be comfortable taking, even temporarily, based on your personal circumstances. As always, I appreciate the continued environment of respect we have all cultivated to ensure everyone is comfortable to protect their own health and wellbeing.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Alyssa Price MSN, BSN, RN
Public Health Registered Nurse
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Alyssa Price MSN, BSN, RN
Public Health Registered Nurse
College of the Holy Cross
aprice@holycross.edu