Self care

See the CDC’s recommendations on how to stop the spread of germs.

• Check the current CDC travel notices for the most at-risk countries which are classified as Level 3 or 2.
• See the university’s current travel policies to these and other countries
• See the CDC’s frequently asked questions on travel.

• Stay home for 14 days from the time you return from outside Jefferson County or if you are having symptoms of a contagious illness.

Take these steps to monitor your health and practice social distancing:

• Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also, watch for a cough or trouble breathing.
• Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for this 14-day period. Discuss your work situation with your employer before returning to work.
• Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares during the time you are practicing social distancing.
• Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public to those that are necessary (e.g. grocery shopping, medical appointments.
• Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).

What To Do If You Get Sick

If you get sick with fever, cough, or have trouble breathing:

• Seek medical care. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.
• Tell your doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.
• If you need to seek medical care for other reasons, such as dialysis, call ahead to your doctor and tell them about your recent travel to an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.

In light of new evidence, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure. The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators; those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

• Watch for changes in your health for 14 days after you or any close associates travel. Contact the MIU Integrative Wellness Center by phone if you get sick after travel at 641-472-7000 x3411 or 3410.
• Wash your hands often with soap and scrub them for 20 seconds, especially before meals. Dry them well. This is simple but the most important way to prevent illness. Or use hand sanitizer before meals.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, mouth through the day.
• Clean your computer, phone, doorknob, desk, and other often touched objects with anti-bacterial wipes or alcohol swabs.
• Avoid close contact with others who are ill.
• Sneeze or cough into your elbow, not your hands. This curtails the spread of the viruses.
• Drink warm water or herbal tea from a thermos throughout the day.
• Avoid cold drinks, sugary foods.
• Dress warmly with many layers and a hat, scarf, gloves, and a warm coat in the cold, rain or wind.
• Walk carefully if there is ice. The University Store sells cleats for the bottom of shoes if you need them.
• Sleep when you are tired. The body repairs itself best between 10 PM and 2 AM.
• Stay home when you are sick. And stay home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines. You will get better faster and keep others from becoming sick.

• Cold Weather Defense tablets from the University Store and take 2 in the AM and 2 at night for a week. Then take 1 in the AM and 1 in the evening.
• Turmeric tablets and ginger tablets are helpful to fight infection. 1 in the AM and PM
• Tulsi tablets for respiratory infection available in the University store.
• Emergen C powder (Vit C and many other vitamins) to take once per day for prevention. Two times per day if you’re not feeling well.
• Vitamin D3, 2000 or 2500 units, once per day. One of the most useful items to take to keep healthy.
• Zinc 22 mg, twice per day. If you get 50 mg, take it only once per day. Always take after food.
• Facial tissues if you need them.
• Echinacea/Goldenseal tincture may be helpful if you get a sore throat.
• A thermometer to check your temperature if you start to feel ill.