Should I Be Worried about Coronavirus at BU?
Should I Be Worried about Coronavirus at BU?
Directors of BU Student Health Services and BU Occupational Health address concerns
Judy Platt, director of BU Student Health Services, and Ann M. Zaia, director of the BU Occupational Health Center address concerns about coronavirus on campus.
Should I be worried about coronavirus at Boston University?
Platt: It’s normal to feel nervous when we hear about a new virus in the news, but I’m here to reassure you that there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus here at Boston University.
Zaia: The general public is considered right now at low risk for coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and the BU population falls under that category.
What can I do to keep from getting sick?
Zaia: There are a number of things that you can actually do to keep yourself healthy during this time of year, whether we’re concerned about coronavirus, or influenza virus, or any of the other viruses or bacterial infections that are around this time of year.
Platt: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds. Make sure you’re getting at least eight hours of sleep each night. Keep yourself hydrated. And, if you’re around others who appear to be ill, keep your distance.
Do I need to wear a mask?
Zaia: I know people may be concerned right now seeing numbers of people walking around town, walking around campus, with masks on. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control do not recommend wearing masks at this time.
Platt: However, many people choose to wear a mask. It may be because they’re feeling unwell, or it may be to keep themselves protected against other people who are ill.
If I am getting sick, how do I know if it’s coronavirus or just the flu?
Zaia: Symptoms of the coronavirus and flu—the early onset—are quite similar. So it’s actually a little bit difficult to tell whether you have one or the other. What we’d prefer that you do is to contact us, either at Boston University Occupational Health, or Student Health. Talk to one of us, so we can help you through and figure out what the symptoms might be related to. Most likely it’s related to the influenza virus this time of year.
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