This guide is intended to help students make healthy choices regarding living and visiting off-campus as it relates to the current COVID-19 situation. This will benefit students’ own health and well-being, as well as others in the Tulane and greater New Orleans community.
To help protect all members of our Tulane campus community, you should consider performing a daily self-screening prior to coming to campus.
If you can answer “yes” to any of the above questions, you should notify your professors and not come to campus.
To prevent the spread, everyone should wear a cloth face covering in public, practice good hygiene and practice social distancing. Follow the guidelines issued by Tulane University and the City of New Orleans. You are expected to abide by which ever rule is stricter.
Follow social distancing guidelines by staying at least 6 feet (2 meters) from people who are not from your household.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) offers the following guidelines for everyday steps to take to clean and disinfect your home as well as extra steps to take when someone is sick. Each household should have a home cleaning plan, assigning residents tasks for regularly cleaning and actively hold each other accountable for keeping up with those tasks. Please keep in mind that you should continue social distancing, using a mask when near others outside your home, and following guidelines issued by the City of New Orleans and Tulane University.
Routine cleaning and sanitizing of your home can help lower the chances you or a loved one will contract COVID-19 and lower the chance you might spread it to someone else. The CDC recommends taking steps to clean and sanitize high-touch surfaces in your home.
The EPA has a full list of disinfectants that will kill the novel coronavirus, but here are a few commons ones:
Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Read the EPA’s guidelines for safe and effective disinfectant use.
Always read and follow the directions on the label to ensure safe and effective use.
You should never eat, drink, breathe or inject these products into your body or apply directly to your skin as they can cause serious harm. Do not wipe or bathe pets with these products or any other products that are not approved for animal use.
Diluted household bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface.
OR
For electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls:
For clothing, towels, linens and other items:
Wash your hands for 20 seconds or one Helluva Hullabaloo cheer.
Key times to clean hands:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Contact Campus Health to Arrange a Visit and/or the Nurses Line!
Students who believe they may have been exposed and have symptoms should self-isolate and immediately call the Student Health Center Nurse Advice Line at 504-862-8121 (during business hours) or 855-487- 0290 (after hours) or call TUPD at 504-8654-5911 for emergency medical services, as appropriate.
As communities open, consider ways that you can protect yourself and slow the spread of COVID-19 when using transportation.
When using any type of transportation, follow these general principles:
Practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Practice social distancing.
Follow social distancing guidelines by staying at least 6 feet (2 meters) from people who are not from your household.
Stay home when appropriate.
Have adequate supplies.
Protect people at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Stay up to date.
Avoid touching surfaces.
Practice social distancing.
Follow the general principles listed above, plus the following:
Avoid touching surfaces.
Practice social distancing.
Follow the general principles listed above, plus the following:
Clean and disinfect surfaces.
Practice social distancing.
Improve ventilation.
Stay home if sick.
Order online or use curbside pickup.
Protect yourself while shopping.
Use hand sanitizer.
Wash hands at home.
Wash your hands for 20 seconds or one Helluva Hullabaloo cheer.
Limit in person contact if possible.
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting mail.
Bank online whenever possible.
Use disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons.
Talk to your doctor online, by phone, or e-mail.
If you must visit in-person, protect yourself and others:
Limit in-person visits to the pharmacy.
Staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. In many areas, people can visit parks, trails, and open spaces as a way to relieve stress, get some fresh air and vitamin D, stay active, and safely connect with others.
Don’t: Visit parks if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19.
Do: Visit parks that are close to your home.
Avoid traveling long distances to visit a park because it may contribute to the spread of COVID-19 as:
Don’t: Visit crowded parks.
Do: Prepare before you visit.
State and local authorities will decide whether parks and other recreational facilities will open. Check with the park in advance to be sure you know which areas or services are open, such as bathroom facilities and concessions, and bring what you need with you.
State and local authorities will decide whether natural bodies of water and beaches or swim areas will be open. Please check with individual beaches or swim areas for specific details.
Do: Stay 6 feet away from others and take other steps to prevent COVID-19.
If a park, beach, or recreational facility is open for public use, visiting is okay as long as you practice social distancing and everyday steps such as washing hands often and covering coughs and sneezes. Follow these actions when visiting a park, beach, or recreational facility:
Don’t: Participate in organized activities or sports.
In general, most organized activities and sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, and football that are held on park fields, open areas, and courts are not recommended. These activities and sports typically require coaches and athletes to be in close proximity, which increases their potential for exposure to COVID-19.
Do: Play it safe around and in swimming pools, and keep space between yourself and others.
There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the water. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (with chlorine or bromine) of pools should kill COVID-19. Swimming and other water-related activities are excellent ways to get the physical activity needed for a healthy life. If you are not sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, it is safe to use swimming pools as long as steps are taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
How can we maintain emotional and mental well-being during high stress times? Consider the following recommendations and check out the resources below!
Be careful of COVID-19 overload. Limit the time you spend taking in COVID-19 news. It’s coming at us from all directions and this can be downright overwhelming. Turn off/stop reading the news. Maybe check in once a day.
Be careful of COVID-19 misinformation. Check out rumors for yourself by going to reputable sources. Check out state and local government sites for up to date information about closings. Go to the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for correct information about the virus.
Our emotions reside in our bodies, so take good care of yours:
Social connection! Maintain social distance, of course, but stay in touch with friends.
Consider keeping a journal about what this experience is like for you. But be sure to end your daily entry with 3 good things about the day, however small, to help keep your spirits up.
Maintain perspective. While this is a HUGE event for all of us, remind yourself of what’s good in your life and what’s important: family, friends, working towards your degree, religion, spirituality, etc.
Spend time with your four-legged friends. Some snuggle time with your pets can make a tough day a lot easier.
Do something kind for someone else. If you can’t visit in person, call!
Check out these self-care tips from the Tulane School of Social Work and the Wellness Society’s free Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook.
Health Center Uptown
Office/Clinic Hours: Monday-Friday,* 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Closed on University Holidays)
Wednesday,* 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed daily, Noon-1:00 p.m.* (As of Apr. 1, 2020, until further notice)
Uptown (Main): Building 92 (Corner of Newcomb and Willow)
Phone: 504-865-5255 (Appointments, Nurse Advice, or General Info)
Referral Coordinator: 504-865-5255
Immunization Compliance: 504-865-5255
Medical Records: 504-865-5255, Fax: 504-865-5083
Patient Portal (Appointments, Immunization Compliance, Statements)
Health Center Downtown
*The Health Center Downtown is temporarily closed. The Health Center Uptown remains open for your use.
Office/Clinic Hours: Monday-Friday,* 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Closed on University Holidays)
Wednesday,* 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed daily, Noon-1:00 p.m.* (As of Aug. 8, 2018, until further notice)
Downtown: 127 Elk Place, Room 261 (adjacent to the Saratoga Garage)
Phone: 504-988-6929
Immunization Compliance: 504-988-3219
Case Management & Victim Support Services (CMVSS) can help you problem-solve, provide emotional support, arrange short-term accommodations, help you identify needed resources, or just be a shoulder to lean on! To connect with a Case Manager call (504) 314-2160, email srss@tulane.edu or submit a concern report.
Counseling Services provides comprehensive therapeutic services as well as connections to other health providers and counseling off-campus. Call (504) 314-2277 to access care.
The Line is a 24/7 crisis line for Tulane students. Call or text (504) 264-6074.
Student Affairs Professional On-Call provides a 24/7 professional staff on call for urgent situations and can be reached by calling