Corona Virus Information for Students, Faculty, and Staff: Home

Three Important Ways to Slow the Spread

• Wear a mask Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you.
• Avoid crowds. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.

Everyone Should Clean Hands Often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid Close Contact with Other People

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay at home as much as possible.
• Put distance between yourself and other people.
  • Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
  • This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose with a Cloth Face Cover When Around Others

• You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
  • Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

Cover Coughs and Sneezes

• If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and Disinfect

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, oorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. Get instructions for cleaning different types of surfaces.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

Who's Most At Risk?

• Health care workers and first responders.
• People over 65 years of age.
• People in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
• People with underlying health conditions, especially (but not limited to)
  • Respiratory disorders
  • Heart conditions
  • Compromised immune system
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney disorders
  • Liver disorders

For more details, visit the CDC page on risk factors.

Vaccination in the United States

Who Goes First?

CDC makes the following recommendations for allocating the vaccines as doses become available.

• 1a: Healthcare personnel and Long-term care facility residents
• 1b: Frontline essential workers and People age 75 years and older
• 1c: People aged 65 through 74 years and People aged 16 through 64 years with underlying medical conditions and Other essential workers

Each state will be allocated vaccines and will control the distribution. Find out about the plan  in New Jersey.

Is it Safe?

The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Learn how federal partners are working together to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

CDC has developed a new tool, v-safe, as an additional layer of safety monitoring to increase our ability to rapidly detect any safety issues with COVID-19 vaccines. V-safe is a new smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines.

What Does it Cost?

Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost. However, vaccination providers may be able to charge administration fees for giving the shot. Vaccination providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund

Does it Hurt?

Vaccines are administered by injection, so there will be a small pinch.

After COVID-19 vaccination, you may have some side effects. This is a normal sign that your body is building protection.

The side effects from COVID-19 vaccination may feel like flu and might even affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what side effects to expect and get helpful tips on how to reduce pain and discomfort after your vaccination.

How to Get Ready

When you get the vaccine, you and your healthcare worker will both need to wear masks that cover your nose and mouth. Stay 6 feet away from others while inside and in lines.

When You Get Vaccinated

• You should receive a vaccination card or printout that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it.
• You should receive a paper or electronic version of a fact sheet that tells you more about the specific COVID-19 vaccine you are being offered. Each authorized COVID-19 vaccine has its own fact sheet that contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of receiving that specific vaccine.
• All people who get a COVID-19 vaccine should be monitored on-site. 

After Vaccination

• With most COVID-19 vaccines, you will need two shots in order for them to work. Get the second shot even if you have side effects after the first one, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get a second shot.
• Ask your healthcare provider about getting started with v-safe, a free, smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. V-safe also reminds you to get your second dose if you need one. Learn more at www.cdc.gov/vsafe.
• It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines that require 2 shots may not protect you until a week or two after your second shot.

How Soon is it Safe to Gather Indoors? How Long Should People continue Wearing Masks?

We don't know yet. It depends on how long it takes for most people in the community to achieve immunity. Until we know more, continue to practice social distancing and wear a mask when near other people.