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Metropolitan Community College Flu Season Operations Plan

Purpose

The purpose of this operations plan is to promote the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, family, and visitors to the College by reducing the potential exposure to Seasonal Influenza or the Coronavirus (COVID-19) while still maintaining the continuity of College operations.

The College will monitor guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD). The College will revise this operations plan as necessary as more information becomes available. Please refer to the College web site for the latest information and instructions.

Prevention of Illness

The College encourages and expects all faculty, staff, and students to adhere to the guidance of the CDC and the College Health Advisory Committee in order to minimize your risk of becoming ill with Seasonal Influenza or Coronavirus

(COVID-19). The CDC recommends four main prevention techniques:

  1. Practice good hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Frequently clean commonly used surfaces such as door knobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, keyboards, counter tops, faucets, and bathroom areas.

  2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, germs are easily spread this way.

  3. Stay home or at your place of residence if you are sick for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating), except to get medical care. This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medication that contains ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin). Staying away from others (“self-isolation”) while sick, even if you are taking antiviral drugs for treatment of the flu, can prevent others from getting sick too. Ask a roommate, friend, or family member to check up on you and to bring you food and supplies if needed.

  4. Talk to your health care provider to find out if you should be vaccinated for Seasonal flu. Individuals who are at higher risk of complications may benefit from early treatment, and recovery time may be shorter for persons treated promptly with antiviral medicines upon the onset of symptoms.

If You Become Ill

Metropolitan Community College faculty, staff and students are required to NOT report to work or school if they have a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) combined with one or more of the following symptoms:

  1. Cough

  2. Sore throat

  3. Runny or stuffy nose

  4. Body aches

  5. Headache

  6. Chills

  7. Diarrhea and/or

  8. Vomiting

Faculty, staff and students who exhibit two or more of these symptoms should take the following actions:

  1. Notify your supervisor/professor that you are ill and will not be able to work/attend classes

  2. Notify Dr. Stacey Ocander, College Health Advisory Officer at 531-622- 4789 or slocander@mccneb.edu if you have a laboratory confirmed case of Seasonal Flu or Coronavirus (COVID-19). This is solely for the purpose of additional cleaning of potentially exposed areas of the College.

  3. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care (your fever should be gone without the use of a feverreducing medicine). Isolate yourself to keep from potentially exposing other people.

  4. Seek medical advice from your primary care physician or healthpractitioner.

Faculty, staff or students who display influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms may be sent home. Those who display symptoms and refuse to leave after being asked to do so may be subject to disciplinary action.

2020 COVID-19 Update: Refer to the updated sick leave section of PM VI-13 and the communicable disease procedure (PM VI-25) for further guidance. Faculty and staff who have specific questions regarding benefits, pay or leave policies should contact the Human Resources department for guidance.

Adapted from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/pandemic-resources.html
Referenced: Metropolitan Community College Flu Season Operations Plan 2009/2010

Rev. 3/20/2020 – College Health Advisory Committee