As the campus community returns from holiday celebrations and the winter academic break, Boise State’s public health and human resources departments are reminding students, faculty and staff of the following strategies to help protect themselves and others from the spread of COVID-19, flu and other infections.
Use sick leave to prevent the spread of illness
During cold and flu season, employees are encouraged to stay home when sick, especially at the onset of a fever, flu symptoms or COVID-19 symptoms. Additionally, the university has had several cases of whooping cough on campus which requires a doctor’s visit to get needed medication.
Boise State offers benefit-eligible employees annual sick leave to ensure staff has time to recover and help stop the spread of illness throughout campus. Employees are encouraged to prioritize their health and utilize their sick leave to rest and recover at home. This provides time to focus on self-care and return to work feeling refreshed and productive. Working from home while ill is not recommended as it is not conducive to a full recovery. Use this job aid as a guide to view current sick leave balances in Bronco Hub.
Wellness tips
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, flu, and other respiratory infections – especially as the campus community returns from the winter academic break – Boise State recommends that the campus community remain extra vigilant with preventive strategies for the first few weeks of the new year. H5N1, or avian influenza virus, has also been detected in the Treasure Valley affecting thousands of birds. It’s important to avoid contact with dead or sick wild birds, such as geese, and to avoid drinking raw milk to prevent the spread of avian influenza. Additionally, anyone raising poultry should carefully monitor their flocks for illness and avoid having them come into contact with wild birds.
Other tips for staying healthy in the winter months include:
- Reducing stress
- Practicing good hygiene
- Ensuring sufficient sleep
- Spending time outdoors
- Engaging in physical activity
Symptomatic and need testing?
Employees with symptoms can schedule appointments through University Health Services or obtain self-collected COVID-19, flu and whooping cough testing through Boise State’s public health clinic. Additionally, there are free, at-home COVID tests shipped directly to a home or dorm. To ensure delivery to a dorm, please fill out this online form with the U.S. Postal Service to have the address added to the system as a multi-unit building so that more than one test kit may be sent to the same address.
Vaccine availability on campus
COVID-19, flu, and whooping cough (Tdap) vaccines are available through Public Health. Flu vaccines are also available at University Health Services.
Reporting a positive test result
To report a positive whooping cough or influenza A test, contact Boise State Public Health at publichealth@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-1523.