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If You Feel Sick with COVID-19 Symptoms and Symptom Tracking

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Symptom Specifics

Symptoms include but are not limited to:

  • Fever (temperature greater than 100°F)
  • Chills
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Cough, sore throat
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Symptom Tracking

All students are required to monitor their temperature and symptoms daily using the tracking app

  • Take your temperature each morning using the thermometer provided in the Safety Kit from MedEd
  • Track symptoms daily via the student symptom tracker (yes, even on weekends as this is being used for public health monitoring purposes)
  • In order to participate in the educational sessions, you will need to have filled-out the student symptom tracker.
  • This said, because it is not possible to track daily compliance, this system will in large part be honor-based. It is VERY important that we input this data so that MedEd can monitor for a potential COVID-19 outbreak among students, and act appropriately to ensure our health and safety

When to stay home

  • You must stay home if you have a fever >100°F or any symptoms associated with COVID-19. The app will let you know if you need to stay home.
  • If you are symptomatic, contact your PCP or student health (student health will NOT be notified automatically), and you will have access to a SARS-CoV2 PCR testing if appropriate.
    • If going through student health, they will work to get your tested immediately with test results often back within the same day (though no guarantee)
  • More info on revised absence policy soon!

What to do while test results are pending

  • Self-isolate
  • Do not participate in clerkship activities except remote curriculum

If you test positive:

  • Notify your clerkship director and discontinue on-site clerkship activities
  • Self-Isolate
    • Contact student health for further advice on how best to isolate in Aron Hall and for possible alternative Aron Hall arrangements
    • To adequately isolate yourself
      • Stay in a separate bedroom
      • Use a separate bathroom if possible, otherwise disinfect after using
      • Have food, cleaning supplies, etc. delivered
    • Check your temperature 2x per day and assess for COVID-19 like illness. Contact student health if symptoms worsen
    • Sleep, drink fluids, and take fever-reducing medication as needed
    • Self-isolate until:
      • 10 days past symptom onset, regardless of date of testing
      • You are consistently afebrile (temperature < 100 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least 72 hours without taking fever reducing medications (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
      • You have resolving respiratory symptoms
      • No repeat testing is required per NYC DOHMH

If you test negative:

  • Resume clerkship activities
  • Notify student health if symptoms do not get better or worsen