As COVID Cases Rise, Princeton Issues Student Travel Guidance
PRINCETON, NJ — On Monday, Princeton Health Department (PHD) reported 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past seven days, and 23 cases over the past two weeks.
“They (numbers) are higher than what was reported on Friday, which was previously the second highest weekly and biweekly totals PHD has seen since early May,” an official said.
Meanwhile the average age of those who tested positive for COVID-19 continues to go down and is now 25 for the most recent cases.
The Board of Health on Monday also released advisory for students returning home for Thanksgiving.
Here are some suggestions by the board:
The safest way to avoid family transmission associated with returning students is to encourage students to avoid travel and remain at school, and to have a virtual Thanksgiving event with family members instead.
Institutions will be developing quarantine and testing protocols for students who choose to go home and return to campus which may cause more disruption in the student’s life than not traveling during the holiday.
Institutions should plan to provide on-campus meals and encourage staying in place for “Friendsgiving.” On-campus Thanksgiving dining plans should include physically distanced dining arrangements in well-ventilated or outdoor spaces with access to masks and hand sanitizer.
Students who have recently been exposed, or who are ill, will not be able to travel at all.
If a student is in isolation or quarantine at their school, their departure from campus should be delayed until they have been cleared for departure by health services after completing the quarantine or isolation period.
Students who are ill with any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should not travel.
If students insist on travelling, the board reccommends they get COVID-19 test done before leaving campus.
Two weeks prior to travelling students have been advised to get their flu shots, reduce the number of people they come in contact with and check all travel restirctions.
Once home, students need to quarantine and remain in isolation from other family members, by having their meals separately and staying 6 feet apart.
Here is the complete arrival and home advice from students:
The most cautious approach upon arrival home is to quarantine for the first 14 days after arrival. This is especially important if there are vulnerable, higher risk individuals living in the home and/or there is high prevalence on the campus or in the local community surrounding the campus prior to leaving for home.
Quarantining in the home includes eating meals in a private space or outdoors with family at least 6 ft apart.
Use separate serving ware, utensils, glasses, and plates. Use a separate bathroom from other family members. If not possible, disinfect the bathroom after each use.
Avoid physical contact including hugging, kissing, and shaking hands.
Wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least 6 ft when in the presence of others. o Restrict movement within and outside the home.
If quarantine is not possible, stay physically distant from family household members, wear a face covering, and avoid close contact, including hugging and shaking hands, for the first 14 days home.
Consider placing HEPA filter units in the home and opening windows to increase air circulation.
For more resources, click here and here.
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This article originally appeared on the Princeton Patch
