Health Alert

Please visit the CSUM web page: www.csum.edu/alert/covid-19/ for updates on COVID-19 status on campus. Please follow all recommended transmission precautions to keep our community safe.

Key Information

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on 3/11/2020. We encourage the campus community to keep informed with facts, avoid panic, and take the advised precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19. On 5/5/2023, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) declared "with great hope" an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.

The Cal Maritime Student Health Center is actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates based on guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and local health departments.

Importance of Covid Vaccine Booster Update

No, however it is strongly recommended.

No COVID-19  testing is required prior to moving into the residence halls.

COVID-19 vaccines are currently widely available. 

Find a Covid-19 vaccine near you. 

Find a Covid-19 vaccine near Cal Maritime

Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are the most important intervention to end the pandemic.  Stay up to date with your boosters.

If you have any uncertainty about being vaccinated, the safety of vaccines, please read the science-based information at “Vaccinate with Confidence.” Please call the Student Health Center at 707 654-1770 if you have further questions or concerns. 

Following CDC recommendations, everyone ages 5 years and over should get 1 booster after completing their COVID-19 vaccine primary series. 

Adults ages 50 years and over or people who are 12 years and over who are moderately or severely immune compromised are recommended to get 2 boosters.

 

All cadets testing positive for COVID-19 that live on campus will be placed in isolation in a room in Maritime North. The Student Health Center (SHC) is following current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines which recommend:

1. Isolate and/or stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.

  • If you do not have symptoms, you should follow the recommendations below to reduce exposure to others.

2. Mask when you are around other people indoors for 10 days* after you become sick or test positive (if no symptoms). 

3. Avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days".

4. Seek Treatment. If you have symptoms, mainly if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, speak with a healthcare provider as soon as you test positive. You may be eligible for antiviral medication or other treatments for COVID-19. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible and within 5-7 days from when symptoms start.

*The potential infectious period is 2 days before the date symptoms began or the positive test date (if no symptoms) through Day 10. (Day 0 is the symptom onset date or positive test date).

SHC providers will monitor cadets in isolation and be responsible for removing a cadet from isolation when it is appropriate. Isolation may be longer for individuals with more severe symptoms or ongoing fever. Cadets that live off campus that have a COVID-19 infection, must remain off campus until they met the criteria listed in item 1 above and must be cleared by SHC providers before returning to in-person campus activities. 

Cadets in isolation will receive support from campus resources, including documentation from SHC for any necessary academic or work accommodations. 

 

This protocol is in alignment with the CDC, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Solano County Public Health Department. Information regarding current guidelines can be accessed here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html

 

The CDC is no longer recommending quarantine for individuals who my have been exposed to COVID-19.   Please contact the SHC if you have concerns about COVID-19, if you have a positive home test, or if you have symptoms and need a COVID-19 test.

Recent studies and data show that vaccinated individuals are protected from severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.  

Information regarding the Omicron variants are constantly being studied to understand how it is spreading and the CDC is updating recommendations for face coverings and other safety measures as we learn more.

Please visit the CDC website for updated communications. Currently the CDC is recommending masks for vaccinated and unvaccinated while indoors in communities with high infection rates. 

The CDC has a map with information regarding COVID-19 transmission levels by county.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for three COVID-19 vaccines which have been shown to be safe and effective as determined by data from the manufacturers and findings from large clinical trials. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated. With the Omricon variant, this is more urgent than ever.

Please visit the CDCs website for further information about the safety of the vaccines. 

Call the Student Health Center at (707) 654-1170 and we will be happy to help answer your questions.

Please stay aware of current campus requirements for face coverings and other precautions on campus. These requirements will change as needed to keep our campus community safe.

Solano County Mask Recommendations

CDC: Know your COVID-19 Community Level

Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. 

It typically takes 2 weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19. That means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to build protection.  

Yes. CDC recommends that you get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19, because you might become infected more than once. While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long that protection will last.

We do have testing available at the Student Health Center. If you have questions about being tested for COVID-19, we can discuss if testing is warranted and help arrange testing. Please call the Student Health Center immediately if you have symptoms or exposure at (707) 654-1170. Information about COVID-19 testing in Solano County can be accessed online at: Solano County Community Testing Sites.

If you are exhibiting symptoms and are unsure if it is the flu, allergies, cold or COVID-19, we recommend that you call the Student Health Center as soon as possible at (707) 654-1170 for medical guidance.

COVID-19 compared to common conditions

Symptom COVID-19 Common Cold Flu Allergies
Fever common Rare Common Sometimes
Dry Cough common Mild Common Sometimes
Shortness of breath common No No common
New loss of taste and/or smell Sometimes No No Rare
Headaches sometimes rare common sometimes
Aches and Pains sometimes common common no
Sore Throat sometimes common common no
Fatigue sometimes sometimes common sometimes
Diarrhea Rare No Sometimes no
Runny nose rare common sometimes Common
Sneezing no common no common

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe. Frequently there are no symptoms even though the person is infected and contagious. A smaller percentage of infected individuals will have severe symptoms. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

  • Fever
  • Dry cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you develop severe symptoms of COVID-19, this may indicate the need for immediate emergency medical attention. Emergency warning signs include*:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Persistent chest pain or pressure
  • New confusion
  • inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

*This is not a complete list of possible symptoms. Please consult your medical provider for any concerning symptoms. Visit the CDC website for more information: Symptoms of the Coronavirus

If you currently have any symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, please call the Health Center and we can discuss management and decide if an appointment is necessary. Video and phone appointments are available as well as in-person appointments when necessary. Please call us at (707) 654-1170 for medical guidance.

Students can be seen at SHC if they are a current CSUMA student. We offer basic medical advise and care, if symptoms are severe and further care is needed, we may refer you to a community medical provider.

Current locations that students and community members can contact for care relating to COVID-19 are:

Community Medical Provider Phone number
Solano County Family Health Services (707) 553-5509
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo (707) 651-1000
Sutter Solano Medical Center (707) 554-4444

 

According to the CDC, the virus is spread mainly from person-to-person.

  • Between people that are in close contact with one another.
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
  • According to the CDC, a close contact is someone you have been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more cumulatively over a 24 hour period.

You can protect yourself by taking the following steps:

  • GET VACCINATED!
  • If you are not vaccinated, wear a facial covering and continue social distancing.
  • Washing your hands often.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

Visit the CDC for more information on how COVID-19 spreads and ways to protect yourself.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and need to talk to someone, you may call us to schedule an appointment with a CAPS counselor at (707) 654-1170. If it is after hours, call (707) 654-1170 and when prompted select “1” to be connected to an advice nurse.  Let the provider know that you are calling with mental health concerns.  This is available 24/7.

If you are having suicidal thoughts and/or are in a mental health crisis, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255) or Dial the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988.

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988

Yes. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is open throughout the year with via telephone, video, or in-person appointments .

Zoom is a HIPAA compliant platform and video is encrypted. Before starting online sessions with your counselor, please have them review the informed consent for online counseling.