Everyone is welcome to a Community of Care virtual gathering on Friday, March 5, at 1 p.m. This will have leaders of the Health and Counseling Center, Care Team, Active Minds, and more to provide resources about the mechanisms in place for the emotional and physical care of our community. Please click this link to fill out this brief form here to RSVP and receive the calendar invite and/or stay tuned about our future offerings.
Health Center
Student Flu Shot Clinic: Thursday, Nov. 12
We encourage all students, as well as employees and other community members, to get their annual flu shot this year. Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fight the flu and protect your health and the health of our communities! Pilots Prevent.
Student Flu Shot Clinic: Tuesday, October 27
The Health Center encourages all students, as well as employees and other community members, to get their annual flu shot this year. Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students who are not able to attend this flu shot clinic, or who are located in their hometowns, can alternatively go to their local pharmacy or doctor’s office with their health insurance card to get an annual flu shot at no cost.
Fight the flu and protect your health & the health of our communities! Pilots Prevent.
Student Flu Shot Clinic Tuesday, September 29
Student Flu Shot Clinic: Tuesday, Sept. 29
Find COVID-19 Prevention Resources and Information on the Pilots Prevent Website
Pilots Prevent is the University’s health initiative that provides resources and information to keep our campus community healthy and safe. Visit the new Pilots Prevent website to learn more about COVID-19 related health and safety practices, find out tips for optimizing health, access downloadable resources, and discover how we can all do our part to care for the health of our communities. “Together, as Pilots, we share the responsibility to help cultivate safe and healthy environments on our campus and in our communities,” says Megan Cohara, health center.
For more information, contact the Office of Wellness & Prevention, wellness@up.edu.
Coronavirus Update: Returning Students, Faculty Take Note
COVID-19, also called Coronavirus, continues spreading to various parts of the world. Since UP’s spring break more than a week ago, Oregon now has both confirmed and presumed exposures awaiting confirmation. Nearby Washington state has suffered a number of deaths from the virus to date.
Anyone with underlying medical conditions that make them especially vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 (Coronavirus) should consult with their medical provider to determine if self-isolation away from campus might be warranted. Based on that medical advice, any student who wishes to avoid coming to campus temporarily should contact their associate dean for guidance.
Before returning to campus, please contact your health care provider if you have traveled to one of the countries on the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Level 3 or 4 list (Italy, South Korea, Iran, etc.), or if you are aware that you have otherwise been exposed to COVID-19. They will advise you and refer you appropriately so together you can best address your individual situation.
If any students exhibit a history or symptoms consistent with COVID-19, we will work with the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC to care for the student and UP campus.
Since spring break, more has been learned about COVID-19 and its behavior, including:
- COVID-19 is thought to spread primarily through close contact, within six (6) feet of an individual with a confirmed diagnosis.
- According to CDC experts, COVID-19 appears to be effecting children and younger adults at lower rates. Furthermore, most young adults with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms.
- The CDC recommends people clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces, including keyboards, cell phones, doorknobs, desks, and light switches. Standard cleaning supplies are believed to be effective for COVID-19. Handwashing for at least 20 seconds is recommended. If handwashing is not readily available, then hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is an acceptable alternative.
Classes and daily operations at UP will continue as scheduled until further notice. Here are a few steps we are taking to help address the spread of COVID-19:
- Busy areas around campus will undergo multiple cleanings and disinfecting throughout the day and evenings, including bathrooms and high-use surfaces.
- More hand sanitizer stations will be positioned around campus as inventory allows.
- Visible signage is being increased in all buildings with important reminders and key information which must be followed for our protection.
- Scrutiny of outside events scheduled on our campus, subjecting them to potential postponement or cancellation, depending on the guidance we receive from local, state, and federal healthcare officials.
Other guidance shared with all students, faculty and staff prior to spring break still applies concerning precautions and information about COVID-19:
- Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. They can surface up to 14 days after exposure.
- Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider. Current UP students should contact the campus Health and Counseling Center (HCC) at (503) 943-7134. After hours, students can access ProvRN or Providence Express Care Virtual to reach a healthcare provider for immediate assessment. Instructions for accessing these services are available on the HCC website using this link.
- Precautions to decrease the transmission of COVID-19 are like those for preventing the spread of other respiratory illnesses, including colds and flu. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough; wash your hands frequently; and stay home if you are ill. The HCC is still taking precautions with patients, including providing masks to students with symptoms of any respiratory illness or fever; and screening all students seeking medical and counseling services upon check-in for risk of exposure to COVID-19. If any students exhibit a history or symptoms consistent with COVID-19, we will work with the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC to care for the student and UP campus.
COVID-19 Outbreak Information
- Additional information and regular updates are available online from the Health and Counseling Center at https://www.up.edu/healthcenter/coronavirus-updates.html.
- The World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and international governments are taking decisive action in response to COVID-19. The CDC website is being updated frequently with information as more becomes known.
Again, our guidance still focuses on caution and prevention. For further information or questions, please contact any of the following resources:
- Health and Counseling Center: x7134
- Campus Safety: x7161
- ProvRN: (503) 574-9606
Coronavirus: UP Monitoring Outbreak, Minimizing Risks
Recent announcements issued by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) indicate that transmission of Coronavirus has continued to spread and will likely affect the United States, however the immediate health risk to the general US public remains low. We encourage students, faculty, and staff traveling for spring break to closely monitor travel advisories through the CDC and State Department. The following travel notices are already in effect:
- Level 3 (avoid all nonessential travel): China, South Korea
- Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions): Iran, Italy, Japan
- Level 1 (practice usual precautions): Hong Kong
- Other Destinations with Risk of Community Spread: Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand
Oregon health authorities announced over the weekend of February 28-March 1 that a person who works at Forest Hills Elementary School in Lake Oswego had tested positively for the Coronavirus. One other Oregon case has been announced in Washington County.
Any UP employees with children at Forest Hills Elementary School should work from home – or use sick time and stay at home – until Thursday, March 5, per the school’s guidance. Please do the same if you’ve been in contact with anyone from the school.
As needed, employees should follow UP’s sick time policies. The sick time policy for staff is available at: www.up.edu/hr/benefits/sick-time-and-vacation.html
If you have health/medical related questions, please contact your health care practitioner. Staff with Kaiser health insurance can call the KP Nurse Hotline at 1-800-813-2000.
The University continues to closely monitor this outbreak and has taken steps to reduce the risk of community member exposure to the Coronavirus. A University-run program scheduled to travel to South Korea and Japan over spring break has been redirected elsewhere. The University has contacted faculty and students who are currently abroad and advised them on precautions they should take to minimize the risk of exposure. Currently, there are no plans to cancel spring or summer 2020 study abroad programs.
The Health and Counseling Center continues to screen all students seeking medical and counseling services for symptoms consistent with Coronavirus. Finally, multiple groups across campus will continue to monitor the outbreak and determine any additional steps the University should take to reduce the risk of community member exposure.
Additional information on this outbreak is provided below:
- The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have declared a global health emergency; and international governments are taking decisive action in response. The CDC website is being updated frequently with information about Coronavirus as more becomes known.
- Symptoms of Coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. They can surface up to 14 days after exposure.
- Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with Coronavirus should contact their healthcare provider. Current UP students should contact the campus Health and Counseling Center (HCC) at x7134. After hours, students can access ProvRN or Providence Express Care Virtual to reach a healthcare provider for immediate assessment. Instructions for accessing these services are available on the HCC website using this link.
- Precautions to decrease the transmission of Coronavirus are like those for preventing the spread of other respiratory illnesses, including colds and flu. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough; wash your hands frequently; and stay home if you are ill. As noted above, the HCC is taking additional precautions with patients, including providing masks to students with symptoms of respiratory illness or fever; and screening all students seeking medical and counseling services upon check-in for risk of exposure to Coronavirus. If any students exhibit a history or symptoms consistent with Coronavirus, we will work with the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC to care for the student and UP campus.
Again, our guidance for now focuses on caution and prevention. For further information or questions, please contact any of the following resources:
- Health and Counseling Center: x7134 or hcc@up.edu.
- Campus Safety: x7161 or publicsafety@up.edu.
- ProvRN: (503) 574-9606
Faculty & Staff Green Dot Brown Bag, Oct. 9
Join Wellness Education & Prevention Programs for a brown bag lunch on Wednesday, October 9, noon to 1 p.m., in the Terrace Room for a presentation and discussion which will introduce the basic elements of Green Dot, focusing specifically on the vital role campus employees play in establishing and reinforcing the culture within which students exist. These will be a brown bag lunch, so please bring your lunch or purchase from the Commons dining room.
For more information contact Megan Cohara, Health and Counseling Center, at cohara@up.edu.
Faculty & Staff Green Dot Training, June 12
All faculty and staff are invited to join the Health and Counseling Center for Green Dot Training on Wednesday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Terrace Room. This training will introduce the basic elements of Green Dot, focusing specifically on the vital role University employees play in establishing and reinforcing the culture that students and colleagues exist within. This training is designed to help employees understand the expanded definition of “bystander” and to equip all employees to integrate their jobs with key behaviors that establish two norms: (1) power-based personal violence won’t be tolerated, (2) everyone does their part to keep the UP community free from violence and fear of violence.
Please register by contacting Megan Cohara, Health and Counseling Center, at coharam@up.edu or x8125.