What to do if you get sick

September 2, 2021

Dear Students,

We are so excited to have you back on campus and in the classrooms this fall. As we come back together, similar to years past and now with the addition of COVID-19, we must plan for what to do if you get sick.

First and foremost, if you are experiencing COVID- or flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache or body aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, breathing difficulties, or loss of smell or taste, stay home and call the Johns Hopkins COVID Call Center. You may be directed to get a COVID test, but even if you are not, do not return to class or other on-campus activities until your symptoms resolve. This is especially true for a fever—stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours with no medication.

An illness or other circumstance may prevent you from attending class. If you need to miss class due to illness or COVID impact, Student Outreach and Support in the Office of the Dean of Student Life urges you to work directly with faculty members around absences and missed work.

Please be aware that neither the Student Health and Wellness Center nor the Office of Student Outreach and Support nor the Dean of Student Life automatically provides written illness verification for students who miss individual classes, including required attendance classes or labs.

If you are seen at the SHWC for a serious or extended illness that causes you to miss a number of classes over several days or major academic assignments, such as mid-term examinations or major presentations or project deadlines, the SHWC will provide you with verification of your visit, at the time of your visit. Verification will not be provided retroactively. It is your responsibility to forward the verification from the SHWC to professors/instructors who request it.

If your absence from class is because of a JHU-directed quarantine/isolation due to COVID, someone from the COVID Support Team will help. Please email covidsupport@jhu.edu.

Please contact studentoutreach@jhu.edu with any questions regarding this policy.

Sincerely,

Allison Avolio
Interim Dean of Student Life

Elizabeth Winberry
Senior Director, Student Outreach & Support

Roanna Kessler, MD
Chief Medical Director, Student Health & Well-Being