COVID-19

Our Screening and Prevention Procedures

Health Services has enacted new policies and procedures to respond to concerns about the novel coronavirus. Visits to Health Services will be by appointment only for the Spring 2020 term.  We have created a pre-visit risk evaluation screening that must be performed prior to a visit. Please call 309-341-7559 or email health@knox.edu to schedule an appointment. After the evaluation, patients will be scheduled for an appointment or given home care advice as appropriate. 

In addition to our standard precautions, you may note staff wearing masks as indicated for health professionals. We are disinfecting surfaces such as doors, chairs, and tables in the waiting room, and throughout the clinic on an increased schedule during the day. As always, exam rooms are disinfected after every patient use. We will designate separate sick and well exam rooms and waiting areas.

Take Charge of Your Health

It’s important that students be active participants in their health. These everyday preventive actions can help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Close contact means within six feet of a sick person.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. This is the way many viruses (including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19) enter your body and cause infection.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a household cleaning spray or wipe. The Environmental Protection Agency has published a list of cleaning products for use against the novel coronavirus.

Sick Students: What to Do

There are many illnesses that cause fevers, cough, and shortness of breath, which also are symptoms of COVID-19. Because of this, it can be hard to know when to seek care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises us to be concerned about individuals who have the following symptoms and risk factors:

• Fever of 100.4 and above and/or signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough or shortness of breath) AND
• A history of travel from affected geographic areas (China, Iran, Italy, Japan, or South Korea) within 14 days of symptom onset OR
• Close contact with a person known to have COVID-19

Health Services encourages any student who may be concerned that they have any of these symptoms or risk factors, or if they are experiencing any unusual symptoms, to call Health Services at 309-341-7559 before visiting. Our nurses will assess the student’s illness, provide care instructions, and inform students what to expect once they arrive, if a visit to Health Services is deemed necessary.

If You Start Feeling Sick

1. Stay home. If you must be around other people, try to stay six feet away from them and wear a mask until you are at least 24 hours without any symptoms.
2. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, use the crook of your elbow.
3. Wash your hands.
4. Monitor your symptoms including taking your temperature when you are feeling sick. A fever is defined as any temperature above 100.4°F or 38°C.
   • If your symptoms are mild (runny nose, sinus congestion, low grade fever, mild sore throat, low grade body aches, intermittent cough but otherwise OK) you do not need to seek medical advice.
   • If your symptoms are significant or start to worsen (spiking fevers, worsening cough, shortness of breath) call Health Services if it is during our normal business hours, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. If it is not during our normal business hours, consider visiting one of the following locations, but be sure to call ahead to let them know you are coming:

OSF Prompt Care-Galesburg
3375 N. Seminary Street, Galesburg, IL
(309)343-1000
M-Sa 8 am to 7 pm
Su 8 am to 6 pm

OSF St. Mary Medical Center Emergency Room
3333 N. Seminary Street, Galesburg, IL
(309)344-3161 

Cottage Hospital Emergency Room
695 N. Kellogg Street, Galesburg, IL
(309)343-8131