August 2020 COVID-19 question and answer for students
Q: What should I do if I am not feeling well?
- Stay home and do not attend class.
- Contact your instructor/s to let him/her know you will not be attending class and to develop a plan for completing course requirements.
- Self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include:
a. Fever or chills
b. Cough
c. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
d. Fatigue
e. Muscle or body aches
f. Headache
g. New loss of taste or smell
h. Sore throat
i. Congestion or runny nose
j. Nausea or vomiting
k. Diarrhea - If symptoms persist, seek an evaluation by a healthcare provider or get tested for COVID-19 through Test Iowa. There is a Test Iowa location at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, across from the main campus. To initiate the process, go to the Test Iowa website, www.testiowa.com. You will be asked to complete an assessment, be assigned a unique identifier, and be provided with instructions regarding testing.
- While you wait for your test results, please continue to self-isolate at home and do not return to classes.
- If you receive a positive COVID-19 test, please notify the dean of student services, Kim Bishop, at 641.782.1413 or at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You must self-isolate until the following have occurred:
a. No fever for at least 24 hours (that is one full day of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fever), AND
b. Symptoms have improved (e.g., cough and shortness of breath have improved), AND
c. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. - If you receive a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result or an alternative diagnosis by a health care provider, you may return to classes after 24 hours with no fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicines) and symptoms have improved.
Q: What if I have been exposed to COVID-19?
- Stay home and do not come to class.
- Contact your instructor/s and let him/her know you will not be attending class and to develop a plan for completing course requirements.
- Notify the dean of student services, Kim Bishop, at 641.782.1413 or at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . - Self-isolate for 14 days.
- Self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include:
a. Fever or chills
b. Cough
c. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
d. Fatigue
e. Muscle or body aches
f. Headache
g. New loss of taste or smell
h. Sore throat
i. Congestion or runny nose
j. Nausea or vomiting
k. Diarrhea - If you become symptomatic, seek an evaluation by a healthcare provider or get tested for COVID-19 through Test Iowa. There is a Test Iowa location at Greater Regional Health in Creston, across from the main campus. To initiate the process, go to the Test Iowa website, www.testiowa.com. You will be asked to complete an assessment, be assigned a unique identifier, and be provided with instructions regarding testing.
- If you receive a positive COVID-19 test, please update the dean of student services of your test results. You must self-isolate until the following have occurred:
a. No fever for at least 24 hours (that is one full day of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fever), AND
b. Symptoms have improved (e.g., cough and shortness of breath have improved), AND
c. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. - If you do not receive a positive test result and remain symptom free for 14 days, you may return to classes.
Will I be notified if I have been exposed to COVID-19 at SWCC?
If an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19, the Department of Public Health will conduct a case investigation to identify those who have been in close contact with the individual and make contacts to notify them of the exposure.