Campus Wellness

Our top priority is the safety and wellness of our community. Rest assured – we are taking every precaution to make sure our students, staff, and faculty can go about their days with the least amount of risk possible. Below is a list of practices and procedures we plan to adopt when the NU community returns to campus:

• Daily self-check of symptoms will be required by all students, staff, and faculty
  • All members of our campus community—students, staff, and faculty—are required to use the #CampusClear app to monitor their health status daily for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea (This list is not all possible symptoms. For the most up-to-date list go to Public Health – Seattle & King County). Anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should immediately alert the Wellness Center at covid@northwestu.edu and follow the public health recommended quarantine/isolation policy. If you have been in class or housing with someone having or suspected of having COVID-19, the Wellness center or Public Health – Seattle & King County will alert you. For questions or concerns feel free to contact Denise Johnson at covid@northwestu.edu or 425-889-7829 or the King County COVID-19 hotline at 206-477-3977.
• Any sick community member must stay home
• Physical distancing of at least six feet is required both indoors and outdoors
  • Classrooms will incorporate appropriate physical distancing, reducing density to increase physical space between students, and utilizing face coverings.
  • Offices will be modified to ensure appropriate physical distancing. Students will be encouraged to call ahead before entering university offices.
  • Study spaces will be limited to ensure appropriate physical distancing. Accommodations will be made for those in high-risk categories (see CDC)
• Face coverings are now required by Public Health – Seattle & King County. Everyone is required to wear a cloth face covering when in NU buildings or outside when physical distancing is not possible (exceptions for those listed in the King County Directive for Face Coverings).
• Exemptions from wearing a face covering:
  • Students who need a medical waiver from wearing a cloth face covering should request that as an accommodation through the Academic Success and Advising Office.
  • Employees who need a medical waiver from wearing a cloth face covering should request that as an accommodation through the Human Resources Office.
• Hygiene requirements:
  • Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water including before and after going to the bathroom, before and after eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Enhanced cleaning:
  • Classrooms will be disinfected at least daily
  • Classrooms must be sanitized before every class period
  • Sanitizing of high touch areas must occur between uses (e.g. desks, keyboards, phones, doorknobs, light switches, etc.)
  • Sanitizing wipes will be located in all offices and outside all classrooms
• Positive and suspected COVID-19 tests must be reported to the Wellness Center and will be kept confidential in accordance with applicable laws
• Education – the University will regularly educate students, staff, and faculty on:
  • How COVID-19 is transmitted
  • How to keep yourself safe from COVID-19
  • How to properly wear a face covering
  • How and when to clean and sanitize frequently touched areas
• Test, treat, and trace
  • The Wellness Center has COVID-19 tests and will execute a confidential screening and testing strategy that mitigates community spread through early identification
  • Positive COVID-19 students, staff, and faculty will be referred to their primary care physician, local urgent care center, or emergency room
  • The Wellness Center will provide services for students experiencing COVID-19 related anxiety or other mental health concerns
  • Contact tracing will be conducted by NU in conjunction with Public Health – Seattle & King County to ensure quick and thorough notification while following all confidentiality laws
• If you are concerned about COVID-19:
  • If you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19, call the Wellness Center and your healthcare provider, and follow the procedures outlined here.
  • If you have not been around someone diagnosed with COVID-19 but are experiencing symptoms, follow the procedures outlined here.
  • If you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19, call the Wellness Center and your healthcare provider immediately, and follow the procedures outlined here.

For more information about COVID-19 visit the Public Health – Seattle & King County COVID-19 website.

For more mental health resources call the Wellness Center at 425-889-5282 or visit the Public Health –Seattle & King County Community Mental Health resources page.