Health Office News
January 13, 2021
Email: health.office@aas.ru
Flu Vaccinations
The AAS Health Office will begin contacting community members that planned to receive Flu Vaccinations in January.
We still have some flu vaccines left so let us know if you would like to get one!
Health Screenings
Student health screenings will start in the new semester, pandemic situation permitting. More information will be available once the dates are confirmed. Upon health screening completion, students will also receive their updated immunization reports.
Reporting Illnesses & Close Contacts
Please report all COVID related information, including international travel, any possible symptoms in your family, any possible exposures, and, definitely, if there is a family member that is officially COVID positive. We are in the ongoing process of gathering all COVID related information, and are continuously monitoring our AAS community to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.
Winter Activities
Enjoying the winter weather with your families means remembering about the road conditions and the weather changes outside; dress appropriately for the weather, especially if you are planning to spend a lot of time outside, and, of course, please don’t forget about all the usual Covid safety precautions (masks and social distancing).
Stay Healthy!
December 16, 2020
Email: health.office@aas.ru
Email us if any member of your family is not feeling well.
Protect the health of your family and other members of our community by helping our Health Office professionals keep track of any symptoms, contacts, and timelines associated with any illness, not just Covid-19.
Travel Advice
If you decide to travel during the winter holidays, here are some important questions to ask yourself and your loved ones beforehand. These questions can help you decide what is best for you and your family:
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Are you, someone in your household, or someone you will be visiting at increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19?
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Are cases high or increasing in your community or at your destination? The more cases in your community or at your destination, the more likely you are to get and spread COVID-19 as a result of your door-to-door travel.
- Are hospitals in your community or at your destination overwhelmed with patients who have COVID-19?
- Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers?
- During the 14 days before your travel, have you or those you are visiting had close contact with people they don’t live with?
- Do your plans include traveling by bus, train, or airplane, which might make staying 1.5-2m apart difficult?
- Are you traveling with people who don’t live with you?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you should consider making other plans, such as hosting a virtual gathering or delaying your travel.
If your answers are “no” and you do decide to travel, be sure to take these steps during your trip to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
- Check travel restrictions before you go.
- Check CDC’s Domestic Travel Guidance and consider testing before and after you travel.
- Get your flu shot before you travel.
- Always wear a mask in public settings, when using public transportation, and when around people who you don’t live with.
- Wear your mask correctly over your nose and mouth, secure it under your chin, and make sure it fits snugly against the sides of your face.
- Stay at least 1.5-2m apart from anyone who does not live with you.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer.
- If driving, pack your food and limit stops.
If you decide to accept an invitation, or to host a party yourself, here some Safer Celebration Guidelines:
- Attending a Winter Holiday Celebration
In addition to following the steps that everyone can take to make the holidays safer, take these additional steps if attending a gathering to make your celebration safer:
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Have conversations with the host ahead of time to understand expectations for celebrating together.
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Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, utensils, and condiment packets.
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Wear a mask indoors and outdoors.
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Avoid shouting or singing.
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Stay home if you are sick or have been near someone who thinks they may have or have been exposed to COVID-19.
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It’s okay if you decide to stay home and remain apart from others. Do what’s best for you.
- Hosting a Winter Holiday Celebration
If you choose to have guests at your home, make sure that everyone follows the steps to make holiday celebrations safer. Other ways you can make your celebration safer include:
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Have conversations with guests ahead of time to set expectations for celebrating together.
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Limit the number of guests.
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Have a small, outdoor celebration with family and friends who live in your community, weather-permitting.
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Have extra unused masks available for your guests and encourage everyone to wear them inside and outside.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use.
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If celebrating indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible. You can use a window fan in one of the open windows to blow air out of the window. This will pull fresh air in through the other open windows.
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Have a separate space for guests to wash their hands or provide hand sanitizer.
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Keep background music volume low so guests don’t need to shout.
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Cancel your gathering if you or someone who lives with you is sick or has been near someone who thinks they have or has COVID-19.
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It’s okay if you decide to postpone or cancel your gathering. Do what’s best for you.
Consider Other Winter Holiday Activities
- The safest way to celebrate winter holidays is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.
Here are some ideas for celebrating the winter holidays safely:
- Host a virtual celebration with friends and family
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Schedule a time to eat a meal together virtually and have people show their main dish, vegetable, or dessert.
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Host a virtual “ugly” holiday sweater contest.
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Gather virtually for a gift exchange or activity
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Schedule a time to meet virtually to open gifts together.
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Build gingerbread houses, decorate cookies, or make holiday crafts and decorations.
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Decorate for the season
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Decorate or create a winter holiday scene and take family photos at home.
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Drive or walk around your community to look at decorations from a safe distance or drive through a local holiday light display.
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Make holiday crafts, cards, or cookies to send or deliver to family, friends, and neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others, such as leaving them at the door.
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Throw a virtual dance party
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For winter holidays that traditionally include music and dance, set aside time with loved ones to meet online to share music and dance.
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Collaborate with friends and family on a holiday playlist.
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Enjoy the winter weather, if you live somewhere with snow
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Hold a snowman or snow angel contest with neighbors or friends in your community.
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Build a snow fort or other snow structure.
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Volunteer and help others in need
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Reach out to your local community service organizations to get involved and give back. Make sure to ask about their safety precautions in advance.
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Find virtual opportunities to contribute.
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Attend a religious ceremony
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CDC offers considerations to help communities of faith decide how best to practice their beliefs while keeping their staff and congregations safe.
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Attending virtual services is the safest way to worship.
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If your holiday traditions usually involve visiting Santa Claus, check local opportunities and know requirements for visiting safely.
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Schedule a virtual visit to the North Pole.
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Visit Santa Claus outside while a wearing mask and staying 6 feet apart.
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If Santa Claus is staying indoors, he will likely be taking safety measures; you may be able to visit him through a plexiglass safety window.
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Winter fun and activities!
We hope you enjoy winter weather with your families and spend time outside as much as you can!
However, we do want to remind you about a few things:
- please remember about the road conditions and the weather changes outside
- dress nice and warm whenever you are planning on spending lots of time outside
- please don’t forget about all the usual covid safety precautions (masks and social distancing).
As much as we would wish for you to enjoy the winter season, we definitely want to see you all healthy and well!
December 9, 2020
Email: health.office@aas.ru
Ongoing flu vaccinations until the end of the fall semester.
Please check your emails for reminders and get back to us!
Email or call us if any member of your family is not feeling well.
Protect the health of your family and other members of our community by helping our Health Office professionals keep track of any symptoms, contacts, and timelines associated with any illness, not just Covid-19.
Winter fun and activities!
We hope you enjoy winter weather with your families and spend time outside as much as you can!
However, we do want to remind you about a few things:
- please remember about the road conditions and the weather changes outside
- dress nice and warm whenever you are planning on spending lots of time outside
- please don’t forget about all the usual covid safety precautions (masks and social distancing).
As much as we would wish for you to enjoy the winter season, we definitely want to see you all healthy and well!