The following COVID precautions also apply to the flu, minus in-home testing requirements. This is accomplished through excellent communication and by following these guidelines related to communicable diseases including COVID, flu, and other contagions. There will be people in this community who have chronic illnesses, disabilities, or other medical issues that are at higher risk of being harmed by communicable illnesses. It is every resident and visitor's responsibility to communicate to the rest of the house about all known exposures and symptoms.
The following COVID precautions also apply to other severe communicable diseases like flu, RSV, etc. (but only suspected cases of COVID require home testing as outlined below).
- If residents or visitors have viral symptoms (cough, fatigue, runny nose, fever, sore throat, etc.) without known COVID exposure, test for COVID. Masking while symptomatic is encouraged, even with a negative test. Wash hands and surfaces regularly.
- If there is a known exposure to COVID, test for COVID daily and mask in public spaces. Avoid gatherings, wash hands and surfaces regularly.
- If negative test after day five from exposure, masking and testing is not required.
- If positive test:
- 1) if there are no symptoms: quarantine for five days or until testing negative.
- 2) if there are symptoms: quarantine until all symptoms are gone or until you test negative twice (24 hours apart).
- Quarantine means: stay in your room when possible. If you need something outside your room, communicate with the rest of the house and choose to enter public spaces when others are not present. Housemates will commit to caring for one another when we get sick (cooking meals, buying necessities, etc.) so that we can rest and heal, and also to avoid exposing each other to contagions.