Guidance for Respiratory Illnesses

Guidance for Respiratory Illnesses

Alongside the changes made by the CDC in March 2024 related to COVID-19, Wellness has also updated its guidance. The information below provides practical tips for keeping yourself and your fellow Penn community members healthy and well for most respiratory illnesses, especially COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. Please note: this guidance does not apply to those working or learning in healthcare settings. Those students/staff should consult with their instructor or manager.

Please visit our communicable disease page for additional virus-specific information. If you are feeling sick and need medical care, you can schedule an appointment by calling 215-746-WELL (9355) and choose option #1 to be connected to the medical care team.
 

Preventive Actions
  • Vaccination: It's highly recommended that everyone receive an updated COVID and influenza vaccine annually. Vaccination provides protection for you, your family and your friends. Vaccination remains the best protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines are available through local pharmacies and primary care providers. 

    More information on general immunization requirements can be found on the New and Returning Students page. 

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against serious illness. The CDC also states that the COVID-19 vaccine can be co-administered with the flu vaccine. Additionally, the RSV vaccine may be recommended for some Penn Community (e.g. children, pregnant women, and those 60 and older).  
     
  • Hand hygiene: Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. Remember to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
     
  • Masking: Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them. 
    • Key times for wearing masks include: 
      • When you are aware of respiratory viruses causing illness in your community 
      • When you or people you know have been exposed to a respiratory virus, are sick, or are recovering 
      • When you or the people around you have risk factors for severe illness 
         
Guidance When You're Sick
  • Stay home when feeling unwell: If you're sick with symptoms of a respiratory virus, you should stay home until BOTH of the following are true: 
    1. Your symptoms are getting better overall, AND 
    2. You have been fever-free (temperature of 100.4℉ or 38℃) for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
       
  • Use added precautions for 5 days: Once you are feeling better and return to normal activities, continue to use added precautions for 5 days. Even if you are feeling better, you may still be able to get others sick. Added precautions include: 
    • Wearing a mask – Wear a well-fitting surgical or N95 mask when around others to reduce the likelihood of spreading germs to others 
    • Social distancing – Avoid prolonged close contact with others whenever possible and utilize outdoor spaces or remote meetings. Avoid having meals or doing other activities that require you to be unmasked around others 
    • Avoiding large gatherings – Crowded spaces like concerts or weddings should be avoided in the days after recovering from a respiratory virus, as maintaining distance is unlikely.
       
  • Seek support: To discuss treatments options, call  Student Health and Counseling to speak with a medical provider at 215-746-WELL (9355). Antiviral medication can be prescribed by a medical provider for individuals who are at high risk for getting very sick from the flu and COVID-19 and who have mild to moderate symptoms. 
     
  • Get tested: PCR and rapid testing for upper respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 or influenza, may be available through Wellness at Penn, locally through Urgent Cares, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and primary care providers in Philadelphia.
     
  • At-home COVID-19 antigen tests are available for purchase at pharmacies such as CVS and RiteAid, which may also provide on-site PCR testing. At-home COVID-19 tests are available for free to students as medically indicated at Student Health and Counseling's medical care office (3535 Market Street, First Floor), and students do not need an appointment to pick up an at-home test. 
     
  • Follow the upper respiratory illness guidance regardless of test results. 
     
Managing Upper Respiratory Symptoms

Students can access information to help manage upper respiratory symptoms, including helpful tips about when to seek medical care and how to treat symptoms. Find out how to Manage Upper Respiratory Symptoms here. 


For more information:
Wellness at Penn: Communicable Diseases

Last updated: April 2025