College student coming home? What to know and do – . Health Blog

Because of the pandemic, many college students are coming home to finish the semester, either because of cases on campus or because colleges send everyone home for Thanksgiving and don't let them come back until the next semester.

This situation requires some thought and planning to keep everyone safe and healthy. Here are some things for families to think about.

Will your student take home the COVID-19 virus?

Many colleges have had outbreaks and infections can be asymptomatic. How you handle student return into your household will depend on the situation at their school, the possibility of exposures, and the frequency of their testing. When cases are low and tested regularly (at least once a week), the risk is far lower than with high case numbers and sporadic testing. Make sure you find out about the situation at school, and before you get home, your student should isolate as much as possible for as long as possible (two weeks would be ideal, but this may not be realistic) and get away within a few days get tested the planned return home. If they have symptoms of COVID-19, they should contact student health services and get tested before planning to come home.

How safe is your journey home?

The best way for them to get home is a one day trip in the car (for them or for you) with minimal stops and no one but you or you in the car. If they have to fly or if the trip includes overnight stays, this increases the risk.

What government requirements do they have to meet?

Many states require quarantine upon arrival. If you don't know your state's requirements, find out.

What about testing?

Remember, testing for the virus that is causing COVID-19 only really tells you how you are at that moment. The incubation period for COVID-19 is two to 14 days. Testing a few days after exposure (which you may not even know you had) can test negative if an infection is indeed brewing. A negative test on someone who has been in isolation for a few weeks is very different from a negative test on someone who has been with other people. To learn more about testing – for example, whether a PCR test is more reliable than an antigen test (it is) – click here.

It's best not to get too close at first

For this reason, as tempting as it is to hug your college student when they arrive home, it is probably best to keep a little bit of your distance. How far away you need to be and how long and if / when to get them tested depends on the symptoms, possible exposures at school, if and when they were tested, and how they traveled home. Ask your doctor for advice.

House rules during a pandemic: It's a one-way street

You need house rules for safety. It's understandable that your student might want to visit friends when they get home, but everything is different this year. This is of course where your state's rules – like a quarantine period – come into play. But even after the necessary quarantine is over, your teen needs to stay safe to keep everyone safe. That means wearing masks with friends and social distancing. There may be some friends and family who will welcome you into your "bubble" when you know enough about how they lead their daily lives, but that is a decision that you as a family must make. It's not a decision that teens can make for themselves – because during the pandemic, our choices can be fatal to others.

You need to be understanding and respectful when your student is still teaching. That means you need to make sure they have a private place to work, stay calm during distance learning, and adjust your expectations for them to take into account the schedule and requirements of those classes.

Your student must understand and respect your daily life and needs. For example, it's not okay to stay up late to keep others awake who have to work or go to school in the morning. And students need to be considerate when it comes to clutter, laundry, housework, grocery supplies, and anything else related to running a household. A discussion of these house rules is also a good idea.

This is a tough time for everyone. Leaving school can be disappointing and families are stressed in many ways. So find ways to relax everyone – and ways to have fun. We'll do it, but we'll all be in better shape if we're kind to each other and to ourselves.