Student Health Services

Dear Students,

We are excited to welcome you all back to campus for spring 2025! We hope your break was restful and rejuvenating.

Student Health Services is looking forward to supporting you in your academic and personal goals this spring. One way we can do that is by helping you optimize your physical health and avoid illnesses that may prevent you from attending or fully participating in class and campus life. While travel and socialization over break are important sources of joy, they can also increase risk of exposure to communicable infections. As we all come back together, we must be mindful of limiting the spread of infection to others and protecting ourselves from infection.

This email reviews health-related information and offers tips for protecting yourself and how we can all have a healthy return to campus for spring 2025!

Infections to be aware of

As you may have heard in the news, there are multiple infections currently going around New York State. These include:

Norovirus
COVID-19 (which is now an endemic, or regularly occurring, virus)
Influenza
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Strep Throat
Mycoplasma Infection (AKA walking pneumonia or atypical pneumonia)

Consider testing for COVID prior to your return to campus

Free COVID tests are available through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Every household is eligible for four free COVID tests a year. Visit covidtests.gov for more info.
COVID at-home test kits can also be purchased at any local pharmacy.
We will always be able to test you for COVID at Student Health Services. However, please note that we typically stock multi-use test kits that can only be administered at Student Health Services.
Student Health Services can also test you for influenza and strep. While most sore throats are caused by viruses, strep does need to be treated with antibiotics. At Student Health Services, we can evaluate, test and treat you if appropriate.

How these infections spread

Each of these diseases spreads in its own way, but all are highly infectious.

Norovirus is spread through contact with infected body fluids (vomit, stool, spit) or items contaminated with virus, and then touching our face or mouths.

Strep throat is spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges of an infected individual or discharges on fomites such as drinkware, vapes, etc., when these items are shared.

COVID-19 spread occurs via airborne particles and droplets.

Mycoplasma, Flu, COVID and RSV are spread by inhaling or touching infected respiratory droplets.

What you can do to avoid infection

The good news is that there are many simple health practices you can use to lower your risk of contracting any of these infections. These include:

Frequent handwashing is paramount for sick and well individuals!
Avoid touching your face with unclean hands.
Avoid sharing drinkware, vapes, etc.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and if someone seems sick, consider putting on a mask to protect yourself.
Consider masking in poorly ventilated or crowded areas.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discard it in a closed container.
Stay up to date with vaccinations.

We also want to remind you that Student Health Services has a limited number of flu shots still available, free of charge for New Paltz students. Please call (845-257-3400) to make a vaccination appointment while supplies last.

If you get sick: How to protect yourself and others

Despite our best efforts, illnesses will happen. If you get sick, please take these steps to promote your own recovery and reduce the spread of illness in our community:

Stay home! Consider delaying your return to campus until you are improving (generally fever free for 24 hours, and able to participate in regular activities or on antibiotics for strep for 24 hours).
Rest, hydration, nutritious foods and over-the-counter cold medications can help make most illnesses more tolerable.
It is wise to wear a mask when in public for the next week after getting sick to prevent transmission to others.
Students who have serious medical issues or are severely immunocompromised, are encouraged to reach out to Student Health Services for guidance (faculty and staff should discuss these issues with their regular physicians).
If you experience trouble breathing or chest pain that will not go away, please proceed to the emergency room.

Student Health Services values your health and wants to see you all have a healthy, productive, enjoyable experience at SUNY New Paltz this year. As we observe increased numbers of illnesses in our region, we are thinking of the health of the whole community as we all come back together. Please consider staying home if you are actively ill on move-in day or if you test positive at home for one of the illnesses above.

Thank you for doing your part to ensure a healthy return to campus, and we wish you a successful spring 2025 semester.

Dr. Amy Cocina
Director of Student Health Services