COVID-19 Off-Campus Resources

Each person must contribute to a healthy and successful semester by following key public health guidelines, including:

• Daily symptom monitoring
• Social distancing
• Wearing face coverings
• Committing to COVID-specific hygiene
• Enhanced cleaning protocols
• Getting seasonal flu shots

Details to be provided soon.

Students are encouraged to limit their risk for exposure to COVID-19 for 14 days prior to coming to campus:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.
• Minimize going out in public places, especially crowded public places.
• If you do go away from your home, wear a face mask and stay at least 6 feet from others.
• Monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19. If you don’t feel well, stay at home.
• Avoid others that you know are sick.
• Get in the habit of doing all of these things now, because you will need to continue to practice these when school begins.

What to have in your home or apartment related to COVID-19:

Extra hand sanitizer, cloth face masks, thermometer, cleaning supplies, small first aid kit (Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, over-the-counter pain medicine, over-the-counter cold medicine), feminine hygiene supplies (if needed), and a good supply of prescribed medications that are taken regularly.

In this kit, you might also want to include a supply of replenishing drinks such as Gatorade and food that you could eat without a lot of preparation (soup, crackers, granola bars, etc.) as well as other supplies (toilet paper, detergent, soap, disinfecting wipes or surface cleaners, feminine hygiene supplies if needed, etc.) that you might need in the event you became ill and needed to stay at home for a time.

Many visits will be available through telehealth (“on-line”) technology.  There will be a separate clinical area designated for evaluation and care of individuals with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.  The telehealth appointments as well as this separate area will help to minimize the risk to other students in the Student Health clinic from exposure to COVID-19.

In addition, rapid “point of care” antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) will be available in August at the Student Health Service.  Students with symptoms of COVID-19 may be tested based upon the evaluation of the Student Health providers.  Half day clinics will be available on Saturdays and Sundays with similar resources as the Monday through Friday clinics.

A nurse will be available by phone when the clinic is closed on evenings, nights, and weekends to assist students with medical concerns.  In order to limit potential exposure to COVID-19 at the Student Health Service there will not be a nurse on duty in the Student Health Service when the clinic is closed.

NOTE:  In order to limit potential exposure to COVID-19 at the Student Health Service, students should always call the Student Health Service (336-758-5218) prior to coming to the SHS office for any problem.

It is IMPERATIVE that students with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) call the Student Health Service (336-758-5281) or your primary care physician before going for an evaluation.  If you believe your life is in danger, you are gravely ill, or another person near you is gravely ill, you should call 911 immediately.

The Wake Forest University Student Health Services clinic will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm M-F.  There will not be a nurse on site after clinic hours; however, a nurse will be available by phone during this time.  Online scheduling will not be available, so all students needing to be evaluated for illnesses or injuries should call for an appointment (336-758-5218).  After hours, you may call the same number to consult with a nurse. 

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, there are instructions on how to care for yourself at your off-campus residence.

You may be in a living situation where you have a roommate, housemate or family members and will be sharing common areas such as bathrooms or kitchens.  It will be especially important to keep your living spaces as clean as possible.  Please see the CDC’s prevention recommendations.  Note the “clean and disinfect” guidelines and regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your dwelling.

If you have contact with an individual diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19, you should comply with all public health recommendations for controlling the spread to others such as isolation or quarantine.  Students should contact the Student Health Service (336-758-5218) or your primary care physician for guidance if this has occurred.

Details will be forthcoming.

All individuals should follow the guidance of the CDC in preventing COVID-19.  Key recommendations include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.  Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Put distance between yourself and other people
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.  This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

Student Health Service (SHS) support

• The Student Health Service (SHS) serves off-campus students.
• SHS offers telehealth visits (in addition to in-clinic visits if the telehealth provider recommends an in-person visit, lab test, x-ray or nurse visit). Call 336-758-5218 and follow the prompts on the menu.
• SHS has an after-hours nurse advice line for students; call 336-758-5218 and follow the prompts on the menu. 
• Students who do not live on-campus can access the Student Health Service if deemed appropriate by the telehealth provider.  The Student Health Service will arrange for access to campus if this occurs. Off campus students should call the Student Health Service if they feel they need to be seen on campus (336-758-5218).

Prescription Needs

• Many pharmacies have drive-thru windows which provide an added level of protection.
• Student Health Service has a relationship with a local pharmacy that will deliver in Winston-Salem.  Stanleyville Family Pharmacy should be contacted directly. Stanleyvillepharmacy.com or 336-377-3979. See more.

There is free wellbeing coaching offered to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff. We encourage graduate and professional students to take advantage of this coaching; it is all done virtually.

For academic-related resources, students should visit keeplearning.wfu.edu.

The University Counseling Center (UCC) recognizes the impact that the COVID-19 public health crisis is having on our campus community and is available to continue providing services to students of WFU.  However, to protect the welfare of both students and UCC staff, there will be a shift in the way we provide services during this unprecedented event. Visit their website for additional information.

There is a variety of food services and/or delivery options, including:

• Doordash, Grubhub, Takeout Central
• Many local restaurants are also offering free delivery or reduced fees, as well as curbside pickup. Visit your favorite local establishments’ websites, social media accounts, or call/email for details.

There is a variety of grocery pickup and/or delivery options, including:

• Lowes Food To Go, Harris Teeter Express at Whitaker Square, Walmart, Instacart, Amazon, and Target

Services such as Uber and Lyft operate in the area. In addition, Wake Forest offers shuttle service to shopping areas and downtown.

Graduate and professional school students should contact their respective programs.

Until the start of the fall semester, campus is closed except to those deemed essential personnel. Until campus reopens, you will need to inquire with places like FedEx/Kinkos, UPS Store, Office Depot.

Once the fall semester begins, the ZSR Library will be available and has many services for students.

Graduate and professional school students with concerns about unexpected expenses due to completing course work remotely, including, but not limited to, travel costs, access to food, and the cost of an internet hotspot due to unreliable/nonexistent WIFI, should contact financial-aid@wfu.edu explaining their situation. The Student Financial Aid office will review the student’s concerns and make a determination of eligibility for emergency need-based funding on a case by case basis.