Maintain social distancing of 6 feet between individuals on and off campus

Keeping space between you and others is the best tool we have to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

• Each person must remain at least 6 feet (about two arm lengths) from others.
• We need to maintain that distance in classrooms, corridors, laboratories, studios, recreation areas, common spaces, elevators, stairwells and social settings.

Use face coverings

Face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with everyday preventive actions and social distancing in public settings.

• You are required to wear face coverings on campus in most situations when you are near others such as in class, in hallways or common areas of residence halls.
• Exceptions include:
  • When you are alone in a private work space or single-occupancy study rooms.
  • When you are in your residence hall room (single or double).
  • While outdoors when maintaining 6 feet or more physical distance from others.
• Departments will have extra face coverings for students who arrive for class without one, but students are expected to supply and maintain their own face coverings.
• Instructors will wear face shields and/or face coverings when teaching in-person classes.
• You will see staff wearing face coverings when working in common areas of residential halls, student rooms and all campus dining facilities.
• Policies regarding face coverings will adjust according to any changes in local public health requirements and guidance.
• Face coverings must cover the individual’s mouth and nose.  You can select the type of face covering that works for you.  Examples of acceptable face coverings include:
  • Cloth ear loop face masks
  • Gaiters
  • Bandanas
  • Clear plastic ear-loop face masks
  • Face shields
• If you are unable to wear a face covering of any type, you should reach out to the Disability Center (students) or Office of Accessibility and ADA (employees and guests) to identify reasonable accommodations.
• If you are not wearing a face covering, you may be asked whether you have a disability that prevents you from doing so, but you should not be asked to disclose your disability or provide medical documentation.  If your answer is “yes,” you will be referred to the Disability Center (students) or Office of Accessibility and ADA (employees and guests).
• If you are not wearing a face covering and do not have an approved accommodation to not wear one, you may be excluded from University programs and activities.

• Learn more about how to wear, use and launder face coverings.

Hand hygiene

• Frequent hand washing (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds) should be practiced throughout the day.
• If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an ethyl alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

Daily temperature log

Staff and faculty are required to log their temperature daily before leaving for work or as they arrive. If your temperature is 100.4 F (38.0 C) or higher remain off-campus until it is again within the normal range.

Before you take your temperature:

• Wait 30 minutes after eating, drinking or exercising.
• Wait at least 6 hours after taking medicines that can lower your temperature, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin.

Daily symptom checklist

Every day, you will need to run through the symptom checklist:

• Do you have a fever (temperature 100.4 F or higher) without having taken any fever-reducing medications?
• Before you take your temperature:
  • Wait 30 minutes after eating, drinking or exercising.
  • Wait at least 6 hours after taking medicines that can lower your temperature, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin.
• Do you have a loss of smell or taste?
• Do you have a cough?
• Do you have muscle aches?
• Do you have a sore throat?
• Do you have shortness of breath?
• Do you have chills?
• Do you have a headache?
• Have you experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite?
• Have you, or anyone you have been in close contact with, been diagnosed with COVID-19, or been placed on quarantine for possible contact with COVID-19? Close contact is defined as within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more.
• Have you been asked to self-isolate or quarantine by a medical professional or a local public health official?

If you answer “yes” to any of the questions or if you think you have had contact with a person identified as testing positive, stay home and call your health care provider (MU Student Health Center, if student) for guidance regarding testing.

In the event of a positive test

Do not visit campus or any public areas. Cooperate with contact tracing by public health officials and continue to practice good hygiene while following the advice of your health care provider. You can also return home to spend your isolation.

For more information and guidance visit:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
• Columbia/Boone County Public Health
• MU Health Care
• Show Me Renewal Plan