Health & Safety

Wear a face mask or face covering

The virus can easily spread between people who are in close proximity to each other — speaking, coughing or sneezing — even if those people are not showing symptoms. Masks are required in indoor spaces at MSU for students, faculty and staff. It is strongly recommended that everyone, vaccinated against COVID-19 or not, wear them everywhere indoors.

Keep your distance

When people are close together, germs can spread more easily. Avoiding close contact and staying apart from others when possible will help slow the spread of the virus in the community and is especially important for protecting people who are at higher risk of getting sick. Stay at least 6 feet from others to help reduce the spread.

Know the symptoms

Students, staff and faculty should keep track of their own health and check themselves for COVID-19 symptoms daily before coming to campus. If you have symptoms, stay home and call a health care provider. 

Disinfect items and surfaces you use frequently

Clean and disinfectfrequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. 

In addition, remember to:

Wash your hands often

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you've been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. The CDC has great guidance on the how and why, including the science behind hand washing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitzer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Stay home if you're sick

A sure fire way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus — and to avoid exposing others. Learn the symptoms of COVID-19 and check yourself for them regularly. If you're sick, stay home from work or class and seek appropriate medical care. Call 911 if you have a medical emergency. As an additional step, you can minimize the trips you take to public places, like the grocery store, and wear a mask when you go out to add another layer of protection.

Avoid touching your face

Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Touching the mucous membranes on your face with unwashed dirty hands allows germs to enter the body.

Sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. (If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.) Throw away your tissues in the trash. Immedaitely wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.  

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Slowing the spread of COVID-19 requires each of us to take responsibility for protecing ourselves and the most vulnerable in our community, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, as well as lessening the burden on the doctors, nurses and essential staff.

It will take some patience and working together, but Bobcats look out for each other and for our community.

Learn More About COVID-19

For basic information about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, you can view our background page. For even more information, consult the links below:

Updated: Jan. 28, 2022