Shift Your Mindset—Stay Home If You Don’t Feel Well

Announced: September 1, 2021

To: Campus Community
From: President Hutchinson

The COVID-19 pandemic is at a critical point, and case numbers are rising everywhere. The CSU is requiring vaccines, and Chico State requires masks indoors. We are also offering regular vaccine clinics and conducting daily COVID testing oncampus. These are all important measures, but I find myself thinking about what more we can be doing.

We know the most effective way to slow the spread of disease is to prevent transmission to others. However, many of us have been conditioned to keep showing up for work and school when we have minor illnesses. In fact, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, 90% of employees admit they have gone to work sick.

We need to change that mindset. The pandemic makes it vitally important that each of us stays home when experiencing cold- orflu-like symptoms, such as headache, cough, sneezing, sore throat, or fatigue. It has also demonstrated how our individual choices affect those around us. Additionally, we need to support and encourage colleagues who make the decision to stay home. Caution is the best choice.  

If you start having symptoms, increased testing hours at Whitney Hall will take effect next week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Sept. 7, making it easier than ever to get a COVID-19 test. 

Please be safe, take care of each other, and be well.