Health Guidance for Winter Term & Spring 2026

JANUARY 8, 2026

We look forward to welcoming students, faculty, and staff back to campus in the coming weeks, and we offer the following recommendations to help make the spring semester a safe and healthy one for all of us.

We’re here to help: If you have questions or would like to make an appointment with Student Health, please call (440) 774-8180 or email health@oberlin.edu. During spring semester, we are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Walk-in hours (first-come, first-served) are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Please note: While the following health recommendations are applicable to students as well as employees, Student Health resources are reserved for student use. Oberlin employees are encouraged to use their health insurance benefits as necessary and contact human.resources@oberlin.edu for help with questions or concerns.

Cold and Flu Season is Here

Respiratory illness activity in the United States is currently high. We encourage all members of our campus community to stay vigilant with hand and respiratory hygiene measures and take precautions to protect themselves and those around them. Please read on for additional health recommendations and updates.

Respiratory illness season: Cases of influenza are on the rise in Lorain County. These viruses can cause symptoms ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to more severe respiratory distress, especially in those with underlying health conditions. Learn more about respiratory viruses on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Symptoms to watch for: Common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, cough, runny or congested nose, and decrease in appetite. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or otherwise do not feel well, please reach out to Student Health for an appointment and guidance on helpful steps to take.

Preventing Respiratory Illnesses

Hand hygiene: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Find additional handwashing guidance on the CDC website.

Vaccination: As with other vaccine-preventable diseases, you are best protected from severe COVID-19 and flu when you stay current with recommended vaccinations. Flu vaccines are available at Student Health free of charge and with no need for an appointment. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available at CVS and other nearby pharmacies.

Masks: Although masks are not required in indoor spaces, Oberlin continues to be a mask-friendly campus, and all who wish to wear masks are encouraged to do so. Additionally, in light of the current high level of respiratory illnesses nationally, Student Health strongly recommends wearing a mask indoors and/or in crowded spaces for the first few weeks back on campus. Students in residential settings such as co-ops, or close-quarters living arrangements, are strongly encouraged to continue wearing masks. Different kinds of masks offer differing levels of protection (see CDC mask guidance). Use the most protective mask you can comfortably wear for extended periods of time and that fits well (completely covering the nose and mouth). Free masks are available at Student Health Services. Students are also encouraged to wear a mask while traveling, especially in modes of transportation involving crowded close contact with other travelers.  

Respiratory etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and discard tissues in the trash after use. If a tissue is not available, please sneeze into an elbow rather than into your hands. Wash hands immediately after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. (See CDC coughing and sneezing guidelines for additional info.)

Testing: We encourage you to test for COVID-19 if you’re experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. Tests for other respiratory viruses may be ordered by a provider in Student Health when indicated.  

If you have symptoms: Oberlin follows CDC guidance for lowering risk and spread of respiratory viruses. If you have respiratory virus symptoms, regardless of test results, please stay home from class, work, and social gatherings to prevent spreading the virus to others. Students who test positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to call the clinic for an alternative type of visit such as telehealth or virtual consultation. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:

• Your symptoms are getting better overall
• You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

When you return to normal activities, consider taking additional measures to protect others for the next five days. These may include steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masking, and physical distancing. For more information, please refer to the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance.

Stay up to date on vaccinations

Prevention is the best course for staying healthy, and many respiratory viruses and other communicable illnesses circulate year-round in the United States—typically with more activity during the fall and winter months (cold and flu season), when people spend more time inside.

For this reason, we recommend following CDC guidance: updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines for people ages six months and older, and two doses of the measles vaccine. Students, staff, and faculty are strongly encouraged to be up to date on their COVID vaccines. Student Health at Oberlin does not offer COVID vaccines. Local pharmacies, including CVS and Drug Mart, offer COVID vaccines. Please check with your insurance regarding coverage. An appointment may be required, so be sure to call ahead.

While there is no immediate risk of a measles, COVID-19, or flu outbreak on our campus, our Student Health Services clinical team is in direct contact with Lorain County Public Health to monitor communicable disease prevention. We will share updates and additional guidance as necessary if increased levels of illness become evident on our campus or in the community.

Flu vaccines are available to students from Student Health during vaccination clinics and during regular office visits. 
Spring flu vaccination events will be held on the following dates:

Stay hydrated
Drinking sufficient amounts of water helps keep joints healthy, regulates temperature, and aids concentration and focus. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and consider a hydration routine to keep your body and mind running efficiently and feeling strong. 

Stay active and outdoors
Regular physical activity—even brisk walking—can boost mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and help you think clearly. Engaging in physical activities outdoors offers the added benefit of exposure to sunlight, which helps keep the body’s internal clock on track. We encourage you to spend some time outdoors and be active. This gets you ready to dive into the new semester.

Get sleep
Sleep routines often take a hit during summer breaks. Get your sleep schedule back on track: Aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night for optimum physical and mental health. 

Together, we can all contribute to keeping our campus community healthy and safe this semester. If you have any questions, please email us at health@oberlin.edu.