To stay safe during this extraordinary event, it’s important to take the following precautions:

1. Only view the eclipse using safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”). It is never safe to look directly at the Sun except with eclipse glasses. Looking directly at the Sun can cause permanent eye damage. Regular sunglasses do not provide protection. New Jersey will only experience a partial eclipse; even when the Sun is 90% covered, it will not be safe to view without eclipse glasses.
2. DO NOT try to view the eclipse with binoculars or a camera, even if you are wearing eclipse glasses.
3. Don’t forget the SPF! If you’re planning on viewing the eclipse for an extended period, don’t forget to protect your skin by wearing plenty of sunscreen, a hat and sun-protective clothing.

To find more information on safe viewing, .

View Safely!!!

Student Health Center

We recommend masking and avoiding any contact with others, except to seek medical care. Contact your professors directly to notify them of your absence.

Summary of What to Do:

1. Students do not have to notify the Health Center of a positive covid test. You may contact the Student Health Center for any health-related questions.
2. Students who test positive for Covid are encouraged to isolate until they have not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
3. The University is not moving residential students or roommates to isolation or quarantine spaces.
4. Notify your professors of your absence. The Student Health Center will not contact professors regarding Covid-19 test results.
5. Refer to the CDC Guidelines if you have any additional questions.

I Have Been Exposed to COVID, Now What?

If you were exposed (no symptoms) to the virus that causes COVID or have been told by a healthcare provider or public health authority that you were exposed, you should do the following:

1. Wear a mask
2. Monitor for symptoms of illness
3. Test for Covid based on CDC Guidelines. The Student Health Center has at-home Covid tests for students.

If you are sick….

Students who are sick can contact the Student Health Center who will advise you about managing your symptoms and evaluate your need for an appointment.

As a reminder, stay home anytime you are sick – whether it’s COVID-19, the flu, or another illness.

Prevention

It is important to practice key prevention strategies to avoid illness. Practicing proper hand hygiene, staying up to date with Covid-19 vaccines and, when possible, keeping your distance from individuals who are sick or tested positive will help lessen the severity of Covid-19 and help stop the spread of the virus.

Class Absence

The Student Health Center does not provide excuse notes for class absences.  Please contact your professors to determine how to address missed classes.

Here are a few suggestions:

Stay Up to Date on Your Sexual Health Care

Visit the Student Health Center,  your health care provider or find a health clinic to stay up to date with your sexual health care. Discuss the types of sex you have so that your provider can offer and prevention services, including , that are right for you.

Stay Safe in Hot Weather

Stay Cool

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible.
• Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours.

Stay hydrated

• Drink plenty of fluids. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Limit very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
• Replace salts and minerals.  A sports drink or food can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

Stay informed

• Know the symptoms of dehydration:
  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Dry mouth
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Feeling tired
  • Dizziness

Be Mindful of Alcohol Intake

If you drink alcohol, health care providers advise limiting how much you drink. This is called drinking in moderation, or responsible drinking.  Responsible drinking means more than just limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks. It also means not getting drunk, not drinking and driving, and not letting alcohol control your life, your decisions, or your relationships.

The Student Health Center is open during the summer months.  Please call if you have questions, need an appointment, or you are not feeling well.

For More Information

• ����vlog Student Health Center

Exercise. One of the best things we can do to take care of our bodies is exercise. Whether it be a 15 minute workout or several hours, it is a huge stress relief to get the body moving. When we do physical work, we are able to let go of our daily stresses because we are focused on the physical task at hand. As we begin to exert sweat, we then begin to release endorphins which are so good for our bodies and minds. Endorphins are also known as a “runner’s high” and give us that positive feeling. We begin to feel energized and happy. If we focus on how we feel after a good workout then maybe we can hold on to that thought for future times when we feel tired and overwhelmed. It may sound backwards but if you cannot seem to shake the tiredness and can’t seem to find time to get all your work done, then get up and make your body move.

Bottom line is keep on moving!

Sleep. By allowing ourselves to exert this energy through exercise, we are setting ourselves up for a good sleep. When we get good rest our brain is able to get recharged which our body desperately needs. Even taking a 15-20 minute nap during the day can help you recharge your body’s batteries. Do not underestimate the importance of sleep.

Get your Z’s in.

Water. We have all heard it before and that is because water is the natural fuel to keep the body hydrated and feeling refreshed and alive. One helpful tip to starting your day each morning is to drink an 8-10 oz glass of water before anything else. Starting your day with water will help your body to get moving and will leave you wanting more which is good! Water helps in digestion, circulation, rids the body of toxins, assists in healthy skin and so much more. Water will help reduce soreness from exercise as well.

Drink more water. 

Written by:
Amanda Cuoco

In recent weeks, we have seen a decreasing number of new cases of COVID-19 in our campus community and in our state.  As a result of this trend Governor Murphy has started to lift some of the restrictions he put in place in March to slow the spread of the virus.

As our state makes progress against the disease, it is important to remember that many precautions still remain in place, including the requirement that universities and colleges provide all instruction and support services remotely.

Although we do not yet know when institutions of higher education may be allowed to resume in-person instruction, the Presidential Advisory Committee has been working with leaders across the University to develop plans and procedures that will allow us to return to campus as safely as possible. The University will keep you informed as these plans are finalized.

In the meantime, I want to remind everyone that we all need to continue doing the things that help keep ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors as healthy as possible.  Practice these habits every day – it’s our best defense:

• Practice and promote . often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve. Immediately dispose of used tissues in a waste basket. Disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces. Avoid contact with those who are sick. If you don’t feel well, please stay at home – it’s the right thing to do for yourself and your community.
• when in a public space or any spaces where it is required, including outdoors when social distancing is not possible. Make sure it covers your nose and mouth. Doing this helps prevent you from spreading germs to others.
•   Stay at least six feet (two arm’s lengths) away from others. Do not shake hands with or hug people who aren’t members of your household. Keep your distance from people who are sick or who may be vulnerable to infections. Avoid large, crowded gatherings.

Each of these actions can help reduce the risk of spreading the virus. And taken together, they’re even more effective.

It’s also important to exercise, eat right and stay connected with other people. Although we are physically distanced, we can still interact with each other by phone or online. Talking regularly with friends and colleagues is helpful to our wellbeing.

If you do come to campus this summer, please remember to wear a face covering, practice social distancing and keep your hands clean.

Please remember that the University Health Center remains open this summer to serve students. Call us at 973-655-3459 if you would like to request an appointment. You will be screened first to keep our office safe for you. Have a question for a nurse? Send an email anytime to askanurse@montclair.edu.

This year brought changes, challenges, and uncertainty. Amidst all of that, we came together in new ways to care, build, connect, dance, support, play, learn and reach out.  As we prepare for returning to campus I would like for each of you to be safe, healthy and have some fun. I wish you all an enjoyable summer and look forward to seeing you virtually or in person in the near future.

Sincerely,

Patricia Ruiz, DNP, APN
Director, University Health Center & EMS

The current COVID-19, aka Coronavirus, pandemic has resulted in all of us being home and inside more than we probably ever thought possible. In March 2020, many states including New Jersey issued stay-at-home orders that primarily limited all individuals to only leaving their house if their job was essential, to seek necessary healthcare services, or to complete essential tasks, such as purchasing groceries. Social distancing (remaining at least 6 feet away from other people) has also been encouraged as a way to hopefully “flatten the curve” and limit the spread of COVID-19. While social distancing and staying home is absolutely necessary to keep yourself and others healthy, it can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, boredom, and frustration. This is especially true for those of you still living in a dorm on a college campus that looks and feels very different than it did a couple of months ago. Below you will find some helpful tips for maintaining your best overall mental and physical health.

If You Need Help with Staying Calm

It is 100% normal to be experiencing feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, and even sadness during these difficult times. However, your physical health and immune system can potentially suffer if you are struggling mentally or emotionally. The following tips are helpful ways to stay calm and promote relaxation:

• Deep breathing and meditation have been shown to result in decreased anxiety and increased feelings of relaxation. Many free apps are available for downloading to assist with deep breathing and meditation, such as the Calm app. To get you started, view a provided by Calm (download the app at ).
• Coloring is not just for kids! Try downloading a free coloring app on your phone or tablet like the one found or . You can also purchase adult coloring books online pretty much anywhere, like Amazon.
• Be selective with your social media choices: Social media is a great way to stay connected with people who you can’t physically be with right now, but it can also be a huge source of anxiety or COVID-19 overload. Try removing yourself from the pages that don’t bring you happiness and make you feel even more isolated. Some social media apps, like Instagram, allow you to temporarily mute pages if desired.
• Headspace app: This app is a great mental health resource to have on hand whenever you need it. The app is great with helping you manage stress, anxiety, and insomnia and also offers meditation techniques. Furthermore, most, if not all, of the app resources are free for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more and download the app, visit the following link and click “try for free”:
• In addition to the services provided by Montclair State CAPS, if you are ever interested in having a confidential conversation with a trained counselor, text HOME to 741741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) at any time. Get more information on CAPS.

If You Need Help with Staying Active

It is important to remember that the stay-at-home orders do not limit you from enjoying the nice weather that is quickly (and thankfully) approaching. You can still go outside, take a walk, go for a run, or ride your bicycle. In fact, these things are encouraged! Just make sure to still abide by social distancing restrictions when doing so. However, if you prefer to exercise indoors, here are some websites and apps that can help you achieve your goals:

• The FitOn app: according to (2020), the FitOn app”“helps you stay active, reduce stress, and feel good with 100s of workouts that are always free with celebrity trainers & advice articles on taking care of yourself both mentally and physically.” To download the app: and .
• Prefer to watch workout videos in the privacy of your own room? View a . For those of you interested in pilates, . (Both channels originally recommended by ).

*REMEMBER: This is not a time to be hard on yourself if your diet or exercise routine is different than normal or “less than ideal.” Staying safe and healthy is the most important thing right now. Be kind to yourself and just do the best you can.

If You Need Help with Staying Connected

Current restrictions have caused so many of us to miss an endless amount of social gatherings and celebrations. It probably seems like forever ago that you were in a room with a group of family or friends or even hugged someone.

Fortunately, we live in a time where technology lets us stay connected more than ever before. Perhaps it is more helpful to think of the term we all keep hearing, “social distancing,” as “physical distancing” instead. Physically yes, we must stay six feet away from others. But in terms of being “social,” there are no limitations, but rather a need to temporarily modify how we connect with one another. Although the tips mentioned below don’t entirely replace the socialization we’re all used to, they can help with physical distancing. Remind yourself frequently that this “new normal” will not be in place forever, and we are all staying in now so that we can be together again later!

Have a video conversation with your friends, family, or even your pet (with assistance of course)! Whether one-on-one or group video chats are desired, you can have virtual hangouts on FaceTime, Google Chats, or Zoom.

• Have a virtual game night:
• Host a virtual dinner party:
• You can even host a virtual movie night with friends or family through services like Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Disney+ and Amazon.
• Don’t forget that a simple, regular voice phone call is also an option; this is a great option to keep in touch with people in your life who may not be very tech-savvy.

If You Need Help with Staying Safe

Although you may have heard most, if not all, of the following tips recently, they are extremely important and worth mentioning again. Please abide by them all. They not only may save your life but also the lives of those around you.

• Practice social distancing i.e stay AT LEAST SIX FEET away from others. Yes, this still applies to family, friends, someone you are dating. Even if you care deeply for someone, you still have the ability to get them sick or be exposed to COVID-19 by them.
• Wear a mask when out in public, whether store bought or homemade. If finding a mask to purchase is difficult or expensive, . And remember, do not share used masks with anyone!
• WASH YOUR HANDS!! Hand sanitizer is great to carry with you when out, but washing your hands is cheaper and more effective. Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. Consider this a good time to practice your karaoke skills – 20 seconds equals: “Happy Birthday” song twice, singing your ABCs once, or the chorus to your favorite Beyoncé song once.
• Seek medical care if you are not feeling well and encourage others to do so also if sick.
• Exercise for at least 20 minutes per day, follow a fairly regular sleep schedule, and eat a well-balanced diet. All of these things promote a healthy immune system, which is more important now than ever before.
• Cough into your elbow, not your hands. Let’s keep germ spreading to a minimum.
• Wipe down all surfaces in your room, house, bathroom, etc daily with any disinfectant.
• If your job or daily duties are not essential, STAY HOME.

If You Need a Friendly Reminder

Always remember, especially during these difficult times, to be kind to yourself and others. Everyone is doing the best that they can to stay healthy, happy, and safe right now. If you don’t exercise for a few days, there is always tomorrow. If you are stressed and snap at someone you care about, apologize and move on. If you are experiencing sadness, loneliness, or any other emotion, reach out to a loved one or a mental health professional. Help others and help yourself by following the tips provided above. And always remember that, although it may feel like it sometimes, you are not alone.

For more information and assistance, visit the following websites:

The use of Zoom for video conferencing by our campus community has skyrocketed for classes, business meetings, and social interactions. At ����vlog, we have gone from 50 Zoom conferences each weekday to 1500. Worldwide, Zoom has grown from hosting 10 million meetings per day, pre-COVID, to more than 200 million meetings a day during the pandemic. Concerns about Zoom security and so-called “Zoom-bombing,” where uninvited guests disturb meetings in progress, have led to software security updates at Zoom to ensure that your meetings and the devices you use are safe when utilizing the conferencing platform.

Like other technology vendors, Zoom regularly releases software updates including updated security features. For workstations/computers owned and managed by ����vlog, Information Technology automatically pushes out these updates. We urge that you restart (“reboot”) your MSU workstation daily to assure you pick up these and other updates. For non-MSU-managed workstations, you should see reminders from Zoom to apply these updates; apply vendor-supplied updates on a timely basis.

In addition, here’s how to utilize Zoom’s features to protect against uninvited guests:

Schedule your Zoom class or conference from within Canvas using the . This will limit Zoom attendees to your class members.

In addition, use a password for your Zoom meetings. Also, consider enabling the Zoom “waiting room” to screen guests in advance before admitting them into your meeting. To maximize security and minimize risks while working remotely, please follow Montclair State’s best practices for safety and security that can be found on the Information Technology website.

Refer to our Video Conferencing at MSU page for additional guidance for using Zoom. As always, make sure you have completed MSU’s cybersecurity training with guidance for understanding and mitigating the risks that are a part of today’s electronic data environment. Access the training at .

Contact the IT Service Desk at itservicedesk@montclair.edu with any further questions or concerns that your system or Zoom conference may have been compromised.

Additional Resources

• Zoom FAQs

Regards,
Candy Fleming
CIO and Vice President, Information Technology
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Check Your Facts!

Please refer to the links below for tips, fact-checking information and take a look at the  and frequently asked questions about the virus.

Beware of Rumors and Bad Information

• Scammers are peddling �����Ի���

Reputable Places for Coronavirus Information

• CDC, updated daily: