Protect Yourself | Western Technical College

Protect Yourself

Western values the health and safety of every member of our community, and is committed to supporting our students and employees in this changing environment. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including: 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Unvaccinated individuals should cover your nose and mouth with cloth face cover when around other people. (Note that face shields alone are not an adequate replacement for face masks.)
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Get the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine.

About Coronavirus Disease

Western continues to closely monitor the spread of the respiratory disease COVID-19, or coronavirus. This includes reviewing guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and U.S. Department of Education.

Coronavirus spreads easily and causes a range illness from very mild to severe, with severe illness requiring hospitalization. Adults over 60 and people with underlying health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes may be at a higher risk of developing more severe symptoms and complications.

Symptoms

Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include:

  • Fever over 100 degrees
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Body or muscle aches
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Loss of smell or taste

Symptoms can reportedly appear two to 14 days after initial exposure to the virus. People become infected by inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze, or by touching contaminated surfaces like door handles and then touching face, mouth or eyes. It is important to know that a person can transmit the virus to others while showing minor or no symptoms.

Experiencing symptoms or concerned over possible exposure?

If you are experiencing symptoms or have concerns about already being exposed, please:

  1. Stay home.
  2. Contact your healthcare provider.
  3. Students notify your instructor, employees notify your supervisor
  4. Fill out the Self-Reporting Form and a staff member will contact you within 24 hours to obtain additional information and offer assistance.

Western will stay informed on the situation and will keep students and employees updated.

All members of the Western community will be notified of an outbreak on campus through email, on the website, or through our Emergency Notification System, RAVE. The college social media platforms will be updated accordingly as well.

Please check your college email regularly for updates.

The health and safety of every member of the Western community is our top priority. Please do all you can to protect yourself. Taking precautions is crucial for the health and safety of all community members due to the rapid spread of this virus.

Additional Information

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has a website dedicated to updates on COVID-19 in Wisconsin. Visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/covid-19.htm.

The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) are providing the most up-to-date information for us as this is a rapidly evolving situation. You are encouraged to check the following websites for the most current information:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

Contact Us

Have questions or concerns related to Western’s COVID-19 precautions and preventive measures? Contact Western's COVID-19 Monitoring Team: