Prepare for Thanksgiving Break

Helpful Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources:

• "Celebrating Thanksgiving"
• "Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings"

As the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) prepares for the Thanksgiving holiday, all students, faculty, and staff are reminded to remain vigilant in controlling the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our community.

You have been successful in promoting tried and true health practices on our campus – such as mask-wearing, physical distancing, and hand-washing – and we ask that you continue to model that same commitment to wellbeing to your friends, family, and loved ones during the holiday break.

The following tips prepared by the UNO Office of Health Security are steps that all Mavericks are encouraged to take prior to traveling or gathering with others:

Avoid the “Three Cs”

To help to stop the spread of COVID, avoid the Three Cs: crowded places, close contact, and confined spaces.

Quarantine As You Plan

COVID-19 has an incubation period of up to 14 days and can be transmitted asymptomatically, which means you can spread the virus to others even if you aren’t showing symptoms.

If you have a remote or online course schedule, consider self-quarantining for 14 days before you spend time with all small groups of friends, family, and loved ones, and encourage them to do the same. If you are teaching, working, or learning in a de-densified in-person setting, keep the “Three Cs” in mind on Thanksgiving and avoid scenarios where you will be in close contact with others. Planning ahead this way will reduce the risk of transmitting the virus. 

Stay home if you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and/or are generally not feeling well.

Rigorous mask-wearing, physical distancing, and good hygiene practices will reduce the risk of transmission even further. If you have any questions about your current situation, contact the UNO Office of Health Security at unohealthsecurity@unomaha.edu.

Get Tested

In addition, one of the most effective ways you can reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to get tested before spending time with a friend, a family member, and others. All UNO students, faculty, and staff can be tested for COVID-19 at no cost through TestNebraska at one of their locations.

Students can also be tested at the UNO COVID Testing Site located at Maverick Landing in Room 117. Students can arrange to receive a free test through the Health Security team’s scheduling platform. Random testing of asymptomatic students is also highly recommended. Please note, there are limited spots available for testing at the on-campus testing center this week (Nov. 23).

Remember: If you have symptoms and get tested for COVID-19 it is crucial that you quarantine until you receive the results of your test.

Self-Screen for COVID-19 Symptoms with 1-Check UNO

Whether or not you plan to travel or spend time near others during the Thanksgiving holiday, daily use of the 1-Check UNO app is a helpful tool in our university’s effort to limit the spread of the virus on campus and in the broader Omaha community. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.

In the days leading up to, on the day of, and after the holiday, use the app to self-screen for symptoms to see if you are at a low, medium or high risk for having the virus – especially if you plan to physically be on campus soon after. This will also be critically important requirement before returning to campus after the holiday.

Connect. Take Care. Get Help.

It is common for individuals to experience feeling of stress, anxiety, or isolation during the holidays. Students can find the resources they need to promote their mental and emotional wellbeing through UNO Counseling and Psychological Resources (CAPS), while faculty and staff can find the same resources through UNO's Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

In the Maverick Spirit,

Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.

Chancellor

Jane Meza, Ph.D.

Interim Executive Director, Office of Health Security