JACKSON, Miss. – Students attending Mississippi public universities join all Mississippians in the race against the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, recent information from the Mississippi State Department of Health shows that the 18-29 age group has had more diagnosed COVID-19 cases that any other age group in the state.
The offices of university communications from all eight public universities in Mississippi pulled together to create a system video to encourage all students to realize they are in the driver’s seat when it comes to preventing the virus and to follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Our students, like all of us, want their lives to return to normal as soon as possible,” said Alfred Rankins Jr., commissioner of higher education. “The video highlights the smart choices we can make to help stop the spread of the virus and make progress toward returning to a more traditional campus living and learning environment.
“It is important to remember that if we all take these simple steps together, it can have a powerful, positive impact.”
The CDC recommends following these six simple steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often
- Avoid close contact
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Clean and disinfect
- Monitor your health daily
Students who experience any symptoms of COVID-19 should follow campus guidelines for reporting their symptoms, seeking care and staying apart from others.
The CDC has identified several symptoms, which may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Executive produced by David Garraway, director of the University Television Center at Mississippi State University, the video encourages students to make smart choices to help reach the finish line on the changes brought about by the pandemic and return to normal.