Health Guidance

No. Standard cleaning with common household disinfectants (such as Clorox ®wipes) should be sufficient.

As is recommended each year during cold and flu season, be sure to clean high-touch areas (e.g., doorknobs, telephones, remote controls, and bathroom surfaces) regularly.

In addition to maintaining 6-feet physical distancing, the CDC now recommends that individuals who need to leave home for essential reasons (to obtain food or medicine, to go to work, etc.) cover their mouth and nose with a cloth while in public settings where physical distancing measures are difficult to sustain. It is important to wash these cloth face coverings (scarves, bandanas, old T-shirts, etc.) when you return home. The U.S. Surgeon General has a video on how to make a cloth face cover.

We recognize that individuals wearing face coverings have been discriminated against and treated unfairly. The University condemns such behavior and calls upon everyone to understand and respect the CDC’s face covering recommendation in support of public health.  

At this time, surgical masks and N-95 respirators are primarily recommended for healthcare workers and other medical responders. Columbia is, however, making masks available to some essential workers. We ask that all students who remain on campus use appropriate face coverings when going outside, including trips to Columbia Dining (John Jay), grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. Should this guidance change, the University will adjust protocols.

Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against COVID-19.