From chemistry to healthcare and beyond, many online college courses and programs still insist on students interacting with others while fulfilling essential learning requirements. In these situations, students should consider following the CDC's top recommendations for protecting against COVID-19:
Wash your hands frequently, preferably with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Students may want to get in the habit of carrying small bottles of hand sanitizer with them for those moments when hand-washing just isn't possible.
Wear a mask, both for your own protection and to protect others. The CDC now states that the virus is spread whenever respiratory droplets from an infected person land in the noses or mouths of nearby people. Wearing a double-layered mask helps prevent this from happening.
Practice social distancing. For the same reason, students should develop the habit of maintaining approximately six feet of space between themselves and others. Healthcare students and others who must work closely with other people should follow more extensive protocols as directed by their schools or the facilities in which they're practicing.
Disinfect surfaces. As much as schools and other institutions have enhanced their protocols for cleaning and disinfecting frequently used surfaces, the volume of people moving through these spaces still leaves room for the virus to be left behind. Students may want to consider stocking their backpacks with disinfecting wipes to use on doorknobs, tables, and other surfaces. Students should dispose of used wipes in trash cans and wash their hands with soap and water after disinfecting any surfaces.