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Short answer Do these things for almost any illness If it is flu or COVID If it is a stomach bug If it is strep or mono Be a good roommate When to get help for them Common questions from students Common questions Related questions SourcesWhen your roommate is sick, use your own cups and towels, wash your hands often, clean shared surfaces and open a window to move air.
What else you need to do depends on what they have: flu and COVID spread through the air, norovirus on surfaces, and mono and strep through saliva and drinks.
Do these things for almost any illness
- Use your own cup, bottle, towel and utensils
- Wash your hands with soap, often, and before eating
- Open a window or use a fan to move air
- Wipe door handles, light switches and shared surfaces
- Keep your own toothbrush apart and do not share vapes
If it is flu or COVID
- Stay in different parts of the room if you can
- Wear a mask in shared space for the first days
- Let your roommate sleep elsewhere if there is an option
- Watch yourself for fever or symptoms and test
See flu return to class and COVID return to class.
If it is a stomach bug
- Wash hands with soap, because hand sanitizer is not enough against norovirus
- Clean the bathroom with a bleach-based cleaner
- Wash soiled laundry on hot
- Use a different bathroom if you can
If it is strep or mono
- Do not share drinks, food, utensils or lip balm
- Replace a toothbrush after a few days of antibiotics for strep
- Mono is mostly spread by saliva, not by sitting near someone
Be a good roommate
- Offer water, food and soup from the dining hall
- Ask what they need and respect their need to rest
- Tell your RA if it looks serious or lasts
- Call student health or 911 if your roommate cannot wake, has trouble breathing, or is very confused
When to get help for them
Get help for trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, a stiff neck with fever, a seizure, or if they cannot keep fluids down for a day. Call 911 for severe symptoms.
If you are not sure what you have, our AI doctor asks a few questions and sends you a care note you can bring to student health.
Common questions from students
Should I move out if my roommate is sick? Usually not. Many illnesses clear in days. Ask your RA if you have a high-risk reason.
Can I catch what they have? Possibly. Spread depends on the illness.
Should I get tested too? If you have symptoms, yes.
Can I tell my RA? Yes. They can point you to resources.
Do I need to tell professors? Only if you are missing class or exams.
Common questions
What should I do when my roommate is sick?
When your roommate is sick, use your own cups and towels, wash your hands often, clean shared surfaces and open a window to move air. What else you need to do depends on what they have: flu and COVID spread through the air, norovirus on surfaces, and mono and strep through saliva and drinks.
Should I move out if my roommate is sick?
Usually not. Many illnesses clear in days. Ask your RA if you have a high-risk reason.
Can I catch what they have?
Possibly. Spread depends on the illness.
Should I get tested too?
If you have symptoms, yes.
Can I tell my RA?
Yes. They can point you to resources.
Do I need to tell professors?
Only if you are missing class or exams.