All semester, Horned Frogs across campus have been working hard to Protect the Purple and keep our community safe. As you begin planning to leave campus, it’s important to vigilantly continue safety protocols to protect yourself, your friends and your family back home.

Following are 5 tips to keep the safety momentum going as we gear up for winter break:

1. Get tested.

TCU is offering free, painless, contactless COVID-19 PCR testing with fast results (averaging about 28 hours) from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning Nov. 13 through Dec. 4 on campus in parking Lot 6. (The testing site will change locations Nov. 25-28 due to Thanksgiving and will be announced in the coming days.)

2. Avoid “close contacts.”

Limit your chances of exposure before you travel so you don’t inadvertently bring COVID-19 home to your family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a close contact as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person (regardless if both individuals are wearing a mask) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.​

You can reduce your chance of exposure by practicing physical distancing, wearing your mask and avoiding large gatherings. And instead of shaking hands, hugging or doing elbow bumps, just throw the Horned Frog hand sign.

3. Travel safely.

Don’t forget your safety measures when you hit the road for home. Be ready with hand sanitizer, wear your face covering (bring extras!), stay 6 feet apart from anyone not in your household and don’t touch your face.

Remember that you may be exposed to COVID-19 during your travels so stay on high alert. Self-monitor for fever and other symptoms or just feeling “off.” Even if you don’t have any symptoms, there’s a possibility you could have COVID-19 and spread it to others — including those most vulnerable. Self-quarantining for 14 days after your last possible exposure could help keep your family, friends and community safe.

4. Get your flu shot.

Getting your flu show now gives your body time to develop an immune response before flu season hits in full force. Because we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is concern in the medical community that a heavy flu season could overwhelm the health care system and stretch testing capacity — not to mention the increased risk of catching flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

5. Guard your mental health.

As you stay vigilant to protect yourself and those around you by continuing to follow safety protocols, also keep a watch on your own mental health and check in on your friends too. Find constructive ways to express your feelings — journaling, drawing, dancing, talking to others and being a listening ear in return. It’s been a tough year, but we’re all in this together. Remember that TCU has mental health and counseling resources available for you.

Also check out Dr. Pam Frable’s tips for resisting COVID fatigue.