Wildcat Wellness

Part of Speech

(noun)

Pronunciation

[Wild'kat Wel'nes]

Definition

"Wildcat Wellness" refers to the COVID-19 quarantine/isolation period Northwestern students had to participate in upon returning to campus in the 2020 fall quarter and 2021 winter and spring quarters, often abbreviated simply as "Wellness."

Guidelines of Wildcat Wellness

There are two stages to the isolation period (guidelines for Spring Quarter)

Stage A: Testing Period with Limited Activities

• Students receive two negative tests and may leave their on-campus or off-campus residence only to perform a narrow set of allowed activities (meals, groceries, essential work, etc.). Students must return to their residences and rooms no later than 8 p.m. daily and remain there until 7 a.m. the following morning. The first week of classes are remote, and off-campus students may not come to campus for any reason other than medical needs. All meals in the dining halls are served to-go, and students must eat in their rooms on-campus. Wildcat Wellness was from March 29 to April 5, approximately eight days.
  • The two negative tests had to be both a rapid test and a PCR test. At the time, the tests used by Northwestern were COLOR (PCR) and Abbott (rapid). The university has since switched to NAVICA for rapid tests and have dropped the need for COLOR tests.

Stage B: In-Person Activity

• On April 6, in-person activity will begin for those students who have completed required testing, have quarantined for at least 7 days, and are not in quarantine or isolation (see Plex (COVID-19)). All in-person activity must adhere to community expectations regarding wearing face coverings and maintaining 6-foot physical distancing.

Guidelines can be found here for Fall Quarter and here for Winter Quarter.

Usage

• The term was used by students and faculty/staff for a period of quarantine, especially coming after breaks between quarters (summer break/holiday break/spring break).

Example Sentences

• "We won't have class in-person due to Wildcat Wellness."
• "I didn't see anyone during Wellness."

Related Terms

• Plex (COVID-19)
• Color
• NAVICA
• Symptom Tracker
• Vaxxed

Claylawhead (talk) 23:46, 4 June 2021 (UTC)