Coming Back Safe & Strong
Coming Back Safe and Strong Update
What You Need to Know, When You Need to Know It
 
In a year marked by the need for resilience, we appreciated your patience, strength and, yes, continued resilience, as a snowstorm forced the delay of classes and COVID testing availability earlier this week! We’re excited to welcome you to Spring Semester 2021, for real. Here are updates and reminders to help us all get off to a healthy start and keep us safe and strong …
 
TESTING AND SCREENING
In the News: On this Fox 5 NY report, hear Vice President for Student Affairs Rick Gatteau and others talk about our resident student testing protocols, which raise the bar for SUNY student testing this spring.
 
Important Updates and Reminders: Employees and commuter students are required to participate in pooled saliva testing once a week. See our full spring semester pooled testing schedule – we’ve expanded hours at the Student Activity Center Tuesdays and Thursdays to begin at 6:30 am. As noted in the news story above, students living on campus are required to participate twice a week in the residential testing program. See our Student Health Services COVID-19 testing webpage for details.
 
Before coming to campus each day, use the CampusClear App (set a daily reminder by going to ‘Settings’ and ‘Notifications’) or the Daily Health Self-Screening Paper Log (available in both English and Spanish).
 
VACCINES
New FAQs: Stony Brook University Hospital will continue to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to groups the New York State Department of Health defined as eligible to receive vaccines allocated to hospitals. The priority group continues to be Phase 1a healthcare providers. Find the latest information – including updated FAQs – on the Vaccine Information page of our CBSS website.
 
CELEBRATE SAFELY
Super Bowl (Sunday, Feb. 7): With promising signs that positive COVID cases and hospitalizations have slowed recently, and with wider access to vaccines on the horizon, this is no time to let your guard down. Take it from our all-pro Stony Brook lineup: make plans to watch the big game safely. View the video we developed for a fun, but important, message around Super Bowl safety. 

Lunar New Year ('Year of the Ox', starts Friday, Feb. 12): During this special time of bringing friends and famly together for feasting and other festivities, please be mindful of staying safe amid the COVID pandemic. Consider altering traditions or creating new ones that still capture the history and spirit of the culture, including a virtual gathering. If you do get together in person, try to limit the number of people in attendance, wear masks, wash hands frequently and stay socially distant from those not in your household.

MESSAGES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
From the Interim Provost: Guidance to faculty on student accommodations
From the VP of Research: Update on return to research activities and more
From Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) and Medicine in a recent HICS Update: To ensure adequate staffing for our patients and each other – and in light of our many safety protocols, including PPE use – SBUH was granted a waiver to the Department of Health’s recent directive requiring asymptomatic healthcare personnel exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 to quarantine for 10 days. If you have any questions about returning to work, please call the Exposure Hotline at (631) 638-1396.
 
MIRACULOUS RECOVERY AND SBUH SUCCESS STORY
After fighting a COVID battle for almost two months, Hauppauge Pastor Doug Jansson was released from Stony Brook Hospital yesterday in what his family, and Hospital workers who helped save his life, call a miraculous recovery. See the stories:
Newsday: After prayer, hope and some new technology, a Hauppauge pastor bests COVID-19
News12: Suffolk pastor discharged from hospital after nearly 2-month battle with COVID-19
 
CARING, RESPECT, CIVILITY
Black History Month and Call-to-Action Opportunities: Check out our continuously updated Caring, Respect, Civility webpage for the latest on how you can help us uphold our values of celebrating diversity, respecting each other and working toward equity for all.
 
REMEMBER ...
  • Wash your hands or use sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available.
  • Maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from other people.
  • Wear a mask at all times, including in classrooms, conference rooms and other spaces, even when six feet social distancing exists.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your workplace every day.
  • Avoid using other people's phones, desks, offices, tools and equipment.
  • Stay home if you’re sick.
  • Avoid large gatherings.

    Have an Idea? Need an Answer?
    Visit our continuously updated return to the workplace FAQs on our Coming Back Safe and Strong website, or send your questions to comingback@stonybrook.edu.
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