The fall semester is well underway and with it, as expected, a higher frequency of COVID cases than we saw over the summer. However, the college has taken steps to counter any increase in cases including wastewater testing, weekly testing of all employees who have not provided proof of vaccination, weekly testing of partially vaccinated and exempt students, and, most recently, the addition of testing a percentage of vaccinated students on a rotating basis.
As of today, Sept. 17, a total of 32 students are in isolation and 36 students are in quarantine. These numbers are down from last week and trending in a good direction. Since Aug. 10, 12 employees have tested positive for COVID, with five active cases currently.
To continue to safeguard the campus community, two additional safety measures for employees will be instituted, effective Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.
- Daily Health Screening
The Daily Health Screening is a helpful tool in determining which employees may be required to quarantine due to close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID, in tracking positive cases that are identified through any tests performed off campus and in determining appropriate use of the quarantining leave allowances.
Beginning Monday, Sept. 20, employees will receive a daily email reminder about completing the Daily Health Screening. All employees, regardless of vaccination status and both those working remotely and those working at a campus site, must complete the health screening each day they are working. The screening tool is comprised of five questions relating to worksite, close contact and testing results.
- Surveillance Testing of Vaccinated Employees
Agreements were reached with the collective bargaining units in the SUNY system with respect to conducting COVID pool testing on a sampling basis for those employees who have voluntarily provided proof of vaccination. The college and its local union leaders have agreed to test five percent of the vaccinated employee population in any week following a campus 14-day rolling average positivity rate of one percent or greater. The college’s positivity rate has exceeded one percent for the past three weeks. See the SUNY COVID Tracker for details.
Accordingly, beginning Sept. 20, five percent of the college’s vaccinated employees will be selected on a random basis to participate in the college’s pool testing each week. Notification to those selected will be made through email which will provide additional information about testing availability and what to do if you cannot meet the testing deadline.
The mandatory weekly testing of all employees who are on campus and have not provided proof of vaccination will continue. In addition, college leaders invite and encourage asymptomatic vaccinated employees to participate in the weekly pool testing at no cost to the employee.
Thank you for making health and wellness a priority and complying with the college’s various safety requirements and protocols. The Office of Human Resources is available to answer questions and assist with any concerns you may have at 607-436-2518 or human.resources@oneonta.edu.