Feel Well, Do Well: Health & Safety

Image

In 2019, we launched Feel Well, Do Well, an initiative designed to make students’ health and wellness a college-wide endeavor, beyond just the Rosemary Furman Counseling Center and Primary Care Health Service. Although we did not know it at the time, starting a campus-wide conversation around health and wellness was a precursor to what we must ask of our community until an effective vaccine or treatment is found for COVID-19.

The health and safety of our community is our top priority as we adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we must all recognize that this is a shared responsibility as members of the Barnard community.

The Feel Well, Do Well: Health & Safety plan requires:

• Self-screening. Mandatory remote screening procedure to monitor health conditions of members of the community, allowing for appropriate actions to be taken should infection be detected.
• Testing and contact tracing. Testing plan and contact-tracing program to monitor for potential spread and to test people with symptoms. Residential students will be required to produce a negative PCR test result before arriving on campus, and they will also be tested when they arrive. Students with positive results will be required to start an isolation protocol.  
• Face masks/coverings. Disposable masks or cloth face coverings must be worn at all times in public settings (public spaces, meeting rooms, hallways, stairwells, elevators, classrooms, restrooms, etc.). Each faculty member, staff member, and student will be provided with disposable masks as needed.
• Good hygiene. Emphasis on handwashing. Hand sanitizer will also be made available throughout campus facilities.
• Maintaining physical distancing. All members of the campus community will comply with the New York State requirement to maintain at least 6 feet of distance wherever possible. Individuals should avoid gathering in groups and should stay out of crowded places.
• Staying in if you feel ill. Individuals who feel sick are to stay home/in their dorm room, even if their symptoms are inconsistent with common COVID-19 symptoms. Barnard Dining will make available food-delivery options for students who are quarantining in their room.
• Flu shots. Pending further consideration, all members of the campus community will be required to provide evidence of a flu shot.
• Semester Contingency Plan. Students will be required to create and maintain an up-to-date Semester Contingency Plan, to facilitate quarantine/isolation procedures or if the need arises to de-densify the campus.
• Community pledge. Community members will be expected to acknowledge and adhere to new community expectations through a community pledge that emphasizes the responsibility of every member of the community in helping to maintain a safe campus environment by complying with all federal, state, and local requirements and Barnard COVID-19 policies. More information and details of procedures will be released in the coming weeks.
• Acknowledgement. The College remains steadfast in its commitment to keeping campus as safe an environment as possible for the Barnard community by following  local, state and federal guidelines and requirements. However, the College cannot provide a risk-free environment. All individuals returning to campus and taking part in the testing program will be required to acknowledge the inherent risks of returning to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The College is asking all students, faculty, and staff acknowledge in writing and adhere to a Community Pledge. With this commitment, all promise to abide by a set of rules for behavior on campus. These include requirements around the wearing of masks in public, hand-washing and sanitation, social distancing, the use of designated spaces at designated times, as well as other behaviors to help promote the well-being of all on campus. The College asks everyone to rise to this challenge with purpose and focus and to embrace the responsibility of care.

Students expected to adhere to the following expectations while on campus and in the community:

• Face coverings
  • While on any College-owned and/or operated property, students must wear a face covering at all times, except when alone in a private room with a closed door. 
  • Residents of campus housing are not required to wear a face covering around their suitemates while in their own suite, but face coverings must be worn in common areas (e.g., hallways, staircases, bathrooms) of residential buildings.
  • While in the surrounding campus community, students should wear a face covering while in public spaces (per NYC mandate).
  • Face coverings should cover both the nose and the mouth. They should not have an exhalation valve, as per NYC guidance.
• Students Permitted in Residence Halls and Guest Policy 
  • Only those students who are approved to live on campus are permitted to enter College residential facilities.
  • Residential students will only be permitted to enter the residence hall to which they are assigned. 
  • Students will not be permitted to sign any guests into the residence halls. 
• Physical Distancing
  • It is expected that students will maintain at least 6 feet of distance between themselves and other individuals.
• Residential Lounges
  • TV lounges, study lounges, floor kitchens, and music practice rooms within the residence halls will be closed and unavailable for the Fall 2020 semester.

Failure of students to comply with these expectations and any updates, or with the health and safety directives of a College official, may be subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct, as well as enhanced sanctions, including removal from housing.

Quarantine/Isolation Coordinator: qicoordinator@barnard.edu

Understanding Quarantine and Isolation

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease. There is a lot of similarity between what happens in isolation and what happens in quarantine, but they are two different tools in infectious disease mitigation. During the pandemic, isolation applies to individuals with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Isolation separates people who are confirmed to be sick with the disease from those who are not. It lasts as long as the disease is contagious. Isolation ends once certain criteria are met, which may include the duration of isolation and the person’s symptoms. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of individuals who may have been exposed to a contagious disease but who have not been diagnosed with an infection. Once people develop symptoms consistent with or are otherwise diagnosed with COVID-19, they must be isolated rather than quarantined. 

The College is here to support our community members as they navigate this period of uncertainty. Hearing that you need to quarantine and disconnect from others can be disconcerting, but the goal is to ensure that you are healthy, while also protecting others from exposure to illness.

Community members will be expected to quarantine and monitor symptoms for 14 days if:

• They have been recommended to do so following close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
• They have recently returned from a destination with high prevalence of COVID-19.
• They are required to do so by federal, state, or city regulations.

Community members will be expected to isolate for a minimum of 10 days if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The College is reserving a separate residence hall on campus to use as isolation housing for all COVID-positive students who are living in the residence halls. Students in isolation housing will be monitored by staff from Primary Care Health Services. We will ensure they have meals delivered. Others, including students who are commuters/living off-campus, will be responsible for managing their own quarantine and/or isolation during the semester. The College will assist with directing students to resources that can support them if they must quarantine/isolate.

Common Feelings 

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations that require changes in location or behavior. When you’re out of circulation, you may experience a range of feelings, including anxiety, worry, or fear related to your health status or that of others; anger or resentment at the inconvenience; worry about not having your things with you or not doing your usual routine; uncertainty or concern about how long you will need to remain in this situation; excitement to have some alone time to rest and catch up on reading; loneliness or feeling cut off; boredom and frustration; sadness or depression; symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. 

STUDENT SUPPORT IS A PHONE CALL OR CLICK AWAY 

Primary Care Health Service: 212-854-7426 (available 9-5 p.m.); 
https://barnard.edu/primarycare

Feel Well, Do Well @ Barnard: https://barnard.edu/health-wellness

Rosemary Furman Counseling Center: 212-854-2878 (available 9-5 p.m.); https://barnard.edu/rosemary-furman-counseling-center

Public Safety: 212-854-5555 (available 24/7)

Be Prepared 

Some people may quarantine in their own room or residence; others may need to relocate. In some circumstances, individuals may quarantine together. During this time, individuals will want to have enough clean clothes for the entire 10-14-day period, as well as bedding and linens (if moving to another location), cellphone, laptop, chargers, and any books and supplies you will need to attend class virtually and complete your schoolwork or work. You’ll also need a toiletry kit, eyewear, and any prescription and nonprescription medications, including over-the-counter fever reducers/pain relievers such as ibuprofen or Tylenol. We recommend that students living on campus prepare a small “self-care kit/to-go” bag that can be easily accessible should a student be required to move temporarily to our isolation building on campus. 

Symptoms to Watch For

Be sure to check the CDC’s list of symptoms, which may be updated as we learn more about this disease. The list currently includes: 

• Fever or chills 
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

While You are in Quarantine/Isolation

• Remain in your room/home for the recommended time period. Do not leave your room except to use the bathroom or when recommended by a medical professional. If you must leave your home for an essential activity, try to do so during off-hours and avoid places where people are congregating. Wear a face covering at all times.
• Maintain physical distance (approximately 6 feet, or 2 meters) from others. This also means avoiding crowds and public transportation (e.g., bus, subway, taxi, ride-share).
• If you share a bathroom or other common spaces with other people, you must wear a face covering at all times, maintain physical distancing, minimize your time spent in those shared areas, and wipe down any surfaces after you touch them (e.g., fridge handle, faucets). 
• Students in residence: Food will be delivered through Barnard Dining. 
• Students living off-campus: We recommend that you arrange for food delivery. Students who are commuters/living off-campus will be responsible for managing their own quarantine/isolation during the semester. The College will assist with directing students to resources that can support them if they must quarantine, including food delivery.
• Take your temperature twice daily and record your symptoms. If you develop symptoms or need medical triage/help, students should call Primary Care Health Service. A clinical staff member will determine if you should leave your quarters to seek medical attention.

Communication with Family

 Your personal health information is confidential. Students will need to sign a release before our staff will be able to speak with anyone, including your parents, other family members, or friends.

Barnard is establishing a robust and independent COVID-19 testing program to further monitor and manage the health of our campus. 

• “Pre-Entry” tests will be required for those moving onto campus who are not completing a travel-related quarantine. Students may request a link for a mail-in test kit, sent to the student at no cost, via the “Arrival Quarantine and Pre-Entry Test Form” included with the August 3 housing assignment email. 
• “Entry” tests will also be required for all members of our community who will be working, coming to campus for classes or  living on campus. Barnard will conduct an initial test for all faculty, students, and staff — residential students when they arrive at Barnard housing; commuter students and those living off campus, faculty, and staff in coordination with their first day back. Non-residential students, faculty and staff will receive emails with information about how they can schedule their entry test later in August, prior to being allowed to come onto campus.
• In a surveillance testing protocol, a portion of the campus population, including students, faculty, and staff will be tested on a regular basis as a means of monitoring the health of the immediate community. It is likely that each member of the community will be tested multiple times each semester. We will test both residential and nonresidential students at the same rate, and we will adjust the frequency of our testing based on considerations such as the infection rate both at Barnard and in New York City.
• All students, faculty, and staff will be required to respond daily to several self-check questions to acknowledge that they are feeling well and that they have not knowingly been in contact with anyone who is symptomatic or has tested positive for COVID-19. The self-check app will provide users with a “green light” that they may be asked to show when entering campus and will alert them to stay at home when a “red light” appears. More information on this app and how to download it will be available soon.
• If infection is suspected, diagnostic testing of students will continue to be conducted by Barnard’s Primary Health Care Services as part of their comprehensive pandemic-related care.
• Barnard will provide all testing for both initial and surveillance tests at no cost to students, faculty, or staff.
• The results of our community testing will be made available to the Barnard Community on a weekly basis, including aggregate information on the number of tests and the percentage of positive test results. 

PCR Testing: The testing protocols are built around polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which have been referred to as the “gold standard” of testing. Our entry and surveillance tests are an anterior nasal collection, which uses a short, Q-tip-like swab to collect a sample just above the nostrils. Tests results will be provided by a third-party laboratory. There will be no cost to faculty, students, or staff for testing done on Barnard’s campus.

More details about what members of the Barnard community can expect when they get tested will be shared later.