Notice

March 26, 2021 1:00pm

Dear NYFA NY Community,

As part of keeping our community informed of the incidence of COVID-19 at the NY Campus, we send you this notification.

Two members of the NYFA community have tested positive for COVID-19. One individual had no symptoms and received a positive test result after participating in the NYFA On-Campus Surveillance Testing Program. Another individual received a positive test result, having pursued off-campus testing in response to experiencing one or more COVID-19 related symptoms. The first individual had close or proximate contact with 7 members of the NYFA community. The second individual had close or proximate contact with two individuals of the NYFA community, both of whom were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Per CDC guidelines, individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to self-quarantine after exposure to a person with confirmed COVID-19.

The seven contacts of the asymptomatic individual who tested positive as a participant in on-campus surveillance program have been notified and all contacts are presently observing self-quarantine guidelines. The rooms occupied by the individuals who tested positive have been deep cleaned and will remain locked for 24 hours to prohibit entry. A number of classes have transitioned to remote learning to protect the community from virus spread.

The individuals who tested positive have been instructed to self-isolate. Neither resides in the EHS facility.

The incidence rates of new cases of COVID-19 remain relatively low in New York City and New York State. However, given the concern for the B.1.1.7 variant and its confirmed high rate of transmissibility, please remain vigilant by: strictly following personal hygiene guidelines; practicing physical distancing; wearing masks when venturing outside your homes; and staying home when you are sick. In abiding by these practices, you will limit your exposure to the virus and you will be doing all you can to stay healthy and protect the safety of our community.

To further protect your health and safety, please consider getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as you are eligible to do so.

As of Wednesday, March 23 anyone age 50 and older is eligible to be vaccinated. Also eligible are those individuals 16+ years of age who are vulnerable to severe illness. Vulnerable individuals will be asked to present proof of their comorbidity (cancer, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary diseases, intellectual and developmental disabilities, heart conditions, immunocompromised states, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease or thalassemia, Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, neurologic conditions, liver disease).

• To find out if you are eligible to be vaccinated, where to get a vaccination and what you might need to prove eligibility, visit the NYS DOH or visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
• Individuals who live or work in NY and eligible to receive a vaccine can also visit the NYC DOH site to schedule their vaccination appointment.

For more tips on staying healthy and for guidance on how to access care should you become ill, please visit the NYFA Student Hub.

For ongoing updates of the incidence of illness on the NY NYFA Campus, please consult the NY Campus Dashboard.

Also, please report positive COVID-19 test results to:

Faculty and Staff: Domingo Morales, Associate Director of Human Resources, Domingo.morales@nyfa.edu

Students: Sandra Schein, Director of Student Health and Wellness, Sandra.schein@nyfa.edu

We thank you and applaud you for your cooperation!

NYFA COVID-19 Response Team