New York Film Academy
September 13, 2022

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

We hope you are well and actively engaged in your work and studies.

Please know that beginning tomorrow, September 14, 2022, the wearing of masks is optional. The transmission of the Omicron B5 variant remains a concern. However, community levels for all counties of New York City are presently ranked LOW and the spread of illness within the NYFA New York campus community has also decreased in recent weeks.

We strongly encourage all members of our community to wear N95/KN95 masks or masks of comparable quality when on campus and when taking public transportation to and from campus. Yet the wearing of masks on campus or during NYFA related events off-campus (such as productions) is no longer required, regardless of vaccination status.

The requirement for individuals in quarantine and isolation to wear masks remains in effect:
  • Close contacts of those diagnosed with COVID-19 must wear well-fitted N95/KN95 masks for 10 full days after their last day of exposure to person (s) diagnosed with COVID-19, when on campus and at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Masks may be removed only to drink water.
  • Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and granted early release from their isolation period by the COVID-19 Team Administrator must wear well-fitted N95/KN95 masks for 10 full days after the first day they experienced symptoms (or if asymptomatic, 10 full days after the day they tested positive), when on campus and at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Masks may be removed only to drink water.
NYFA NY Campus COVID Response Team will reinstate the mask mandate if and when:
  • CDC Community Levels for one or more NYC counties rises to High levels of transmission and this ranking is sustained for two or more weeks OR
  • Incidence rates of COVID-19 within the campus community reaches 15 (2.5% of the community) active cases within 7 days.
If reinstated, the NYFA NY Campus COVID-19 Response Team will rescind a mask mandate when:
  • CDC Community Levels for all NYC counties are LOW and low levels are sustained for two or more weeks OR
  • Incidence rates of COVID-19 within our community declines to 5 active cases (1% of the community) of COVID-19 within a 7-day period and this level of transmission is sustained or declines for two or more weeks.

To stay updated on all NYFA COVID-19 health and safety protocols, please visit the COVID Safety Plan.

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

Please use the NYFA Symptom Tracker to report, with immediacy, COVID-19 related symptoms and exposure to person(s) diagnosed with COVID-19.

Please report positive COVID-19 test results to: covidteamny@nyfa.edu

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our campus safe and healthy!

NYFA NY COVID-19 Response Team