Notice

April 7, 2021 10:00am

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.

Three members of the NYFA community have tested positive for COVID-19. These individuals sought off-campus testing when experiencing mild symptoms, as per our symptom testing protocol. These individuals had close contact with 5 members of the NYFA community and all 5 individuals have been contacted and instructed to self-quarantine. The rooms occupied by the individuals who tested positive have been deep cleaned and a number of classes have transitioned to remote learning to protect the community from virus spread.

The three individuals who tested positive have been instructed to self-isolate. All are experiencing only mild symptoms and we hope for them all a swift and complete recovery.

One of the individuals who tested positive lives in the EHS residence facility. Of the five community members identified above as close contacts to the individuals with confirmed COVID-19, two live in the EHS residence facility. Both of these individuals have been instructed to self-quarantine. EHS has been notified and the facility managers are taking the appropriate actions to prevent the spread of illness within the EHS community. For questions, please contact the NYFA Housing Coordinator, Linda Gilbert via email (linda.gilbert@nyfa.edu).

The incidence rates of new cases of COVID-19 are increasing in New York City and New York State. With the rising infection rates in the NYC region and 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 (keeping a 6 ft/2m distance from others);
• 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.
 

GETTING VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19

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

Large scale clinical studies have conclusively determined that all of the vaccines approved for use in the United States prevent most people from developing severe illness. COVID-19 vaccinations are also an important tool in ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of yesterday, anyone age 16 and older is eligible to be vaccinated.

• To find out 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.

Please consult the CDC for updated and detailed information regarding all we presently know about the vaccines and what we hope to learn from ongoing research.

It is not mandatory that you get vaccinated against COVID-19. It is also not mandatory that you share with NYFA your vaccination card. However, having records of those community members who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will allow NYFA to implement best practice guidelines as they relate to contact tracing, testing, and quarantine protocols for individuals vaccinated against COVID-19.

If and when you receive all required doses of the Pfizer/BioTech, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson vaccines, please consider sending a scan or photo of your vaccination card to your campus COVID-19 Team Administrator via email to covidteamny@nyfa.edu. You may send your vaccination card with your date of birth obscured, if it is your wish to do so.

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!

With gratitude and appreciation,
NYFA NY COVID-19 Response Team