New York Film Academy
September 2, 2021, 3:00pm

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 tested positive this week for COVID-19. One individual was present on campus during the infectious period. Both individuals were asymptomatic when their tests were administered and both individuals sought testing to comply with the NYFA pre-entry testing requirement for all students and employees. Both individuals are currently experiencing minor symptoms and both individuals have been instructed to Self-Isolate. The individuals identified as close contacts have been identified and informed of their possible exposure.

All close contacts of the two individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 were fully vaccinated, with the exception of one individual. The close contact who is unvaccinated was instructed to Self-Quarantine for 10 days. The close contacts who were vaccinated and hence, not required to Self-Quarantine, were instructed to seek RT-PCR testing 3-5 days after the last day of exposure, monitor symptoms, limit social activities, and wear masks whenever in public and indoors for 14 days after last day of exposure or until a negative test result is received.

One of the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 is a resident of the EHS residential facility. The on-campus rooms and the common areas of the EHS residential facility occupied by the individual who tested positive were thoroughly disinfected.


The COVID-19 Vaccination Status of the NYFA NY Campus

We are pleased to announce that 95% of the NY campus community is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

We remain hopeful that with the majority of our community vaccinated, and the established health and safety protocols defined in the COVID Safety Plan, we are minimizing the risk of illness spread within our community.

Yet we are navigating the unknown and hope must be balanced with caution. Months ago, as we anticipated returning to in-person instruction and convening as a vaccinated community, we had plans to relax many of our health and safety protocols. However, in response to the circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, and the emerging reports of breakthrough infections among the fully vaccinated, we have adjusted, and may continue to adjust, our safety protocols to best safeguard the health and well-being of the NYFA community.

A recent New York Times article summarizes the findings of research studies examining the risk of infection and illness among vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The research findings suggest the following:
  • The rate of infection in unvaccinated people is five times the rate of infection in vaccinated people.
  • The rate of hospitalization of vaccinated people diagnosed with COVID-19 is 29 times the rate of hospitalization of unvaccinated people diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Older vaccinated people were most vulnerable to serious illness after a breakthrough infection. The median age of vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 was 64 years. Among unvaccinated people who were hospitalized for COVID-19, the median age was 49.
  • The Delta variant appears to have increased the risk of breakthrough infections to vaccinated people. Prior to the emergence and dominance of the Delta variant, unvaccinated people were 10 times more likely to become infected than unvaccinated people. Presently, as noted above, unvaccinated people are five times more likely to get infected as vaccinated people.
  • Although it is possible for vaccinated people to become infected and transmit the illness to others, experts suspect that the risk of getting infected from a vaccinated person is relatively low.

Staying Healthy and Practicing Good Personal Hygiene On and Off Campus

Because of the present-day transmission rates in New York City, unvaccinated people are at a very high risk of infection. Vaccinated people are at less risk of infection. Even if you are fully vaccinated, you are at some risk of becoming infected, especially if you engage in high-risk behaviors.

High risk behaviors include: dining indoors at crowded, poorly ventilated bars and restaurants, especially when not everyone gathered is vaccinated; travel to and from destinations with high rates of infection; and attending large gatherings, outdoors or indoors, when you and others are not masked.

If you are vaccinated and if you are unvaccinated, please remain vigilant by: strictly following personal hygiene guidelines; practicing physical distancing; wearing masks when indoors; and staying home when you are sick.

By practicing caution and abiding by these health guidelines, 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.


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

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

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: covidteamny@nyfa.edu.


The course of this pandemic remains uncertain. We will continue to monitor the incidence rates of COVID-19 within our community and the region, we will continue to update our protocols in response to information provided by scientists and public health leaders, and we will continue to be guided in our decision-making by a focus on safety and health.

We thank you and applaud you for your cooperation.

Wishing you all a fulfilling and safe semester!

NYFA COVID-19 Response Team