Staff and Faculty Guidance

 VACCINATION

• Employees are required to be “fully vaccinated,” which means you have the initial two dose vaccine series and a booster unless you have an approved exemption for medical or religious reasons. 
• Those over 50 years old who have not received a second booster should consult with your physician about whether to do so now or to wait for the new vaccine expected in September.
• When a new vaccine/booster is offered during the Fall 2022 semester, the College will partner with Hartford HealthCare and/or Community Health Center to offer vaccine clinics on campus.

 TESTING

• The College will not be running a PCR testing program for asymptomatic students and employees. 
• Rapid antigen tests for symptomatic testing will be available for employees at Human Resources. These tests are only to be used by employees for symptomatic testing and not intended to be given to family members, for travel, or other personal reasons. 
• At the start of the semester, employees may go to Human Resources to pick up a test kit with two tests that they can use during the Fall semester.

 MASKS

• Masking indoors is optional on campus except in the following locations/circumstances:
• Masks are required in Warnshuis waiting area for Student Health Services and Student Counseling Services and in Student Health Services exam rooms.
• Masks are required in campus spaces where signage notes that masking is still expected. You may communicate to people entering your room or workspace that you would like them to wear a mask by posting this sign.
• Masks are optional in classrooms unless the class is polled and it is determined that masks will be expected to be worn with the particular class group.
• Masks are optional in meetings unless the meeting facilitator or group determines that masks will be expected to be worn in the meeting space.  
• Masks are required if symptomatic with COVID-19 or other upper respiratory infection symptoms, within ten days of a COVID-19 positive test, or a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
• People’s circumstances are different, and therefore, we will make different choices in a variety of settings on whether we wear masks. As a result, it is important that our campus remain mask-friendly, as many individuals may choose to wear masks in spaces where they are not required or they may ask you to wear a mask. Please be courteous and respectful with regard to the needs and choices of others about masking. Everyone on campus is expected to carry a mask and be prepared to wear it:
• Upon entering a space where masking is required or
• Upon the request of another member of the community.
• KN95 masks are available in Student Health Services, Office of Student Life (Cro 218), Human Resources, Dean of the Faculty Office, Unity House, Harris Dining Hall and Shain Library Circulation Desk. 

 EMPLOYEES WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

• If an employee tests positive with COVID-19 from a rapid antigen test or other off-campus diagnosis, you must notify the College. Employees should email covidhr@conncoll.edu. Employees will receive instructions from a member of the Human Resources staff. 
• Employees can pick up an isolation kit (containing KN95 masks and rapid tests) from Human Resources.
• The recovery period can be between five and ten days (Day 0 is the day the COVID-19 test was taken). A single negative test between Day 5 and Day 10 will enable you to return to work. Please send a picture of your negative test result to covidhr@conncoll.edu. Once you submit the picture you can return to work–you do not need to wait for a response. If you complete isolation before ten days, you should continue to take precautions (e.g. wear a well-fitting mask around other people) until Day 10.  
• The College will not be facilitating a contact tracing process. It is recommended that you notify people who you identify as being a close contact. A person is considered a close contact if they have been within six feet of you for 15 minutes or more during what is considered the infectious period, which is 48 hours prior to positive diagnosis or onset of symptoms.
• During the pandemic, we put in place a number of temporary measures such as surveillance testing and COVID leave. As we begin a new academic year, we have been evaluating and adjusting our practices and made the decision this summer to eliminate COVID leave. This is consistent with our desire to work towards returning to a more normal work environment. Sick leave is still available should you test positive or identify as a close contact of someone who has tested positive. 

 CLOSE CONTACTS

• You may hear directly from a person with COVID-19 that they tested positive and that you are a close contact. 

• Close contacts are expected to consistently wear a mask and should watch symptoms for 10 days from their last close contact with the positive person.

• Close contacts should test with a rapid antigen test on Day 5 from their last contact with the positive person and should test if they begin to experience symptoms.