As we start our third fall semester during a pandemic, it is remarkable that the more we learn about Covid, the less we know.

Epidemiologists had hoped that we’d reach herd immunity through prior infection and vaccinations, but Omicron variants are able to escape prior immunity. For much of the pandemic, infection rates came in waves. This past summer the rate of infection has been consistently high, although the number of cases has dropped the past few weeks. With so many active Covid cases worldwide, it’s very likely that we will see new variants, but there’s no way to predict what these variants will look like.

In short it is impossible to predict what the next academic year will bring, but here’s what you need to know going into the fall. The SCCC Covid policies are based on SUNY guidelines and the latest guidance from the CDC. Please be sure that you read all college briefs to keep abreast of any changes in the policy.

• Students still need to be fully vaccinated to attend on-campus classes. Students will not be required to get booster shots. Remote students who do not show proof of vaccination or receive a medical exemption are allowed to come to campus on a limited basis.
• On-campus students who receive a medical or religious exemption will need to show proof of a negative Covid test every two weeks. There’s no longer a Covid testing requirement for unvaccinated employees, and the college will no longer provide Covid testing on campus. Home test kits will be available from HR, and the FA is trying to obtain more home test kits as well.
• Masks are no longer required on campus. Please be respectful of an individual’s decision to wear or not wear a mask.
• You will no longer be required to quarantine if you have had close contact with someone who has been exposed to Covid. You are required to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact.
• If you are experiencing Covid symptoms, stay at home and arrange for a Covid test.
• If you test positive, you are required to isolate from the date of your first symptoms or the date you tested positive if you were asymptomatic. You may return to work after five days if have not had a fever for at least 24 hours and your symptoms have resolved or have improved. You will be required to wear a tight-fitting mask for an additional five days.
• Faculty are eligible for Covid leave. To receive this leave, you must provide Human Resources positive test results from a medical facility, pharmacy or testing center. Contact Human Resources for further instructions: 631-451-4207.
• Students are encouraged to contact their professors if they test positive for Covid to let them know that they are missing class. However, they are not required to report positive test results to the college, and you will not be contacted if a student tests positive in your class.

We are at a point in the pandemic where the only sure way to know that you’ve been exposed to Covid is if the infected person contacts you. While people who have been vaccinated and boosted are less likely to transmit Covid, it’s still possible to catch Covid from a vaccinated person. The good news is that Covid rates are slowly starting to decline, but there’s no guarantee this trend will continue.

Please consider talking to your healthcare provider if you are not vaccinated and/or boosted. While masks are not mandatory, you should wear one if it makes you more comfortable to be on campus.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me: kevinmc@fascc.org.