COVID-19 Update & New Testing Protocols for Vaccinated Students

Students who plan to attend any in-person classes must show proof they're fully vaccinated, as well as get tested every five weeks. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

As of Sept. 13 there are 62 active cases of COVID-19 within the campus community: one employee case and 61 student cases.

Fourteen students are isolating on campus, while the other 47 students and one employee are isolating off campus. Additionally, five students are quarantining on campus.

This comes three days after the Sept. 10 COVID-19 dashboard report where there were 64 active cases of COVID-19 in the campus community all amongst students, with 12 students isolating on campus, and 52 isolating off campus. Three students were quarantining on campus.

2,886 Covid test results have been processed since Aug 23. The school’s positivity rate is currently 2.6% while the Ulster County positivity rate is 5.8%. A decrease from the previously recorded schools positivity rate of 3.4% on Sept. 8.

89% of students and 77% of employees have provided proof of vaccination. This is not including students with fully remote schedules and no campus presence.

Surveillance testing will continue to be conducted from Monday to Friday to help identify any positive or “breakthrough” cases on campus.

Twenty new cases were reported between the Sept. 8 and Sept. 3 COVID-19 dashboard report, and seven new cases between the Sept. 8 and Sept. 10 report.

Additionally, beginning Sept. 7, all vaccinated students will be required to get tested every five weeks, this will be done by hall. This will be on top of the weekly testing of those who have not shown proof of vaccination. These mandatory and periodic tests will also be to identify any breakthrough cases in vaccinated people who are less likely to display any symptoms. 

This will allow 20% of the vaccinated population to be tested each week. 

The testing schedule goes as follows; Sept. 5 – 11: Ashokan, Capen, College/Shango; Sept. 12 – 18: Bliss, Bouton (Awosting), Esopus, Mohonk; Sept. 19 – 25: Gage, Ridgeview, Shawangunk; Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Lenape, Minnewaska, Scudder; Oct. 10 – 16: Ashokan, Capen, College/Shango; Oct. 17 – 23: Bliss, Bouton (Awosting), Esopus, Mohonk; Oct. 24 – 30: Gage, Ridgeview, Shawangunk; Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Lenape, Minnewaska, Scudder; Nov. 14 – 20: Ashokan, Capen, College/Shango; Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Bliss, Esopus, Mohonk; Dec. 5 – 11: Bouton (Awosting), Gage, Minnewaska, Ridgeview, Scudder, Shawangunk; Dec. 12 – 18: Lenape.

The testing schedule has been broken down into four categories: faculty and staff, on-campus students, off-campus students and athletics and Educational Opportunity Program testing. 

Vaccinated faculty and staff will be assigned for testing by bargaining unit. Vaccinated students who live on campus will be assigned for testing by residence hall, students off-campus will be assigned by major. Vaccinated student athletes and EOP members will be assigned for testing separately. 

Students who fall into more than one of these categories should test according to the following priority: Athletics, EOP, residence status. A student who is a member of EOP, who lives on campus and is also an athlete should test along with the athletic schedule.

The school reminds faculty and students that the once-every-five-weeks testing requirement is a minimum requirement, and vaccinated individuals are welcome to get tested as often as they would like. 

On-campus PCR testing will be provided on Monday-Friday through ENZO labs. Testing will be held in Awosting during the following hours: Monday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m, Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m, Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m, Thursday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m, Friday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

ENZO lab testing is by appointment only and must be scheduled a minimum of  24 hours in advance. 

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About Zoe Woolrich 58 Articles
Zoe Woolrich (she/her) is the Editor-in-Chief of The Oracle. Over the past five semesters she has served as Copy Editor, News Editor and Managing Editor. She is fourth-year media management major from New York City. You can contact her at woolricz1@newpaltz.edu.