COVID-19 Guidelines, Fall 2022

Medaille University remains committed to protecting the health and safety of our Medaille community. We are again offering a full schedule of in-person classes. We believe that the best educational experience is achieved by in-person instruction, in-person interaction among students, faculty, and staff; and a residential campus that promotes student engagement in co-curricular and extra-curricular programs and athletics. Our guidelines prioritize the in-person campus experience that our students value. Please carefully read over the important changes to our COVID protocols.

Guidelines are subject to change at any time.

Updates as of August 11, 2022.

• Masks: Students, faculty, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are not required to wear masks in most settings. This is optional in most areas and at each individual’s discretion.  The CDC does recommend individuals who are unvaccinated, those at high risk of severe disease, those with a household member at high risk for severe disease wear a mask when indoors or crowded places.  They also recommend wearing a mask indoors when community transmission levels are increased.  Please respect those who wish to wear a mask.  Masks still need to be worn when entering the Wellness Center.
  • Individuals who are not up to date on their vaccination or are immunosuppressed are encouraged to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask in indoor settings or crowded outdoor areas.
  • An individual who has tested positive will need to wear a mask on campus when they are released from isolation, in most cases on day 6 through 10.
  • Anyone who has had close contact with a positive person will need to wear a mask on campus for a specified period of time.  See quarantine and isolation guidelines below for further details.
• Vaccinations and boosters: Vaccinations and boosters are not mandatory and up to each individual’s discretion. It is highly recommended that all eligible individuals get fully vaccinated and up to date on boosters. Visitors to the residence hall will not be required to show proof of vaccination.
  • When am I eligible for a booster?  A COVID booster (which is typically half the dose of the primary series) is recommended for everyone 5 years of age and older.  A single booster is recommended 5 months after the last dose in the series of Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson. Adults ages 50 and older and individuals ages 12 and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive a 2nd booster 4 months after receiving the 1st booster. Visit the CDC Website to help you calculate when you are eligible to receive a booster.
  • For help scheduling a primary vaccine series or booster, call the Wellness Center (716) 880-2112 or check online to find a vaccine clinic in your area.  
  • For students, if you have received your initial COVID vaccinations, please upload COVID vaccination records here.
  • For students, If you have received your COVID booster/s, please upload COVID booster/s records here.
  • Students enrolled in any program or course, or who are participating in a clinical or internship at an off-campus location, must comply with all health and safety guidelines in place at the location, including any vaccination or testing protocols.
• Surveillance Testing: Medaille will not be requiring surveillance testing prior to moving into the residence hall for the summer and fall term. However, you may choose to do so prior to moving in. If you are sick prior to moving in, please obtain a test prior to moving into the residence hall and notify the Wellness Center (716) 880-2112. Intercollegiate athletics may have different testing requirements. The student should check with their coach or the athletic trainers.
• Reporting Symptoms: Students, faculty & staff, monitor your health and please stay home if you are sick. Students should report symptoms of COVID to the Wellness Center as soon as possible (716) 880-2112. Students and employees of the University are to report COVID symptoms. This reporting link is also found in the top banner of Medaille360.
• COVID-19 Testing: Students and employees of the University are encouraged to obtain home testing kits, which are now widely available, and use them as needed. Most insurances will pay for a certain number of at home COVID tests. Check with your insurance provider. Free at-home COVID tests are also available and may be ordered here.
  • Please note, that any positive home test will need to be verified with a PCR test. Students may follow-up a positive home test with a Medaille administered test.  When uploading a positive home test, please write your name and date of the test, together with a picture of the positive home test and upload it to the portal.
  • The Wellness Center at Medaille will continue to offer rapid testing to all registered Medaille students, free of charge. PCR tests are also available and will be billed through Quest Lab through the student’s health insurance.
  • Updated guidelines from the CDC on reducing the chance of false negative on at-home tests: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/home-covid-19-antigen-tests-take-steps-reduce-your-risk-false-negative-fda-safety-communication
•  Close Contact:

  CDC announced new guidelines for quarantine August 11, 2022  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/if-you-were-exposed.html

  Effective immediately, individuals who have been exposed, regardless of vaccination status are no longer required to quarantine. 

  For close contact, individuals should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days post-exposure, monitor for symptoms, and get tested on day 6. If symptoms develop, stay home and get tested as soon as possible. Students should notify the Wellness Center if they become sick or test positive. Employees should notify HR.

• Isolation: Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to follow the CDC’s guidance for isolation. Students are required to notify the Wellness Center as soon as possible (716) 880-2112 and are required to complete the appropriate reporting using the links found at the top of their Medaille360. A nurse will contact the student upon notification and the student will receive instructions and approval for remote learning if required. The student will be given a return to campus date if required to quarantine or isolate. Medaille has designated campus housing for students who live on campus and are unable to return home should they need to isolate. Employees who test positive are also required to submit their positive test notification using the links below and notify Human Resources.
  • All persons who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate for a period of 5 full days, with day zero being the first day they test positive. 
  • Discontinuing Isolation: Provided the person who has tested positive has remained fever free without the use of medication for 24 hours, they may end isolation after 5 full days.  The individual will be required to wear a mask around others for an additional 5 days.  Students and their faculty will receive a letter via e-mail indicating the date the student is cleared to return to campus.
  • Report a COVID-19 positive test
  • CDC guidance for quarantine and isolation

FAQs

Do I have to test before I move into campus?
No, Medaille University is not requiring COVID-19 testing before moving into the residence hall.  Individuals can still test if they wish, prior to moving in. Please get tested if you are feeling sick prior to moving in and notify the Wellness Center as soon as possible before arriving to campus (716) 880-2112.

Are vaccines required for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors of Medaille?
No, they are not required, but highly recommended. Getting fully vaccinated and up to date on boosters is the best way to protect yourself from severe COVID-related illness and hospitalization.

When am I eligible to receive a booster vaccine? 
It is recommended that anyone over the age of 5 receive a booster dose.  You are eligible 5 months after your last dose of Pfizer or Moderna or 2 months after receiving the single Johnson & Johnson.  If you are age 50 and older or if you are age 12 or over and are moderately to severely immunocompromised, a 2nd booster dose is recommended 4 months after receiving your first booster.

Do I have to wear a mask on campus? 
Mask wearing on campus is optional in most places, with the exception of the Wellness Center.  Masks will be required for those returning from quarantine and isolation or those who have had close contact. 

• See guidance above. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask on campus is welcome to do so. With that said, as the BA.5 variant continues to spread, wearing a mask to protect yourself and others when indoors is highly recommended.

What should I do if I am sick? 
If you are sick, please stay home. If you are a student, contact the Wellness Center as soon as possible (716) 880-2112.  Employees should contact their immediate supervisor. Students and employees of Medaille, if you are having COVID symptoms please complete the COVID symptoms report, also found at the top of Medaille360.

• If you are severely ill or experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency care right away.  If you are on campus, call public safety for emergency assistance (716) 880-2911. Sister’s Hospital of Buffalo is located 5 minutes from campus and should be utilized for emergencies after regular business hours.

What if I test positive for COVID? 
Stay home and isolate. Students please notify the Wellness Center (716) 880-2112.  Employees please notify Human Resources (716) 880-2265. Report a positive COVID test here. 

Can I use an at-home test as proof of a positive result? 
Home tests are a great tool to use to help you identify quickly if you have COVID.  If you have tested positive on a home test, take a picture of the positive test together with your name and date and upload it to the COVID positive test report.  **All home tests will need to be verified with a PCR test.  Students can also get verified with a rapid test administered by the Medaille Wellness Center, free of charge.

What if I have been exposed to COVID-19? 
Students should contact the Wellness Center and complete the COVID-19 close contact notification form, also found on Medaille360 or at the bottom of medaille.edu. A nurse from the Wellness Center will advise you of next steps. Employees should contact Human Resources and complete the link. You should get a COVID test on or after day 5 of your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms.

How long do I have to isolate for if I am positive for COVID-19? 
In most cases, you will need to isolate for 5 days with day zero being the day you test positive. For example, if you test positive on the 20th of the month. You will need to be in isolation through the 25th and can come out of isolation the morning of the 26th.  You will need to wear a mask around others for an additional 5 days.

How long do I have to quarantine for if I am not up to date on my COVID-19 vaccine and boosters?
Per updated CDC guidance, individuals who have had close contact with someone who is positive, are no longer required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status. You will have to wear a mask on campus for 10 days after your last exposure to the positive person. You should get tested on day 6 following your exposure and monitor for symptoms for 10 days.

Do you provide COVID vaccines on campus?
Not currently, but we may be receiving COVID boosters and will notify the Medaille community if and when they become available. COVID vaccines and boosters are widely available in the community and at most pharmacies. Find a COVID vaccine or booster site.

What is the current COVID-19 situation? 
Unfortunately COVID-19 is still with us. The COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant BA.5 is the predominant strain as of July 25, 2022. Each new variant seems to get better at spreading from person to person. There is limited evidence at this time that the current sub-variants cause more severe symptoms or disease. The current levels of community transmission are low, but positive home tests aren’t being reported to the state, so this might not be an accurate picture. Visit the CDC website to track COVID-19 community levels. Medaille is located in Erie County of New York State.

Medaille University is continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation and in regular contact with the Erie County Department of Health for guidance and recommendations.  The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and getting severe COVID-19 related illness is to wear a mask around others and get fully vaccinated and boosted.  For questions or help, call the Medaille Wellness Center (716) 880-2112.