COVID-19 Updates

Westchester Community College’s COVID-19 plans were developed with recommendations from federal, state, and county health professionals to keep the community safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. As the situation concerning the pandemic and the vaccine continue to be fluid, note that our plan will remain subject to change due to new information and updated guidance and/or direction from the State of New York and the Governor’s Office.

March 8, 2024 Announcement

The CDC has officially updated their COVID-19 isolation guidance and have aligned protocol to reflect those for other respiratory illnesses. In response, SUNY, the NYS Department of Health (DOH) and the Westchester County DOH have revised their guidelines for when individuals should stay home and when to go back to normal activities after respiratory illnesses.  Respiratory illnesses include but are not limited to COVID-19, RSV and influenza.  The Health Advisory released by NYSDOH on 3/7/24 states the following:

• Individuals should stay home and away from others, including people they live with who are not sick, if they have respiratory virus symptoms. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose and headache.
• Individuals can go back to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both the following are true:
• Symptoms are getting better overall, and
• They no longer have a fever without the use of fever reducing medication.
• When going back to normal activities, individuals should take added precautions over the next 5 days, including taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks and physical distancing.
• If individuals redevelop a fever or start to feel worse, they should stay home and away from others again and follow the same criteria for returning to normal activities.
• These guidelines apply to non-healthcare settings.

What does this mean for our campus community?

• WCC will continue to align our protocols in accordance with the CDC guidelines. As we have done pre-, during and post-COVID we continue to:
• Strongly recommend that members of our campus community stay home if they feel unwell, especially if they are experiencing symptoms as described above.
• Encourage all to practice measures to reduce the spread of illnesses such as handwashing, mask wearing when indicated, covering mouths and noses with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and wiping down surfaces.
• Provide UV light technology which was installed in all buildings during the COVID pandemic.
• Provide masks (Security) and at-home COVID test kits (Health Services) – while supplies last.
• Encourage everyone to stay updated on all vaccines.
• Programs that require internships in healthcare settings will need to follow the protocols set forth by those facilities.
• Students should report any illnesses resulting in the need to miss classes directly to their professors. They can reach out to Health Services (Healthoffice@sunywcc.edu; 914-606-6610) for questions or guidance involving extended illnesses.
• Employees are no longer required to contact HR if they test positive for COVID-19; however, employees should contact Human Resources at: Benefitsinfo@sunywcc.edu for questions regarding sick time. COVID-19 paid sick leave for employees is written into state law, which SUNY is required to follow. Legislation that would repeal this provision is included in the NYS proposed budget as outlined by Governor Hochul (due to sunset 7/31/24).

Thank you to all of you for your commitment to keeping our campus community healthy and safe.

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html

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STUDENT VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

April 14, 2023

Effective Summer 2023, per an updated policy and guidance from SUNY, the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be required to enroll in in-person classes or access in-person campus services or facilities. SUNY Westchester Community College still strongly encourages students to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 as well as vaccinations against influenza and monkeypox.

Students enrolled in any program or course or who are participating in a clinical or internship held at a third-party location must continue to comply with all health and safety guidelines, including any vaccination or testing protocols that are in place at the third-party location. Certain employees, students, and volunteers at healthcare facilities, including SUNY healthcare facilities and hospitals, may be subject to mandatory COVID19 vaccination pursuant to relevant regulations and policies.