Skip to Main Content

Health Services COVID-19 update for October 23

October 23, 2020  ·  2020

Mark Parisi, director of counseling and health services, provided his weekly COVID-19 update today (October 23, 2020).

Dear Students,

At the time of my writing this message to you, we have no new positive COVID-19 cases to report this week. As a reminder, you can find a current tally of positive COVID-19 cases on campus by viewing our COVID-19 Dashboard. It will be updated as new cases are reported.

The COVID-19 rapid testing clinic held on-campus on Saturday, October 17, was a big success with 148 people tested and 0 positive cases identified. There are no current plans for the DOH to run another clinic on our campus. Combined with the testing held last Thursday at UAlbany’s Alumni Quad Dining Hall, 218 people were tested with 0 positive cases.

For those who wished to be tested but were unable to get an appointment for the clinics held last week, please email Jen Richardson at richardj@strose.edu, and she will add you to a list for future testing by the College. The College is conducting sample testing of our population, and we will serve as many of you as we can in the coming weeks. If you email, you will likely be tested the following week, so please indicate in your message which day at 1 p.m. works best for your schedule.

Thanks to our recently acquired COVID-19 testing machine, we are now able to test symptomatic students any time during our regular Health Services operating hours (not just during our 1 p.m. surveillance testing time). You simply need to call, and you will be provided with a telehealth appointment and a follow-up testing appointment.

Thank you for all the efforts you’re making to keep the College’s rates low. Continue to take COVID-19 precautions by wearing a mask, social distancing, socializing in small groups, and staying home if you are sick. Also, note the section below on our final on-campus flu shot clinic being held next Wednesday and consider getting immunized.

The CDC has provided guidance on how to have a happy Halloween and stay healthy and safe during the pandemic.

Flu shot clinic: We are entering the influenza season, so you may have symptoms of illness that are not COVID-19. We have partnered with the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to offer a flu shot clinic in order to meet the immunization needs of students. The last flu shot clinic for students will be held next Wednesday, October 28. The clinic will be held by appointment only, in the auditorium of Saint Joseph Hall, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You should bring your health insurance card to the flu shot clinic, and if the shot isn’t covered by your insurance, you will be charged $42.99. Shots can also be obtained at local pharmacies and through Albany County.

Here is information on how to schedule an appointment with location and times:

To sign up

Fully complete the Immunization Questionnaire found at https://redcap02.acphs.edu/surveys/?s=WL97X43AAF by 2 p.m. Tuesday in order to provide enough time for processing.

You will be redirected to the appointment scheduler to reserve an appointment time upon completion of your survey.

Important reminders

  • Please be sure that all COVID-19 requirements have been completed. If you have not already done so, complete the COVID-19 requirements before scheduling an appointment at the flu shot clinic. Do not come to the flu shot clinic if you are sick.
  • Please do not bring anyone to your appointment.
  • Please be sure to wear clothing that will allow for access to the injection site and appropriate facial covering to your appointment.
  • Feel free to contact The Collaboratory at 518.487.4117 ext 103 or College Parkside Pharmacy at 518.694.8522 with any questions you have regarding your immunization. You can also email Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at FluClinic@acphs.edu with any questions or concerns.

Daily Symptoms Tracker: Remember to complete the Symptoms Tracker form that appears on your To-Do list in the Navigate app every day. All students must complete the form, whether they will be on campus or not for the day. This includes weekends, too. Student Development staff will reach out each day to students who do not complete the form.

Testing for COVID-19: If you are having COVID-19 testing done, be sure to not drink or eat anything a half hour before your testing appointment. COVID-19 testing is available through Health Services, and you should call 518.454.5244 or email healthservices@strose.edu if you are seeking testing.

Treatment at Health Services: For any non-urgent medical issue, students can call 518.454.5244 or email healthservices@strose.edu for assistance, and their cases will be triaged by our LPN or nurse practitioners. Based on the presenting concerns, the triage outcome may lead to a telehealth appointment with the nurse practitioner.

Treatment at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center: Students may be experiencing emotional distress in response to the impact of the pandemic on our daily lives in addition to simply adjusting to college life again. Please call our center at 518.454.5200 or email us at counseling@strose.edu to speak with a counselor through a phone or Zoom session.

More COVID-19 information: You can find the most current COVID-19 information on the CDC’s COVID-19 webpage. In addition, you can always call the New York State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Hotline at 888.364.3065 and ask any question you have regarding COVID-19.

You can view COVID-19 data for the Capital Region (and by county) on the New York State Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard.

New York State has put out a new COVID-19 contact tracing app that you can download to your phone. This app will be used to help notify you if you have been in close contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19.

As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please contact the College’s Health Services at 518.454.5244 or healthservices@strose.edu.

Sincerely,

Mark Parisi
Director of Counseling and Health Services