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Mark Parisi, director of counseling and health services, sent the following weekly COVID-19 update to students today (April 30, 2021).

Dear Students,

This will be my last COVID-19 update email for this academic year. I want to take this opportunity to once again thank you all for your diligence in following our safety guidelines. I know it was not an easy task as they were limiting and also changed throughout the year based on guidance from our governing public health agencies. It has been a challenging year for all of us, and we all have been impacted by the pandemic in different ways, but it was through your commitment to the safety of our campus and local community that we were able to maximize your campus experience.

Please be safe and continue to take care of yourselves and your communities as your semester ends, and you head toward what hopefully will be an enjoyable and restful summer.

Zero students and one employee reported previous positive COVID-19 test results or tested positive this week, bringing our total of cases for the spring semester to 157. We currently have two cases that are considered active. Please note that the semester total includes test results from some time ago that have been self-reported since the start of the semester. They are not always recent or active cases. As a reminder, you can find the tally of positive COVID-19 cases on campus by viewing our COVID-19 Dashboard. It will be updated as new cases are reported.

Commencement: As a reminder, to be allowed admittance to the Times Union Center, all commencement attendees must provide one of the following three things:

A negative COVID-19 test result (PCR test within 72 hours of the day of the ceremony or a rapid antigen test within 6 hours of the start time of the ceremony)

OR

Proof of completed COVID-19 vaccination (full series completed at least 14 days prior to the ceremony)

OR

Proof of full recovery from laboratory documented COVID-19 illness (within the last 3 months)

The College is offering free PCR testing for graduates, their guests, and College employees attending the ceremony through Quadrant Biosciences on Wednesday, May 5, from 7 a.m. until noon in the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium. Being tested on this date means you will have results in time to attend either the May 7 or May 8 ceremonies. You do not have to select a specific appointment time, but please be sure to preregister for a test.

Please see the commencement webpage for more details about the requirements for admittance and testing options.

The vaccine: We encourage all students to get the vaccine. Keep in mind the following:

• If you are 16 years of age or older, you are able to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, so be sure to check which vaccine the site is providing.
• If you are 18 years of age or older, you can receive the Moderna.
• The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are a two-dose vaccine and you will be required to return to the same vaccination center within the timeframe specified by that center to receive the second dose.
• Out-of-state students are able to be vaccinated in New York. They just have to show their college ID to show they are students here. Just be mindful of the time necessary between the two doses for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and plan accordingly so you are able to receive both doses before leaving New York for home or are able to return for it.

Student event guidelines: EventClear will be used for indoor events that will host 40 or more attendees. Most outdoor events and smaller indoor events will not have to follow this procedure.

To attend indoor events with 40 or more attendees, you must show:

• Proof of a completed vaccine series with the last dose occurring at least 14 days prior to the event
OR
• Results of a negative PCR COVID test taken within 72 hours of the event or a rapid antigen test taken within 6 hours of the event.

If you are planning to provide proof of vaccination (your vaccine card) or off-campus test results, that documentation must be emailed to eventclear@strose.edu no later than 4 p.m. on the day of the event. If you sign up for on-campus testing in preparation for the event, it is taken care of for you. You can read more details about testing availability and event details on the Student Development area of the website.

Reporting positive COVID-19 results: Please remember, we are asking all students who seek off-campus COVID-19 testing and receive a POSITIVE result to email your test result to covidresults@strose.edu.

Reporting possible exposure: Please remember if you have been exposed to anyone that has tested positive for COVID-19 or you suspect you may have been exposed but are unsure, email covidresults@strose.edu to notify the College and discuss your particular situation so we can best advise you on how to proceed. Remember, this directive applies whether the positive case is affiliated with Saint Rose or not.

Daily Symptoms Tracker: Remember to complete the Symptoms Tracker form that appears on your To-Do list in the Navigate app every day.

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 or in-person appointment with the nurse practitioner. The last day the Health Center will be open for student appointments is May 7.

Treatment at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center:
Students may be experiencing emotional distress in response to the impact of the pandemic on their daily lives. 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. 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