Health Services update for October 29, 2021

Mark Parisi, director of counseling and health services, sent the following weekly Health Services update to students today (October 29, 2021):

Dear students,

This week, we had 2 employees and 4 students report a positive COVID-19 test, bringing the number of active cases to 7. The COVID-19 Dashboard is updated as new cases arise, and you can view it at any time.

Halloween safety: The NYC Health Department offers some guidance on how to enjoy all your favorite Halloween activities while remaining safe and limiting your exposure to COVID-19.

Still in need of the vaccine? Nearby Maria College will be holding a vaccine clinic on Friday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Marian Hall. They will be offering the Moderna vaccine. No appointment is necessary. Eligibility criteria is as follows:

• Any individual unvaccinated against COVID-19
• Any individual that needs to complete the primary series of the Moderna vaccine
• Any individual that meets eligibility criteria for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine six months after completion of the primary series.

Expansion of booster vaccine options: The CDC is now recommending the use of booster vaccine doses for all three FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States. Visit the NYS DOH website for further guidance and eligibility criteria.

Journaling support group for survivors of trauma: Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center is offering a journaling group on campus for survivors of trauma.  For more information and to register, please contact JoLynn Backes at 518.447.7100 or email at Jolynn.Backes@albanycountyny.gov.

Your COVID-19 vaccination card:  For those that are still waiting to receive their second vaccine dose or may be eligible for a booster vaccine dose, remember to bring your original vaccination card showing either your first dose or the completed two-dose series in order for the vaccination site to add the additional dose to your card.  If you have lost your card, you can request a replacement.  The CDC’s webpage on vaccination cards has helpful information on how to replace a lost card as well as other ways to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Get vaccinated and win stuff: If you have not been vaccinated yet or were recently, you can take advantage of a sweepstakes program New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has announced in partnership with New York’s professional football teams.

Reporting positive COVID test results: Please remember if you are tested for COVID-19 off campus, you need to report POSITIVE test results to covidresults@strose.edu.

Mandatory testing: Students who are not fully vaccinated – you are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after your second dose of the vaccine ­– regardless of exemption status are required to participate in mandatory testing. You will be notified each week to sign up for testing the following week. If you have not provided documentation of your full vaccination status and are not seeking an exemption, you will have a hold placed on your account preventing you from registering for Spring 2022 classes until we receive that information.

If you desire testing for COVID-19: COVID-19 testing is available through Health Services, and you should call 518.454.5244 or email healthservices@strose.edu.

Required documentation: Please remember to send your vaccine card and your test results to covidresults@strose.edu. If you still need to find a vaccination site, here are the local options available.

COVID Emotional Support Hotline: The New York State Department of Health offers a COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 844.863.9314.

COVID Dashboard: 2 students and 1 employee have reported positive COVID-19 test results this week, and we currently have 3 cases that are considered active. 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.

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.

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 Health Center will be open for student appointments starting Monday, August 30.

Treatment at the Counseling 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. Students can speak with a counselor through a phone session, Zoom session, or in-person session. The Counseling Center is located on the third floor of Saint Joseph Hall.

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 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