NYFA Respiratory Illness Protocols and Guidance
The NYFA Respiratory Illness Protocols noted below are reviewed and revised regularly to align with current guidance from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the American College Health Association (ACHA), and state and local public health departments.
Vaccinations
Getting immunized is a core protective strategy for minimizing the health risks associated with respiratory viruses. NYFA strongly encourages students and employees to stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations and to get vaccinated annually against influenza (flu). NYFA students and employees are advised to consult Immunizations for Respiratory Viruses Prevention for guidance.
To access a vaccine, visit https://www.vaccines.gov.
Feeling Sick?
NYFA community members who are experiencing symptoms and/or tested positive for COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to follow the CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance.
NYFA strongly encourages all NYFA community members to stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you are experiencing respiratory symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, cough, runny nose, and headaches, among others.
NYFA community members may engage in normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
- Their symptoms are better overall AND
- They have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
NYFA community members who enter campus when recovering from respiratory viruses are strongly encouraged to take precautions to minimize the spread of illness to others, as recommended by the CDC. These core precautions include wearing a well-fitted N95/KN94 mask or mask of comparable quality for FIVE days, frequent and thorough hand washing, physical distancing, and testing.
Masks
NYFA supports anyone who wishes to wear a mask at any time, in any environment, and for any reason.
NYFA strongly advises individuals who test positive for COVID-19 AND individuals who are recovering from all other respiratory illnesses to wear well-fitted N95 or KN95 masks, or masks of comparable quality, for FIVE (5) days following the day of symptom onset (or if they were asymptomatic, five (5) days following the day they tested positive).
Hence all NYFA community members who are recovering from illness and attending classes or NYFA-related activities, indoors and outdoors, are expected to wear well-fitted, high-quality masks during their infectious periods.
Testing
NYFA strongly encourages students/employees who are feeling sick to test for COVID-19 and to follow CDC Testing Guidance.
Disinfection and Ventilation
Classrooms and bathrooms are disinfected regularly. Hand sanitizer is available on all floors. NYFA facilities are ventilated using the best fan/filtration systems needed to reduce risk of virus spread in indoor environments.
Monitoring and Preventing Virus Spread
NYFA students and employees are personally responsible for honoring the NYFA Respiratory Illness Protocol and protecting themselves and others from getting sick. NYFA encourages all to observe the CDC’s recommendations for Personal Hygiene and, if testing positive for COVID-19, to notify their close contacts of exposure to COVID-19.