Health and Safety Guidelines

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The College is closely following expert national and international information regarding the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and is acting proactively to protect the health and safety of the community. Read more below and please note that these recommendations are subject to change. 

Updated Guidelines for Reporting, Quarantine, and Testing

If you have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19:

• You must quarantine for 10 full days. There is currently no test-out option from this quarantine.
• Report your close contact to Safety@mmm.edu and alert us to any changes in symptoms.
• A COVID-19 test is not required, but we urge you to get tested at a local testing site.
• Your building access will be deactivated for 10 days.
• Continue to monitor your symptoms and seek medical care if they worsen.
• You can end quarantine only if the original contact who tested positive on a rapid test has properly confirmed a false positive according to the steps below and as verified by MMC staff.

If you test positive on a COVID-19 rapid test, but have no symptoms:

• You must isolate for 10 days from when you receive your test results.
• Contact Safety@mmm.edu; contact tracing will be initiated. Your building access will be deactivated for 14 days so you can pass the daily COVID-screening. 
• If you believe the rapid test to be a false positive, you can obtain a PCR test within 48 hours of the rapid test.
  
  • If the PCR test comes back negative, you may exit quarantine. Email results to Safety@mmm.edu.
  • If the PCR test is positive, you are considered positive and must continue isolation. Email results to Safety@mmm.edu.

If you test positive on a COVID-19 test, and have symptoms:

• You must isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms AND for 24 hours from resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; other symptoms should also be improving.
• Contact Safety@mmm.edu; contact tracing will be initiated. Your building access will be deactivated for 14 days so you can pass the daily COVID-screening.
• You cannot claim a false positive. If you are symptomatic and your initial test result comes back positive, then you are considered positive and must continue isolation.

Please note:

• Testing is recommended for anyone who is symptomatic, has been exposed to COVID-19, or is identified through contact tracing.
• Testing is required if you qualify and elect to reduce the 14-day quarantine post-travel as outlined in NY State’s Travel Advisory. Note: Travelers from international locations must quarantine for 14 days; currently, there is no test-out option available for international travelers.

Faculty/staff will only be notified:

• If they are identified as a “close-contact” for a student/staff/faculty member.
• If the student has identified additional circumstances that warrant notification.

Faculty and staff will not be notified:

• If a student has been tested.
• The Health and Safety Committee, contact tracers, and MMC administrators will not release test results to student’s faculty unless permission is granted by the student.

Highlights: What You Need to Know

• Take the Pledge to Keep MMC Healthy: We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to join in our efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to take the Pledge to Keep MMC Healthy. We must all join in the mutual, continuous effort to keep our community safe and take responsibility for our own health and actions to protect ourselves and others.

• Complete the Daily Health Screening: Faculty, staff, and visitors will be required to complete a brief, three-question screening questionnaire before coming to campus each day, and students will be screened intermittently, per New York State directives.

• Wear a face covering – it’s required on campus.

• Maintain 6 feet of social distance from others whenever possible.
  
  

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. and can include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Runny nose or new nasal congestion
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• New loss of taste or smell

Wear a Mask

• Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear face coverings in common areas or situations where social distancing may be difficult to maintain, such as riding in elevators, entering/exiting classrooms, and in stairwells. Any time individuals come within 6 feet of another person who does not reside in the same residence (e.g. roommate or family member), acceptable face coverings must be worn.

• Read more about the CDC’s recommendations for face coverings here. The College will have a supply of face masks available at no cost for community members if needed.

• Please review CDC guidance on how to adequately use a mask. 

Social Distancing

• Limiting close face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Maintain 6 feet of physical distance between yourself and others whenever possible.

• Any time individuals come within 6 feet of another person who does not reside in the same residence (i.e., roommate or family member), acceptable face coverings must be worn. 

• MMC will follow industry-specific guidelines provided by the New York State Department of Health – and available on the New York Forward website – for operations of dining halls, research, office workspaces, gyms, transportation, retail stores, and other activities, as applicable.

Screening

• An electronic screening questionnaire will be used within Main Campus facilities and Residence Halls to help control the spread of COVID-19 within the MMC community by ensuring that those individuals who are or who may be sick do not enter campus. 

  • Student Screening Questionnaire
  • Faculty and Staff Screening Questionnaire
  • Guests and Visitors (Non-MMC) Screening Questionnaire

• MMC community members will be asked to complete the questionnaire before arriving to campus. Faculty, staff, and visitors will be required to complete the questionnaire daily and students will be asked to do so intermittently, per New York State directives.

• An individual who screens positive for COVID-19 exposure or symptoms must not come to campus and should self-isolate. 

• In the case of an individual testing positive, MMC will develop plans with local health departments to trace all contacts of the individual, in accordance with the New York State Contact Tracing Program. Confidentiality will be maintained as required by federal and state law and regulations.

Testing Recommendations

MMC recommends that all students, faculty, and staff be tested for COVID-19 in their home state in the 14 days prior to returning to campus or upon arrival. 

Testing will not be required; however, positive cases must be reported to safety@mmm.edu in accordance with MMC’s screening process.

If you go to a test site run by NYS, there is no charge for testing. For other test sites operated by local governments, private companies including pharmacies and medical practices, or not-for-profit organizations, you are advised to check with the testing site and your health insurer to confirm fees. Find a testing center near you here. 

Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection

MMC has adopted enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols in accordance with CDC guidance as well as state and local health departments. These protocols include consistent and regular cleaning of the entire campus with additional focus on high-traffic and/or high-risk areas. Additionally, the protocol addresses specific enhanced cleaning/disinfecting procedures, which will be employed to disinfect necessary areas if potential and/or confirmed COVID-19 cases arise on campus. The Facilities Department will maintain a log, which will indicate how each type of facility is cleaned, when, and by whom.

Cleaning Services

The cleaning teams have been specifically trained to provide cleaning services geared towards preventing the spread of COVID-19 and will be using cleaners approved by the EPA as effective for this purpose. Additionally, this procedure also integrates increased access for MMC Community members on campus to disinfecting wipes, so that shared spaces can be cleaned immediately after use.

• MMC will adhere to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health (DOH) and maintain logs that include the date, time, and scope of cleaning and disinfection. Additionally, MMC will identify cleaning and disinfection frequency for each facility type and assign responsibility.

• Hand hygiene stations will be available throughout the institution, including handwashing with soap, running warm water, and disposable paper towels, as well as an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not feasible.

• Regular cleaning and disinfection of facilities and restrooms will be conducted. Special attention will be given to high-risk areas used by many individuals and for frequently touched surfaces.

Deep Cleaning with Electrostatic Disinfection

The electrostatic disinfection ensures greater coverage than standard cleaning, especially in hard to reach areas, through the use of electrically charged disinfectant particles. This method adheres to all types of surfaces and covers areas efficiently and with less waste. The site is clean and disinfected with an additional focus on “high touch point” surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, desks, phones, etc. A full deep clean and disinfecting, along with the electrostatic spray gun and green botanical disinfectant solution, are one of the most effective methods against Covid-19. Our cleaners are using all EPA/CDC approved disinfectant products (solutions and wipes) to wipe down all surfaces.

UV Lighting

The College has installed UV-C lighting units in our three science labs and in various theatre and dance studios. These lights are installed directly into a traditional ceiling light fixture and use ultraviolet light to automatically and continually neutralize microorganisms in the air and on surfaces.

What To Do if You’re Sick

We all must work together to help us prevent the spread of the virus. If you do develop symptoms of COVID-19 or are exposed to someone who is ill, here is what you need to know as a member of the MMC community:

• If You Have Symptoms: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should not come to campus and you should practice self-quarantine until your symptoms resolve. Please contact your doctor (call first!) and report your symptoms to safety@mmm.edu immediately.
  • Students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will be directed to seek medical care and obtain a COVID-19 test. The Dow Zanghi Student Health provides medical and telehealth options for students free of charge.
• If You Have Been Exposed: If you have had close contact (within six feet of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you must report that you’ve had close contact to safety@mmm.edu. In collaboration with the Dow Zanghi Health Center, we will determine if you will need to quarantine, in accordance with CDC guidance, or if you can continue to engage on campus. 

• A Confirmed Case: Confirmed cases of COVID-19 will require isolation. The College has set aside isolation spaces for students living in the residence halls. Non-residential students, faculty, and staff will be required to isolate in their own homes. 

Isolation Protocol

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate and remain off-campus in accordance with guidance from the CDC and state and local health departments. MMC has identified isolation spaces within both residence halls, which will allow students who are living on campus to isolate on-site. MMC will support students who are isolating within the residence halls to ensure they have all necessary food, supplies, medications, and access to medical care. 

Contact Tracing and Campus Health Ambassadors

NYC Testing and Tracing Corps is leading the contact tracing efforts within the City. MMC anticipates a collaborative effort with this group to facilitate contact tracing for any confirmed cases within the MMC Community. However, to ensure that MMC is equipped to effectively and efficiently trace potential contacts of confirmed cases on campus, we are also training several Health Ambassadors to conduct tracing internally. 

Contingency Plans for Dealing with a Case on Campus

MMC has modified its existing contingency plan to address the potential for cases arising on campus and/or a rise in infection in NYC. Based on our experience in the spring and updated guidance from the CDC, NYS, and state and local health departments, MMC is updating its procedures for a rapid shut down of facilities and modification of operations. These procedures include the transition to remote operations/telework as required, integration with NYC DOHMH to facilitate contact tracing for confirmed cases, targeted COVID-19 cleaning/disinfection of impacted areas, and the dissemination of emergency communications to the community. 

Travel Policies and Quarantine Requirements

Per an Executive Order issued by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 25, 2020, a travel advisory is in place for travelers from many countries and states with significant rates of transmission for COVID-19. Anyone arriving in New York from one of the restricted locations will be required to observe a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

Effective November 4, 2020, individuals arriving to New York from one of the restricted locations will be allowed to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine by providing proof of two negative COVID-19 tests. The first test must be obtained within 3 days of departure from that state. The individual then must quarantine for 3 days upon arrival in New York. On the 4th day, a second COVID test must be obtained. If both tests come back negative, the individual is allowed to exit quarantine.

Students will be required to exercise the full 14-consecutive day quarantine if they do not obtain these two negative tests.

Please see New York State’s COVID-19 Travel Advisory webpage for more information, and please check the list of restricted states before you travel.

Read MMC’s Quarantine & Isolation 101 Guide for specific details about the quarantine requirements upon arrival. (Please note that this document is intended to provide guidance for students traveling to New York from out-of-state and living in the residence halls. Comprehensive, College-wide quarantine and isolation protocols for the full academic year will be shared via email and posted to the website prior to the beginning of the semester.)

Student, Faculty, and Staff Accommodations

Students, faculty, or staff with health or safety considerations will be able to apply for special accommodation for any of the College’s Restart policies as necessary. Employees with medical conditions that increase their vulnerability and susceptibility relative to COVID-19 are responsible for notifying their supervisor and Human Resources if they are in need of an accommodation. The employee may contact Human Resources to seek accommodations for their condition, but supervisors can work with the employee and Human Resources to identify alternative work arrangements and/or seek support/resources. MMC will follow ADA guidelines for special accommodations, although non-medical accommodations will be considered (view the Accommodation Request procedures and form). Please visit our Leaves and Accommodations page here for additional information and specific policies.