01/18/22
COVID-19 protocols
The Office of the Chancellor of Alabama Community College System recently distributed a memo detailing the protocol that should be followed by all community colleges, including Gadsden State. Based on the most recent guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and the Alabama Department of Public Health, ACCS recommends the following:
VACCINATIONS, BOOSTERS AND FLU SHOTS
Vaccination remains the leading prevention strategy to protect individuals from COVID-19 and end the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine significantly reduces the potential of severe illness, hospitalizations and death. COVID vaccines are safe and effective for everyone over 5 years old. Faculty, staff and students may also want to get the flu shot. ACCS encourages vaccination and boosting (though it is not required).
PROTOCOL FOR THOSE TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Any Gadsden State student or employee, regardless of vaccination status, shall do the following if they receive a positive diagnosis for COVID-19:
- Stay home for five days
- Report positive diagnosis to Gadsden State the day the diagnosis is received. Students should send documented proof of diagnosis to Kelley Pearce at kpearce@gadsdenstate.edu and employees should do the same to Kevin Willoughby at kwilloughby@gadsdenstate.edu.
- If there are no symptoms or symptoms are resolving after five days, individual may return to campus. The individual should test, if practicable, prior to returning to campus. If the individual has a fever, they should continue to stay home until the fever resolves.
- Individual should wear mask around others for five additional calendar days following quarantine.
PROTOCOL FOR THOSE EXPOSED TO COVID-19
Fully-vaccinated is defined as being two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.
Close contact is defined as within six feet of an infected person (laboratory confirmed) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
Persons who are fully vaccinated within the last six months OR have been boosted shall:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days
- Test on Day 5, if possible.
Persons who are fully vaccinated over six months ago and are not boosted or are unvaccinated shall:
- Stay home for five days.
- After staying home, continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.
- Test on Day 5, if possible.
If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms their symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
SLOW THE SPREAD
It is imperative that each person continue to do his/her part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in accordance with CDC guidelines, including:
- Stay away from the workplace when you are not well.
- Regularly wash and sanitize hands.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth.
- Avoid sneezing or coughing without appropriate covering of the nose and mouth.