COVID-19 If/Then: What happens if an unvaccinated person is exposed to the virus?
The College has put together a new series of “If/Then” scenario walkthroughs to help our community better understand pandemic practices and protocols.
Use this link for more “COVID-19 If/Then” scenarios from SUNY New Paltz.
If an unvaccinated person is exposed to COVID-19 …
Then contact tracers will … Direct this person to a mandatory quarantine for a minimum of 10 days (Update: In spring 2022, this period will be reduced to 5 days per CDC guidance) from the date of exposure, to monitor symptoms and to be tested. The directions for unvaccinated people exposed to COVID-19 remain the same as early in the pandemic, prior to the availability of vaccines.
Our campus contact tracers define “exposure” as close contact within six feet for a period of 10 minutes or more, following established CDC and Department of Health guidance.
Members of our community may also be notified of an exposure from county or state contact tracers.
Then the unvaccinated person should … Follow contact tracing directions as given. If directed to quarantine or isolate, please remain away from campus (unless you are a student isolating in Awosting Hall) with no social contact until released by your physician.
If directed to test, students should make an appointment for ENZO Labs testing, or contact the Student Health Service at 845-257-3400 or their physician or another off-campus testing resource. Employees who have been exposed should not test on-campus and should instead contact their physicians or use another off-campus testing resource.
If the vaccinated person was notified of their COVID-19 exposure by state or county (non-campus) contact tracers, they should alert the College of their exposure to support our own tracing process. Students should notify the Student Health Service, and employees should notify the Office of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion (HRDI).
Then the College will … Work with the unvaccinated person to support them during their mandatory quarantine.
Options for supporting employees in quarantine may include providing COVID-19 sick leave time during their mandatory isolation or supporting telecommuting arrangements if possible, among other available accommodations.
Options for supporting students may include on-campus quarantine in Awosting Hall and notifying in-person faculty of the student’s inability to come to class, among other available accommodations.