Health & Wellness Guidelines
Fall 2021
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 1: A brief note
Dear Seminary community, With much hope and gratitude, we look forward to the 2021-2022 Academic Year. We anticipate that the life of our Seminary community, in and out of the classroom, will be much more normal after a very challenging year. As always, we remain grateful for your diligence in abiding by our health and wellness guidelines this past year which kept our community very safe and well. Yet, we understand our health and wellness protocols last year were challenging for us all. Thanks to your diligence and the wide spread availability of the vaccine for the coronavirus, we are grateful to enter a new season. Our Health and Wellness Guidelines for Fall 2021 are based primarily on the fact that we seek to be a fully vaccinated community. We understand that our younger children are not yet vaccinated and that some students and employees are not able to be vaccinated and have been given exemptions from the vaccine requirement. We also understand that the pandemic is not over. We regularly read about variants with increased transmissibility and virulence. Scientists are not certain about sustained immunity from the vaccines or if boosters will be necessary in the future. We move forward as a hopeful but also informed people. Members of the Executive Council will continue to monitor developments with the virus and the Seminary will remain in close touch with our local public health officials throughout the fall. These guidelines may change or be updated whenever conditions require so that our community may remain well. Given recent recommendations from the CDC and the increase in local COVID-19 cases, we will begin the semester with all people, regardless of vaccination status, wearing face coverings when indoors. This will begin on August 21 with the start of housing move-in days. Whether indoors or out, we would like to create a culture where fully vaccinated individuals feel comfortable to choose to wear a face covering for their own comfort and protection, especially considering concerns raised about the Delta variant from health officials and scientists. We ask that you please do not form judgments about the vaccination status of those who wear face coverings. We hope individuals will be able to decide to wear a face covering based on their personal health status and comfort level in all contexts.
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 2: A brief note
Another change you will note is the way Health and Wellness will be managed within our community. Human Resources will monitor vaccination status for employees and the Department of Student Life will monitor vaccination status for students. A health consultant will be available to assist all members of the community with questions regarding exposure, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine. The health consultant may continue to be reached through health@ptsem.edu. Thank you for the great privilege you have given to us to serve our Seminary community as the Health and Wellness Coordinators for these past 17 months. We are deeply grateful for the trust you put in us and the many ways you partnered with us in unprecedented times. Our prayers remain with this community as we enter a new season. Rev. Jan Ammon and Rev. Dr. Anne Stewart Health and Wellness Team Coordinators
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 3: A community of health
Health & Wellness Guidelines
A community of health Monitoring for symptoms • Vaccine requirements • Guidelines for those who are vaccinated • Guidelines for those who are unvaccinated • Guidance for those who are immunocompromised • Guidance for children • Travel protocols • Quarantining and isolation • Moving to campus • Classroom policies • Campus transportation
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 4: Protecting yourself and your family
Protecting yourself & your family Daily self-monitoring for symptoms Based on CDC guidance, it is expected that all members of our Seminary Community will practice daily self-monitoring for symptoms that may be compatible with COVID-19. Even fully vaccinated individuals may experience what is called a breakthrough infection. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may be mild to severe. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please do not come to campus and complete the COVID-19 Notification
Guidance for unvaccinated children Our younger children have not yet been vaccinated. It is expected that children 2 years and older wear a face covering in indoor public spaces on campus. Please follow the guidelines for unvaccinated
Form. It may be recommended that you follow-up with your
individuals.
health care provider for guidance and testing.
Until young children are able to be vaccinated,
• Fever or chills • Cough • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Fatigue
or there is diminished impact from variants, we recommend gatherings for young children be held in outdoor spaces rather than the children’s lounges, which will remain closed.
• Muscle or body aches • Headache • New loss of taste or smell • Sore throat • Congestion or runny nose • Nausea, vomiting, or other gastrointestinal distress
Guidance for those with compromised immune systems Individuals with certain health conditions or taking certain medications may have weakened immune systems. Even those who have been vaccinated may not be fully protected.
COVID-19 vaccination requirements Vaccination against COVID-19 will be required for all students and employees beginning in the fall semester unless a medical or religious exemption has been given. Vaccination cards may
We encourage these members of our community to take all precautions for unvaccinated individuals, including wearing a well-fitting face covering, unless advised otherwise by your health care provider.
be uploaded through the secure vaccination form. The Human
If you are a fully vaccinated member of our
Resources office is maintaining the list of vaccinated employ-
community who has a compromised immune
ees and those who are exempt. The Student Life Department is
system, we invite you to notify the health team
maintaining the list of vaccinated students and those who are
confidentially so that we may keep you in-
exempt. This information is essential for any contact tracing
formed of any possible exposure in the com-
that may need to be done in the community.
munity.
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 5: Guidance for the fully vaccinated
Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated Individuals You are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after you have received the second dose of a 2-dose series or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine (i.e., Johnson and Johnson). • Beginning with the start of housing move-in days on August
• If a fully vaccinated individual is exposed
21, face coverings will be required indoors for those who are
to someone who is positive for COVID-19,
fully vaccinated. This is subject to change depending upon
they should complete the COVID-19 No-
developing information and transmission rates in our region.
tification Form immediately, wear a face
• Wearing face coverings indoors can be especially beneficial
covering in public spaces, and be tested 3-5
for vaccinated individuals who have compromised health,
days after exposure, per CDC guidelines. A
vulnerable household members, or feel more comfortable
positive test will require a 10-day isolation
with a face covering in indoor, public spaces. Please remem-
from the date of exposure.
ber that there are a variety of reasons why someone may wish to wear a mask indoors. • Good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette is required
• If a fully vaccinated individual experiences symptoms that are compatible with COVID-19, please complete the COVID-19
for all. Please cover your mouth and nose when coughing
Notification Form and remain at home
or sneezing. Please dispose of tissues right away. Wash your
until further guidance is given from the
hands or use hand sanitizer every time you touch your mouth
health consultant or your doctor.
or nose in a public setting. • We will follow CDC guidelines for travel quarantine policy.
• The Seminary will remain in conversation with local health officials and will commu-
Currently, for international travel CDC recommends testing
nicate to the community if booster shots
3-5 days after travel for all people, regardless of vaccination
for fully vaccinated individuals are recom-
status. Fully vaccinated individuals will be asked to self-mon-
mended.
itor for symptoms of COVID-19, but they do not need to quarantine.
Those who are vaccinated should continue to...
Those who are vaccinated are not required, but can choose to...
• Wear a face covering indoors
• Wear a face covering outdoors
• Use good hand hygiene • Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 6: Guidance for the unvaccinated
Guidelines for Unvaccinated Individuals Community members who are unable to be vaccinated must abide by additional health measures. • Unvaccinated individuals should wear a well-fitting face covering when indoors on campus and any other indoor public places. This has been our current practice.
Thanksgiving break, and following certain travel. • Travel for unvaccinated community members is discouraged during the fall semester. If you need to travel, please submit the Travel Notification Form. You will
• In general, you do not need to wear a face covering in
be required to quarantine for 7 days following any
outdoor settings unless you are in a crowded situation,
international travel and take a COVID test 3-5 days
are having close interaction with other unvaccinated
after return. Even with a negative test result, you will
individuals, or you are in an area with high numbers of
be required to complete the entire 7-day quarantine.
COVID-19 cases.
You may also need to quarantine and be tested follow-
• Good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette is required. Please cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Please dispose of tissues right
ing domestic travel depending on numbers of COVID cases at your destination and other factors. • You will need to keep a 14-day period of quarantine
away. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer every
if exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 on or off of
time you touch your mouth or nose in a public setting.
campus. Exposure is defined as being within six feet,
• If you experience symptoms compatible with COVID-19, please do not come to campus. Submit the COVID-19 Notification Form for further guidance. • Unvaccinated members of the community may be required to be tested periodically for COVID-19, including at the beginning of the academic year, after
for a period of ten minutes or more, of a person who has tested positive. It may also be defined as being in an indoor classroom setting with a person who is positive. If you have been exposed to a positive case, please remain in your residence and complete the COVID-19 Notification Form for contact tracing and further guidance.
Unvaccinated individuals are required to:
Unvaccinated individuals are not required, but can choose to...
• Wear a face covering indoors
• Wear a face covering outdoors
• Use good hand hygiene • Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing • Comply with mandated testing • Comply with domestic travel restrictions • Quarantine after international travel • Quarantine after all COVID-19 exposures
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 7: Travel guidelines
Traveling to and from campus International travel We will follow CDC guidelines for travel quarantine policy. Currently, for international travel CDC recommends testing 3-5 days after travel for all people, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated individuals will also need to quarantine for 7 days following international travel regardless of test outcome. Please submit the Travel Notification Form after international travel, regardless of your vaccination status.
Domestic travel For domestic travel, CDC recommends all unvaccinated individuals delay non-
At this time, no quarantine is
essential travel. If an unvaccinated individual travels to an area in the United
required following domestic
States where there are elevated numbers of COVID-19 or if they participated
travel for vaccinated individuals.
in a large event where vaccine status of participants is unknown, they may be asked to quarantine for 7 days with a test 3-5 days after return. Unvaccinated individuals are required to submit the Travel Notification Form after domestic travel. A travel quarantine means that you remain in your residence except for removing trash or recycling, getting medical care and groceries, or to exercise outside on your own. A face covering is required whenever leaving your residence. If a student with a roommate is keeping a travel quarantine, it is their responsibility to keep distance from and wear a face covering around their roommate(s). Travel for Seminary business may resume, subject to budgetary considerations.
Guidance for Moving to Campus
Campus Transportation
Given that students will be moving in from across the country from areas
In accordance with current state guide-
with varying numbers of COVID cases, all students, guests, and staff are
lines for public transportation, all
required to wear a face covering when in outdoor and indoor public/shared spaces during move-in days.
people regardless of vaccination status should wear face coverings on Seminary
All family members and guests assisting with move-in are expected to be
shuttles. A schedule for transportation
vaccinated before coming to campus. Fully vaccinated students may assist
between the CRW and Main Campus
other students with move-in as long as a well-fitting face covering is worn.
will be distributed prior to Orientation.
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 8: Safety measures
Protocols for Quarantine and Isolation Even in a fully vaccinated community, a positive test
Health Quarantine
for COVID-19 is still possible in breakthrough cases. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or tested positive yourself, please complete the COVID-19 Notification Form. Exposure or positive
Health Quarantine is the term used for a situation when someone has been exposed to COVID-19, is experiencing symptoms compatible with COVID-19, or has
test results will be reported to the health consultant,
recently traveled under certain circumstances.
who will determine contact tracing, isolation, or quar-
A Health Quarantine requires the individual remain
antine protocols. If you test positive for COVID-19, you may also be contacted by your local health officer for contact tracing and further guidance. Per current CDC guidelines, vaccinated individuals who have been exposed to a person with COVID-19
in their residence except to seek medical care. Individuals with roommates must maintain a face covering in common areas and not share utensils or meals. The health consultant can help arrange for groceries if needed.
should be tested 3-5 days after of exposure and should wear a face covering when around others. Unvaccinated individuals will need to quarantine for 14 days after exposure, per local public health guidance. Routine maintenance of Seminary residences will not be scheduled when someone in the residence is on health quarantine, isolation, or travel quarantine. Some accommodations for coursework will be available for any student who needs to quarantine or isolate as a result of COVID-19 exposure or positive test results. The student can contact academic.support@ ptsem.edu.
Isolation Isolation is the term used for a situation when someone has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual must also remain in their residence except for medical treatment. They must have essentially no in-person contact with others in the residence. The health consultant can help an individual create a plan for managing isolation and groceries. Quarantine apartments are available through the health consultant in certain situations.
Classroom Protocols Classrooms will function at normal occupancy without
Face coverings are required for all vaccinated and unvac-
physical distancing, unless otherwise indicated.
cinated individuals in classrooms and indoor common
If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, please do not attend class and complete the COVID-19 Notification Form.
spaces. This will regularly be evaluated. Instructors will be invited to remove face coverings in the classroom while they are teaching. All individuals are encouraged to wear a face covering outdoors as determined by their personal health needs, vulnerable household members, and comfort level.
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 9: A community of wellness
Health & Wellness Guidelines
A community of Wellness Daily chapel • Library access • Dining protocols • Lounges and Gyms • Emotional and spiritual support • Campus guests • Events and gatherings • Love for our neighbors
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 10: Community policies
Guidelines for building community Dining Protocols Dining Services will be open to the community for lunch from Monday through Friday. Food services guidelines from the Princeton Board of Health will
Campus Guests
be followed. There will be no buffets or salad bars,
Guests are permitted on the Seminary campus. All guests
which require multiple touch points for delivery.
are expected to be vaccinated and to wear face coverings.
No physical distancing will be required in the dining room. Cleaning and disinfecting of the space will occur daily.
Students may welcome guests from outside of the Seminary community to their residences. It is expected that all guests be vaccinated and wear face coverings in common
All members of the community will please wear
indoor spaces. Ensuring the vaccination status of your
face coverings in the dining room, except while
guests is an act of care and responsibility for the entire
eating.
community.
Events and Gatherings Seminary-sponsored events will be permitted for the fall, with the following guidelines: • Internal events, which include only Seminary community members, can follow the same guidelines as for classroom spaces. • For events that host external guests, it is expected that all guests should be vaccinated and wear face coverings. In addition, event organizers should keep a list of all attendees with their contact information, in the event that contact tracing would be necessary.
Lounges and Gyms • Study lounges in residential spaces will be open beginning Sept 2. Face coverings are required. • Children’s lounges will remain closed, at least for the beginning of the fall semester. • The fitness center at CRW will be open beginning Sept 2. Face coverings will be required. • Outdoor Intramural sports will resume. • Further information regarding lounges, fitness, and intramural sports will be sent from the Dean of Student Life.
Offices Face coverings will be required in all office spaces, except when someone is alone in their office space.
Chapel In person worship services will resume. Face coverings will be
Library
required in the Chapel. Worship leaders may remove face cov-
The library will remain open to all students and
erings when speaking. Singing, and other health protocols will
employees of the Seminary community and will
be determined later in August after local health guidelines and
follow the same guidelines as in classrooms. Face
statistics are reviewed.
coverings will be required indoors.
Health Guidelines for Fall 2021
Page 11: Personal and communal wellness
Supporting personal wellness Emotional and spiritual wellbeing We are returning to our common life after a very
of welcome, kindness, patience, and grace. For anyone
stressful year. Though we look forward to the year with
who is having difficulty adjusting, we invite you to reach
anticipation and gratitude, we understand that there will
out to Wanda Sevey, Director of Student Counseling, or
be a season of adjustment. We will essentially welcome
Jan Ammon, Minister of the Chapel and Pastor for Stu-
two new classes to campus life this year, those who start-
dents and Families. There are many avenues for support
ed in September of 2020 and those who are starting this
and encouragement.
year. We ask that you please commit to be a community
Key contacts for support Office of Student Counseling
Chapel Office
Office of Student Life
Rev. Wanda Sevey Director of Student Counseling
Rev. Jan Ammon Minister of the Chapel
Dean John White Dean of Student Life
counseling@ptsem.edu
chapel.office@ptsem.edu
deanofstudentlife@ptsem.edu
Love for our neighbors As we transition back to life together this fall semester, we hope that these Health and Wellness Guidelines will help create the framework for a safe and healthy environment for all in our community. However, we fully recognize the virulent nature of the Delta variant, which can be transmitted by both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals. We ask that you please be mindful of our community when you make decisions about engaging in activities and events outside of the Seminary community where there may be high rates of transmission or potential for exposure. Our community will be porous this year. Being mindful of our decisions off campus is one way we will love our neighbors this fall season.