Summer 2022 COVID Mitigation Guidelines

Vaccination Guidelines

COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all BMC students, faculty, and staff. The current requirement includes one booster for all who are eligible.

• Individuals can apply for exemptions for medical reasons or for sincerely held religious beliefs.
• Acceptable vaccinations include those on the FDA’s Authorized Use List and those on the approved list of the World Health Organization (WHO). Those who have been vaccinated with a vaccine not on these lists will be required to be revaccinated with an approved vaccine.

Campus Activity and Mitigation Strategies

When in private spaces and conference rooms, research labs, communal offices or other contained spaces in which there are small groups (usually five or less) of people who have mutually agreed, masks can be removed.  Even if someone consents to others removing their masks, they can continue to opt to wear their own mask.

In all other indoor spaces/circumstances, including but not limited to classrooms, hallways, reception areas, restrooms, atriums etc., masks are required.

• When required, masks must be surgical masks, N95s, KN95s or KF94s and must fully cover the nose and mouth.  These masks should be replaced at least every five days and more often as needed.  Students who are having difficulty obtaining masks should contact the Dean’s Office.  Faculty and staff should reach out to their department head.
• Masks are not required outdoors.
• Indoor spaces are allowed to be at full occupancy.

Air purifiers have been placed in select spaces on campus.  These purifiers should remain on at all times and should be set to their highest setting.

All individuals must symptom check for COVID-19 every day before interacting with others on campus or coming to campus. Any individual who is experiencing symptoms should stay home and get tested.

Testing, Isolation and Quarantine

• The College will not be offering testing. 
• Anyone who is symptomatic should get tested and should seek medical guidance from their health provider.
• Any individual who tests positive (regardless of vaccination status):
  1. Must Isolate
     • Isolation for faculty, staff, and non-resident students means remaining off-campus and having no in-person contact with members of the BMC community. 
     • Isolation for BMC students residing on campus (with or without roommates) means remaining in your room with the exception that you can leave to pick up food in the dining halls (but you must be masked at all times when outside your room) or to spend time outdoors. Resident students should use the designated bathroom in the dorm and should not work or attend in-person events while isolating.
     • Asymptomatic individuals (faculty, all students, and staff) may return to campus after five days of isolation. Symptomatic individuals may also return to campus after five days of isolation (or anytime between Day 6 and Day 10), provided they have sustained improvement of symptoms day-to-day and have been fever-free for more than 24 hours. If symptoms persist or worsen at any time during this period, the individual should contact their healthcare provider.  Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or, if asymptomatic, the day the specimen was collected for the positive test.
     • If someone is allowed to return to on-campus activities in accordance with the policies above prior to Day 11, they must wear a well-fitted, high-quality mask AT ALL TIMES when indoors. The two exceptions are
       1. When eating a meal.  Eating outside is preferable, but if weather or schedules do not allow for that, eating indoors in a private space (dorm room, office, conference room, empty classroom, etc.) alone with the door closed is allowed. 
       2. When in your dorm room (for students).
     • On Day 11, the person can resume “normal” campus protocols, which allow for unmasking indoors in some circumstances with mutual consent.
  2. Must Notify BMC
     • Staff members should contact their supervisor to make them aware that they are isolating and to see if there is work they can accomplish remotely if feeling well enough.
     • Students should notify their supervisor or faculty member if they will be missing work or classes as a result of isolation.
  3. Should Identify and Reach Out to All “Close Contacts”
     • “Close contacts” are defined as those people who were within 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes within a 24-hour period, regardless of location (e.g., indoor or outdoor) or whether masks were worn. Also, the 15 minutes can be non-consecutive (e.g., two 10-minute close interactions over the course of a 24-hour period).
     • As soon as practical, the COVID-positive person should reach out to BMC students, faculty, and staff who were “close contacts” over the 2 days prior to a positive test to let them know that they need to follow the College’s protocols for “close contacts.”
  4. Is Temporarily Allowed to Work Remotely During the Period of Isolation
     • Assuming the person feels well enough, the nature of their work allows it, the person is appropriately equipped, and their supervisor agrees, faculty, staff, and students are allowed under COVID policies to work remotely during isolation.
     • The health of the patient is the College’s top priority, and rest is an important component of recovery of any illness.  No one is required to work remotely; staff and faculty can and should use their sick leave to recuperate if they need it.  Faculty members who may need assistance in continuing the progression of their classes while they are recovering should contact their department head and/or the Provost’s Office so they can provide appropriate support.
  5. Must Record Their Time Appropriately
     • Staff members should record any unworked time as “sick” on their time sheet/attendance record.  Through September 1, 2022 the College will continue the temporary practice of advancing sick hours to staff members with COVID.
     • Students should not record any unworked hours on their timesheets.  Depending on scheduling and departmental workflow, students may be able to work with their supervisor to reschedule hours post-isolation to accommodate for any lost wages.
  6. Can Reach Out for Assistance, but Central Reporting Is Not Required
     • Students who have questions about their situation should contact Team Health at 610-517-4921, but reporting a positive test result to them is not required.
     • Faculty and staff who have questions about the COVID protocols should contact Kari Fazio, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, but reporting a positive test result to her is not required.