To ACPHS Community,

The College's COVID-19 Task Force continues to closely monitor CDC guidance and the level of COVID-19 transmission in our area. Unfortunately, the Delta variant has resulted in Albany County having "high transmission." High transmission is classified as places with more than 100 cases per 100,000 in a seven-day period. Substantial transmission is defined by the CDC as areas with 50 cases per 100,000 in a seven-day period. Currently, nearly 90% of U.S. counties have a substantial or high rate of transmission.

Effective immediately, everyone on campus whether vaccinated or unvaccinated are required to wear masks while indoors consistent with CDC's updated recommendation for areas of substantial or high transmission. If an individual is in their residence hall room, suite or apartment, or alone in their office, they do not need to wear a mask. According to the CDC, the risk of transmission in outdoor settings is minimal. Therefore, unvaccinated people do not need to wear a mask outdoors on campus unless they cannot be socially distant. This updated mask policy is in response to the current increase in cases and the Delta variant transmissibility, and will be reevaluated if and when case rates lower in our area.

Students who have received an approved exemption to the College's vaccine mandate must submit a negative COVID test to ShareMy.Health 72 hours prior to arrival AND test within 24 hours of arrival on campus. Vaccinated students are not required to get tested prior to or upon arrival. However, students who do not have an approved exemption will not be allowed on campus or move in to their residence hall if they do not submit proof of vaccination to ShareMy.Health. (Here are instructions on how to upload vaccination documentation.)

Exempted unvaccinated students and employees are required to schedule and complete a weekly, on-campus COVID test. Testing can be scheduled using this link. It is the responsibility of the unvaccinated individual to adhere to these testing protocols.

We will conduct weekly surveillance testing of randomly selected vaccinated students and employees on campus. Those selected for testing will receive a notification by email, stating testing is required.

If a vaccinated or unvaccinated individual has any COVID-related symptoms (such as coughing, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, fever, shortness of breath) they will be required to have a COVID test on campus AND have a negative COVID test result before they can return to daily campus activities.

The College may institute additional surveillance testing if needed. 

Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated international travelers are required to get a COVID test three days before travel by air to the United States (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months). Upon arrival to campus, all international travelers, regardless of vaccination status are required to complete a COVID test 72 hours after arrival.

Additionally, unvaccinated international travelers must:

If a vaccinated individual is exposed to a COVID-positive person, they must wear a mask at all times upon notification of exposure, test within three days of exposure, and monitor daily for symptoms for 14-days while they continue to wear their mask. At the end of the 14 days, exposed individuals will test again. If the exposed individual does not develop symptoms, they do NOT need to quarantine. If symptomatic, an immediate COVID test is required, and a negative test result is required to return to campus activities. If a vaccinated individual tests COVID positive, they will be required to complete a 10-day isolation and contact tracing will occur to track campus movement.

If an unvaccinated individual is exposed to a COVID-positive person, they must quarantine for a full 14-days. The person should schedule a test ASAP at the campus testing center. A negative test result performed on day 14 will be required to return to campus. If an unvaccinated individual tests COVID positive, they will be required to complete a 10-day isolation and contact tracing will occur to track campus movement.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated students and employees still need to complete the daily health screening to allow us to monitor the health of our community and identify quickly any possible breakthrough infection or COVID-19 variant present on campus. The ShareMy.Health daily survey has been modified to require fewer questions for those who are vaccinated. The green checkmark in the ShareMy.Health system will be utilized for entrance to campus activities.

If you have any questions, please email COVIDTesting@acphs.edu.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation to help protect the ACPHS community.

Greg Dewey

ACPHS President