January 21, 2022
Dear Student:
Welcome to the Spring 2022 semester. It is hard to imagine that we have been in this pandemic for almost two years. However, with your help we will continue to keep each other safe by following the policies and procedures that have been established at our University. The WP COVID-19 Response Team has been updating the guidance and protocols in response to the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Please read this letter carefully for the latest guidance and mitigation strategies. As a reminder, classes begin remotely on Monday, January 24, but these protocols are effective immediately.
MASKS
One of the best measures proven to work against this variant is wearing a good-fitting mask. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that you wear an N95 or KN95 mask, or at least a 3-ply disposable surgical mask CDC Mask Guidance. If you don’t have access to these masks, you can also wear two masks (disposable mask underneath and a cloth mask on top), especially in well-populated spaces. Masks continue to be required on campus for all students while we are in a high transmission rate for our area. Please continue to follow the guidance of our Masking Policy. If you come to campus and have forgotten your mask, you can obtain one at one of our designated distribution places Mask Distribution Locations.
TESTING
On-Campus Testing
For the Spring 2022 semester we have contracted with FastMed LLC for on-campus COVID-19 testing, with no out-of-pocket cost to students or the University. However, if you have insurance you are required to provide that information.
Resident Students: All resident students are required to participate in rapid testing provided by FastMed at move-in. Students who test positive will be moved immediately to isolation spaces. The Office of Residence Life sent an email communication to all residents with details regarding these processes.
Unvaccinated/Exempt Students: All unvaccinated students with an approved exemption who attend in-person classes, activities, events, or come to campus to utilize any in-person services are required to participate in regular COVID-19 PCR testing. Unvaccinated students enrolled in fully online courses only (section numbers 080 through 089 or in the 800 range) are exempt from the testing requirement. Please note that unvaccinated students who do not have an approved exemption are prohibited from coming to campus.
All students who are required to be tested will be contacted via email from the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center with more information about testing. FastMed will be on site every Tuesday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in White Hall Lounge for nasal PCR testing starting February 1, 2022. Our on-site testing clinic will also permit walk-ins, while volume permits, including any faculty, staff, or student (unvaccinated or vaccinated). We ask that individuals who are experiencing symptoms do not attend the on-site testing clinic in order to prevent exposing other community members. Please obtain a test off site or an at-home test and provide the results in the COVID Testing Portal. Resident students who have symptoms or identify being exposed will be offered an at-home rapid test delivered to your room after filling out the WP Symptom and Exposure Form.
Individuals who are required to participate in weekly testing will receive an email with more information including options for obtaining off-campus testing.
Off-Campus Testing
WP has also partnered with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center for off-site testing for our community members at their drive-in testing center on the Wayne St. Joseph’s location adjacent to the campus and accessed via the entrance on University Drive. Any WP community member can obtain a PCR test at their site Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please bring the referral form to identify you as a member of our community St. Joseph's Referral Form. For more information about their testing center, or to book an appointment, visit St. Joseph's COVID Testing.
The federal government has just announced that families can order at-home COVID-19 tests (four per residential address) starting on January 19, 2022. For more information, please visit Free COVID Tests.
Starting this semester, there is a new WP Covid Testing Portal. Having one centralized portal for COVID tests will help to streamline contact tracing and notifications. All individuals will have access to their own portal and can upload their results.
BOOSTERS
One of the best strategies we have to prevent serious complications from COVID-19, including hospitalizations and death, is the COVID-19 vaccine. Even though, at this time, WP is not requiring boosters, it is strongly recommended that you receive a booster if you are eligible. For more information about that eligibility, visit CDC Booster Information. If you have received a booster, please check your COVID-19 Vaccination Portal to see if we have that information from NJIIS; if not, please upload your updated vaccine card to the portal found in WPconnect. This will allow us to track the status of boosters in our community. Some clinical or academic programs may require boosters for their students due to the contracted placement’s requirements.
We have partnered with the Passaic County Office of Emergency Management to provide COVID-19 boosters to our community. We will be hosting on-site booster clinics throughout the spring semester. The first booster clinic is scheduled for Friday, January 28 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the White Hall Lounge. No appointments are necessary. More information about future clinics can be found in the daily announcements.
QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION GUIDELINES
William Paterson University continues to work closely with our local, county, and state Departments of Health regarding isolation and quarantine guidelines for our campus. We have been instructed by the Passaic County epidemiologist that we are required to follow the guidance below. If the guidance subsequently changes, the community will be notified.
Isolation
Students who test positive (vaccinated or unvaccinated) will still be required to isolate for 10 days from the day they test positive (if no symptoms) or from when symptoms began. You cannot test out of this requirement nor is it required to provide a negative test to return. Also, in order to return to in-person classes or activities, you must isolate for 10 days and be symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
Quarantine
Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine after being exposed by a close contact. However, you are required to remain masked in the presence of others and to monitor for symptoms for at least 10 days from exposure. It is recommended that you get tested sometime between day 5 and day 7 from the day you were exposed.
Unvaccinated/exempt individuals will be required to quarantine for 7 days following an exposure/close contact of someone who tested positive, and must submit a negative PCR test (completed on day 5 to 7) to return to campus. If unvaccinated individuals previously tested positive within 90 days of the close contact, they are not required to quarantine as long as they provide documentation of a positive lab result. They must remain masked and practice social distancing for 10 days from exposure.
REPORTING OF POSITIVE COVID-19 TESTS AND EXPOSURES
The health of our community continues to depend on the cooperation of students, faculty, and staff in identifying and reporting cases of COVID-19 so that we can properly identify any exposures. This process becomes even more challenging when there are high rates of transmission in our local communities. We ask that our community members be responsible and stay home if they are sick, exposed and unvaccinated, or if they think they have COVID-19. It is true, especially with the Omicron variant, that symptoms can also mirror a cold, allergies, flu, and other illnesses.
If you are having any symptoms, we ask that you test for COVID-19 and do not return to campus until you have obtained the results of your test. You also must report symptoms on the WP Symptom and Exposure Form. If you receive a positive result, you must submit results on the WP COVID Testing Portal to ensure proper tracking and follow up.
It is imperative that you continue to cooperate with contact tracing and COVID-19 protocols. We will be contacting individuals through their WP email account, which you must check daily.
If you test positive for COVID-19, the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center will provide you with an excuse note for in-person classes. It is your responsibility to provide the note to your professors and to work with them directly to make up any missed classwork. It is also important that you continue to monitor yourself and your symptoms. During this time, please continue to fill out the WP Symptom and Exposure Form. Also, if your symptoms worsen, please reach out to your medical provider or go to your local urgent care center. For more information about COVID-19 symptoms, visit CDC Covid-19 Symptoms.
Thank you for your cooperation in following all the University’s COVID-19 protocols and we wish you a healthy and successful semester.
