I. PURPOSE
It is the purpose of this policy to define the New York Medical College and Touro College of Dental Medicine (“College”) protocol when there is respiratory viral infection which includes SARS-CoV-2 infection (“COVID-19 Illness”), and influenza illness, in accordance with New York State Department of Health (“NYSDOH”) guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”).
II. POLICY
It is the policy of the College that students and employees comply with work protocol restrictions in accordance with guidance issued by the NYSDOH and recommendations issued by the CDC. NYMC Health Services office is authorized to approve deviations from this policy as appropriate for the health and safety of the College community.
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to all College employees and students.
IV. DEFINITIONS
A. Health Care Personnel: For the purpose of this policy health care personnel are defined as employees in positions of direct patient care, and students in the School of Medicine (SOM), Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM), and the programs of Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) and Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) in the School of Health Sciences and Practice in rotations involving direct patient care.
B. Academic Contacts: Persons who will assist for accommodations needed for any academic activities that cannot be completed due to required restriction from school.
SOM: Libor_Velisek@nymc.edu (Phase 1); ylindenb@nymc.edu (Phase 2, 3)
TCDM: Karen.Longo@touro.edu
SHSP: bjohnson23@nymc.edu; mnovotny@nymc.edu
V. BACKGROUND
A. Symptoms of respiratory viruses include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, headache, and some people also experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
B. After exposure, the incubation period is 2-14 days for COVID-19 Illness and 1-4 days for influenza.
C. Following symptom onset, persons may be infectious at least until symptoms improve and fever has resolved for 24 hours. In the case of COVID-19 Illness, this can be longer.
D. The NYSDOH guidance for work restriction advises the same work restriction for any respiratory virus in non-health care personnel, and a longer work restriction for health care personnel with COVID-19 Illness.
VI. Procedures:
| Any Respiratory Viral Infection Procedure |
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1. Practice good infection control:
2. All persons with respiratory illness that could be COVID-19 Illness are advised to obtain a COVID-19 diagnostic test. If an at home test is negative, re-test in 24-48 hours. 3. Consult your physician if you may need anti-viral treatment or if you need testing beyond at home testing. |
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Confirmed COVID-19 Procedure |
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4. If you are a student in the SOM, TCDM, SLP or DPT or an employee with direct patient care responsibility: Notify Health Services (health_services@nymc.edu) of your diagnostic test if you have confirmed COVID-19 Illness. Send a picture of the diagnostic test result or the laboratory report with date of testing. 5. Students are to notify the Academic Contact listed above if assistance is needed for the rescheduling of academic requirements. 6. All other students and employees are to follow the respiratory viral infection procedure above and the criteria to return to work below. |
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Criteria for Return to Work/School After Respiratory Viral Infection |
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7. All non-health care personnel and health care personnel with respiratory virus infection that is NOT COVID-19: 8. Health care personnel with COVID-19: Restrict from work or school for a minimum of five (5) days from the day of symptom onset. Health Services will issue the person a symptom log. The day of symptom onset is day zero. Return to work /school requires return of the completed log, clear improvement of symptoms, and no fever (without the use of fever reducing medications) for at least 24 hours. |
VII. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy is effective immediately.
VIII. POLICY MANAGEMENT
Executive Stakeholder: Director of Health Services
Oversight Office: Health Services
