Read Chancellor Malatras’s Emergency Uniform SUNY-Wide Safety Protocols to Strengthen Penalties for Reckless Behavior and Non-Compliance of COVID-19 Codes, click here.
Fall 2021 COVID-19 Guidance (Updated)
COVID-19 Vaccination: According to the mandate, effective August 23, 2021, vaccination is now mandatory for all SUNY and Sullivan County CC students who have an on-campus presence. The expectation is that ALL students are fully vaccinated by September, 27, 2021. Failure to do so can result in your withdrawal from the institution. SUNY Sullivan students who are vaccinated need to voluntarily consent to authorize SUNY to access information about their vaccination status here: https://www2.sysadm.suny.edu/studentVax/
SUNY Sullivan ID: ALL students are required to wear their SUNY Sullivan Student ID card at all times while on campus property and it must be visible. ID cards can be obtained in our One Stop (located in Building E) after students have been cleared through the Student Billing Office. Failure to adhere to the policy will result in violations to the Student Code of Conduct.
Mask and Social Distancing: SUNY Sullivan requires ALL students regardless of vaccination status to wear a mask inside campus buildings until further notice. This is a temporary safety measure until Sullivan County COVID-19 transmission rates decline, and at such time, this policy will be re-evaluated. Pursuant to the CDC, “A person with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C 12101 et seq.)” may submit a request to our ADA compliance officer, Lynn Liebowitz-Whitehead at lleibowitz-whitehead@sunysullivan.edu for consideration of an exemption from mask wearing based on a medical accommodation, regardless of vaccination status.
COVID-19 Testing: All students with an on-campus presence (on-campus class, athletic practice/contest, resident), must participate in pool testing. Students who are fully vaccinated* will be required to test monthly, and students who are unvaccinated, or not fully vaccinated will test weekly. Pool testing for unvaccinated, or not fully vaccinated students will take place in the Student Union on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week starting August 31, 2021. (See the attached memo for how to register for testing prior to your appointment) For those that are considered fully vaccinated, monthly student testing will begin on September 14, 2021. Questions? Contact our Health Services office at healthservices@sunysullivan.edu.
*Individuals are considered fully vaccinated: (1) two weeks after receiving the second dose in a two dose COVID-19 vaccine series or (2) two weeks after receiving a single dose COVID-19 vaccine)
These updated protocols are subject to change as COVID-related conditions evolve. In addition, nothing herein limits the authority of campuses to impose additional COVID regulations within its current authority if not enumerated in the following guidance. Campuses must continue to comply with any additional requirements imposed by SUNY and local health departments.
Fall 2021 COVID -19 Guidance
I. Masks and Social Distancing
Due to climbing rates of COVID-19 infection all individuals (i.e. students[1], faculty, and staff3) accessing campus are required to wear masks and practice social distancing in all locations.
- Campus discretion. Campuses may impose additional mask wearing requirements and additional terms or restrictions within the instructional setting (e.g. no eating or drinking) above and beyond the CDC guidance. If so, the campus must work with campus stakeholders in development of any additional changes and broadly communicate the policy to the entire college community.
- Special consideration. Pursuant to the CDC, “A person with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.)” may submit a request to the campus for consideration of an exemption from mask wearing based on a medical accommodation, regardless of vaccination status.
- Community transmission. Additional requirements may be imposed by the campus or System Administration based upon the increasing COVID-19 transmission rates on campus.
II. Large Event Capacity Limits
The State of New York’s COVID-19 restrictions remain in effect for large-scale indoor event venues—now defined as indoor venues that hold more than 5,000 attendees. Consistent with the State’s implementation of the CDC guidelines, proof of vaccination can be used to eliminate social distancing and remove masks for fully vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status individuals who are over the age of four must continue to present proof of a recent negative diagnostic COVID-19 test result and wear masks within the venue. However, social distancing can be reduced or eliminated between tested attendees, allowing venues to reach 100 percent capacity in all sections.
III. Mandatory Vaccination for Students and Vaccination Management System
The State of New York directed that the public universities mandate COVID vaccinations for students, upon the federal government’s full approval of the vaccine. To that end, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution delegating the implementation of the mandatory vaccination policy to the Chancellor. The Chancellor’s draft policy has been distributed to campuses and will be finalized after the campus comment period.
The System Administration has implemented a system-wide solution for all campuses to track verified vaccination status of SUNY students. Campuses are required to utilize this system which will be driven by student consent and will use available authoritative sources – the NYS and NYC immunization systems – to verify vaccination status. Students vaccinated outside the State of New York will be required to submit appropriate documentation to the campus. System administration will work with campuses to integrate any existing systems into the new centralized vaccination management system.
IV. Daily Health Screening
Daily health screenings are no longer required for vaccinated individuals. Campuses may continue to screen all individuals for (1) COVID-19 symptoms, (2) recent close contacts, and (3) recent positive COVID-19 test result, regardless of individual vaccination status. Screening may be performed via signage, by e-mail/website, by telephone, or by electronic survey. Temperature checks are no longer required as a part of health screening. Campuses should continue to encourage students, faculty, and staff to perform daily self-health screenings for infectious illnesses, including COVID-19. Anyone with signs or symptoms of infectious illness should stay home when sick and/or seek medical care.
V. Mandatory Pause Requirements
The NYS requirements for a mandatory pause are no longer in effect. However, System Administration retains the authority to pause campus activities in cases of increased community transmission.
VI. Cleaning Protocols
The New York State mandatory cleaning and disinfection protocols are no longer in effect. However, it is highly recommended that campuses clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as common areas and shared workstations, at least once a day and regularly clean and disinfect other surfaces as necessary given the level of traffic and type of individuals who use the space and general risk of community transmission of COVID-19. Campuses must provide hand hygiene stations or supplies within workplaces for individuals to use; specifically, hand washing, such as soap, running water or disposable towels or hand sanitizing, such as alcohol-based sanitizer with 60 percent or more alcohol where hand washing may not be available or practical.
VII. Ventilation and Air Filtration
Campuses should increase outdoor airflow and ventilation rates in indoor settings to the extent compatible with individual comfort and safety and in accordance with building codes and standards, as well as applicable lease, contract, or other use agreement requirements; in indoor areas where air is recirculated, should consider higher rated filtration within HVAC systems as supported by the filter rack and air handling system so long as the system can perform to the level of heating and cooling that it was able to provide prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency; and consider other appropriate indoor air quality measures, such as portable fans, filters, and air cleaners.
VIII. Telecommuting Policies
Each State-operated campus must inform employees that the statewide telecommuting pilot program expired in its current form on July 2, 2021. System Administration is working with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and campuses on a system-wide telecommuting policy that will be submitted to the State for review and approval. This is an ongoing process and the policy is still in development.
IX. COVID-19 Testing
The goal is to get every individual vaccinated. Until that point, mandatory weekly testing will continue to be required for any person[2] who has a physical presence on campus and who has not been fully vaccinated or who has not shown proof of vaccination. Fully vaccinated students and employees (including auxiliary workers and vendors with a regular on-campus presence) may opt-out from mandatory weekly testing upon the submission of documentation showing completion of a full vaccination series (definition subject to change based on final recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC on booster shots).
Subject to final New York State guidance, COVID-19 vaccines recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) may now be accepted for purposes of determining vaccination status. See: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) | WHO – Prequalification of Medical Products (IVDs, Medicines, Vaccines and Immunization Devices, Vector Control).
- Symptomatic Cases. Diagnostic (PCR) testing of all symptomatic persons, including vaccinated persons who display COVID-related symptoms, will continue. Campuses may choose to require more frequent surveillance testing of individuals, regardless of vaccination status.
- Contractors and Vendors. Campuses should continue with the process currently in place for contractors and outside vendors.
- Campuses must continue to report testing results daily through the SUNY Health Portal but can pre-fill entries for days (e.g. weekends) when no testing is done or is anticipated to be done.
- Any incidents of non-compliance with campus testing will continue to be handled through the individual Campus Code of Conduct for students and Human Resources for employees.
- Additional Testing. Campuses may impose more frequent testing of students and employees, regardless of vaccination status, if conditions warrant additional measures. SUNY Upstate Medical University has developed additional protocols that may be used by campuses.
X. Pre-Semester Testing and Quarantine
In lieu of a negative test, unvaccinated students with a medical or religious exemption will need to quarantine for at least ten (10) days prior to or upon arrival at campus and attest to the campus that they did so. Campuses have the discretion to impose additional requirements (e.g. campuses may require a negative COVID-19 test within the past three (3) days as opposed to five (5) days and/or campuses may also require both quarantine and a test).
XI. Residence Halls, Quarantine and Isolation Space
Campuses should plan for a higher occupancy of residence halls in the fall Campuses should plan to maintain a reasonable portion of the rooms previously held or have access to space off campus for quarantine and isolation uses. The CDC Guidance indicates that fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 do not have to quarantine unless they are symptomatic. Fully vaccinated individuals who test positive must isolate for 10 days.
XII. Uniform Sanctioning Compliance Guidance
The Uniform Sanctioning Compliance Guidance, issued on September 25, 2020, was sunset and is no longer in effect. The flexibility to enforce such guidance is returned to the campus. Such enforcement at the campus level will continue through the 2021-2022 academic year. Further details will be distributed by the Office of General Counsel.
[1] Students are defined as any individual matriculated or otherwise enrolled full-time or part-time at SUNY Facilities as well as visiting, auditing, exchange, continuing education, and international students taking in-person courses at SUNY. The definition of students does not include high school students enrolled in courses at a campus. See Section XIV below for more information regarding high school students. 3 Staff includes all employees working on campus—State, Research Foundation, Campus Foundation, contractors, etc.
[2] The mandatory testing agreements with faculty and staff expired on June 30, 2021. New agreements were signed by UUP, PEF, NYSCOPBA, and PBANYS to extend the agreement through December 2021. CSEA has yet to sign the agreement.
Plan Subject to Any Changes in Federal and State Guidance
CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN FOR A STATE DISASTER EMERGENCY INVOLVING A COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Purpose
To ensure the continuation of services provided by the State of New York and the health and safety of the public sector workforce, each New York State agency and authority must prepare a plan for the continuation of operations in the event that the Governor declares a state disaster emergency involving a communicable disease.
Applicable agencies and authorities must post finalized plans by April 1, 2021 in (1) a clear and conspicuous location (e.g., bulletin boards or other similar location where employees normally view information posted by the employer), (2) in their employee handbook if they have one, and (3) on either their intranet or internet website.
Continuity of Operations Plan for a Disaster Emergency Involving a Communicable Disease
Individual(s) Responsible for Maintaining this Plan:
Stephanie Greeno
Director of Human Resources/Safety Monitor
sgreeno@sunysullivan.edu
845-434-5750 ext. 4311
Pamela Jones
College Nurse/Safety Monitor
845-434-5770 ext. 4419
Date of Posting:
April 1, 2021
Statutory Elements of the Plan:
- A list and description of the types of positions considered essential in the event of a state-ordered reduction of in-person workforce.
Effective February 1, 2021, the College considers the following to be “essential” employees.
- Essential shall refer to a designation made that a public employee is required to be physically present at a worksite to perform his or her job. Such designation may be changed at any time in the sole discretion of the employer.
- A description of protocols the employer will follow for non-essential employees to telecommute including, but not limited to, facilitating or requesting the procurement, distribution, downloading and installation of any needed technology, including software, data, and the transferring of office phone lines to work or personal cell phones as practicable or applicable to the workplace, and any devices.
- Non-essential shall refer to a designation made that a public employee is not required to be physically present at a work site to perform his or her job. Such designation may be changed at any time in the sole discretion of the employer.
- A description of how the employer will, to the extent possible, stagger work shifts of essential employees in order to reduce overcrowding on public transportation systems and at worksites.
- A description of the protocol that the employer will implement in order to procure the appropriate personal protective equipment for essential employees, based upon the various tasks and needs of such employees, in a quantity sufficient to provide personal protective equipment to each essential employee during any given work shift. Such description shall also include a plan for storage of such equipment to prevent degradation and permit immediate access in the event of an emergency declaration.
- A description of the protocol in the event an employee is exposed to a known case of the communicable disease that is the subject of the state disaster emergency, exhibits symptoms of such disease, or tests positive for such disease in order to prevent the spread or contraction of such disease in the workplace. Such protocol shall also detail actions to be taken to immediately and thoroughly disinfect the work area of any employee known or suspected to be infected with the communicable disease as well as any common area surface and shared equipment such employee may have touched, and the employer policy on available leave in the event of the need of an employee to receive testing, treatment, isolation, or quarantine. Such protocol shall not involve any action that would violate any existing federal, state, or local law, including regarding sick leave or health information privacy.
- A protocol for documenting hours and work locations, including off-site visits, for essential employees. Such protocol shall be designed only to aid in tracking of the disease and to identify the population of exposed employees in order to facilitate the provision of any benefits which may be available to certain employees on that basis.
- A protocol for how the public employer will work with such employer’s locality to identify sites for emergency housing for essential employees in order to further contain the spread of the communicable disease that is the subject of the declared emergency, to the extent applicable to the needs of the workplace.
Any other public health requirements determined by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) that are designed to reduce transmission of infectious diseases, such as face coverings, contract tracing, diagnostic testing, social distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, and cleaning and disinfection protocols.
- Essential Personnel
Essential shall refer to a designation made that a public employee is required to be physically present at a worksite to perform his or her job. Such designation may be changed at any time in the sole discretion of the employer.
SUNY Sullivan President will be responsible for final determinations as to which functions or employees are essential based on how the crisis is developing or present on campus. Employees determined to be essential will be notified by management in writing. In addition to campus leadership such as the Campus President, essential functions at the campus level also include functions required to support the well-being of individuals who remain on campus as well as the maintenance of SUNY Sullivan properties and resources. Below is a list of positions/functions at the campus level that may be essential in responding to a disaster emergency involving a communicable disease:
| Mission Essential Position | Description |
| President | Executive Leadership |
| Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs | Executive Leadership |
| Dean of Communications & Admissions | Executive Leadership |
| Director of Executive Operations & Administrative Assistant to the Board of Trustees | Executive Leadership |
| Associate VP Planning, Facilities, and Human Resources | Executive Leadership |
| Director of Finance | Executive Leadership |
| Assistant Controller | Office of Finance |
| Principal Account Clerk | Office of Finance |
| Senior Account Clerk | Office of Finance |
| Bursar | Office of Finance |
| Coordinator of Purchasing | Office of Finance |
| College Affiliate Accountant | Office of Finance |
| Director of Human Resources | Office of Human Resources |
| Assistant Director of Human Resources | Office of Human Resources |
| Administrative Associate for Human Resources/Administrative Services | Office of Human Resources |
| Director of Public Safety | Office of Public Safety |
| Assistant Director of Public Safety | Office of Public Safety |
| Building & Ground Maintenance Director | Building Operations and Management |
| Building & Ground Maintenance Supervisor | Building Operations and Management |
| Building & Grounds Maintenance Worker II | Building Operations and Management |
| Special Electrician | Building Operations and Management |
| Facilities Support Technician | Building Operations and Management |
| Maintenance Worker | Building Operations and Management |
| Director of IT | Office of Information Technology |
| Coordinator of Network Services | Office of Information Technology |
| Assistant Coordinator of Network Services | Office of Information Technology |
| Coordinator of Info Tech Operator | Office of Information Technology |
| Dean of Student Development Services | Office of Student Development Services |
| Director of Recruiting and Admissions | Office of Admissions |
| Dean of Student Success and Workforce Development | Office of Admissions |
| Senior Administrative Associate | Office of the Vice President |
| Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Health Sciences | Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences & Health Sciences |
| Director of the Catskill Hospitality Institute | Faculty |
| Administrative Associate to the Dean of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Health Sciences | Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences & Health Sciences |
| Director of Registration Services | Office of Registration Services |
| Registration Services | Office of Registration Services |
| Database Specialist | Office of Registration Services |
| Director of Financial Aid | Office of Financial Aid |
| Financial Aid Officer | Office of Financial Aid |
| Counselor I | Office of One Stop |
| Director of the Liberty Partnership Program | Office of LPP |
| Office Manager for Learning Center/Commons | Office of One-Stop |
| Admin Assoc to Dean of Student Development Services | Office of Student Development Services |
| Associate Dean of Student Engagement | Office of Student Development Services |
| College Nurse | Office of Health Services |
| Instructional Assistant Health Sciences | Division of Health Sciences |
| Division Secretary | |
| Technical Assistant Theater | Theater |
| Technical Assistant I-Science Labs | Division of Science |
B. Telecommuting
The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) has the authority to establish a Statewide, uniform, telecommuting program which outlines how agencies/authorities manage telecommuting. In the event of a future state disaster emergency involving a communicable disease, SUNY Sullivan will receive direction from GOER on the rules and guidelines applicable to telecommuting and will take the necessary steps in order to implement and operationalize any official telecommuting program, where applicable, for SUNY Sullivan, including:
- Protocol for procurement, distribution, downloading and installation of needed technology:
There are a variety of technological tools available to support a remote workforce. In addition to software tools, we may provide access to desktops and lab computers, and loaner laptops, Chromebooks, tablets and other technological resources.
- Protocol for phone coverage and transfer of office phone lines to work or personal cell phones:
SUNY Sullivan employees have access to check their voicemail remotely. Employees should check with the Help Desk to see what is available. Additionally, cell phone use is prevalent, and many employees choose to use their cell phones as their primary contact.
SUNY Sullivan will periodically assess its technology needs for telecommuting and work with IT to ensure that appropriate information technology resources are available.
In the absence of a Statewide telecommuting program, SUNY Sullivan will work within the confines of current labor management structures to determine the appropriateness of employee presence on campus, to include the possibility of assigning alternate work locations. Until a decision is made by the College about the nature and extent of the emergency, or a closure by the Governor, all employees
should report to work as usual. Thereafter, management will determine and communicate which functions are essential and if any essential personnel will be excused from reporting to work and/or a physical work location.
C. Work Shifts/Schedules
SUNY Sullivan will ensure that essential employees can continue to fulfill their work responsibilities within the confines of what is advisable by the WHO, CDC and/or required by NYS or its DOH. In a future communicable disease event, current procedures and guidelines for workplace safety protocols will be adjusted to fit the specific threat and be distributed to all employees. Considerations will be made, within the confines of collective bargaining agreements and civil service laws, rules or regulations, to modify working hours, shifts, and schedules in such a way that social distancing and other workplace safety protocols can be enforced. We will ensure that appropriate physical and social distancing is followed for those physically present at work. These guidance documents include the following key elements:
- Employees required to physically report to the office may work with their supervisor on an individualized work schedule that will meet specific operating requirements and their personal needs. Subject to operating needs, an individualized work schedule can include:
- Permitting essential employees to flex their schedules around available childcare, working some or all of their hours on evening and/or weekend shifts when alternate care options are available, dependent on operational needs.
- Adjusting building access (hours and security) to support flex schedules.
- Office Social Distancing:
- During the current emergency, SUNY Sullivan evaluated and adjusted its individual and community office space to comply with social distancing requirements. These measurements will be kept and will be available during the next contagious disease emergency, in accordance with the threat.
- Supervisors will monitor work schedules and limit occupancy in any enclosed space to no more than 50% and maintain a 6-foot distance between individuals.
- Physical partitions or other barriers may be installed where 6-foot distancing between staff is not possible.
D. Personal Protective Equipment
SUNY Sullivan follows Infection Control Procedures in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health in the development of all internal protocols and guidance relative to responding to communicable disease.
During a response to a communicable disease outbreak, procuring, distributing and inventory control will be centralized and prioritized. The Offices of Health Services and Building and Grounds will coordinate these activities and supplies will be procured via OGS or from well-established New York State suppliers.
Health services, the campus safety monitors and building and grounds will be responsible to ensure that there are adequate medical (general medical supplies, medications and PPE) and nonmedical (for implementation of CDC recommended infection control and biosafety measures; cleaning and disinfecting) supplies to cover a public health emergency. SUNY Sullivan’s PPE supply is stored pursuant to PPE storage requirements and is overseen and distributed by the Office of Buildings and Grounds.
PPE needs will be determined by our population. There is a minimum kept on hand based on what our needs are determined to be.
The health services office in coordination with the campus safety monitors will ensure employees are provided training on the proper donning, doffing, cleaning (as appropriate) and disposal of PPE.
E. Exposure Protocol
SUNY Sullivan has created a series of procedures to ensure that all employees physically reporting to work are screened for infectious disease and that the results of the screenings are collected and instantly reviewed. These protocols follow all screening, testing, and tracing procedures as outlined in the applicable NYS DOH guidance, including instructions to employees on when to return home and when to return to work. Protocols are updated as circumstances change.
SUNY System Administration has worked with the SUNY hospital network to develop tests in the current pandemic and requires weekly testing of all employees physically present at SUNY campuses. Testing protocols can be modified to support other testing needs. SUNY Sullivan has implemented the following COVID-19 Testing Plan and will utilize future protocols as needed in future situations.
Based on the total on-campus population of SUNY Sullivan, we will be utilizing a Saliva Pooled Testing approach and 100% of the on-campus student population will be tested every week. Persons being tested will be assorted into pools based on class schedules and office duties and schedules. The pooled testing technique allows a lab to mix several samples together in a “batch” or pooled sample and then test the pooled sample with a diagnostic test. If the pooled sample is negative, it can be deuced that all individuals are negative. If the pooled sample comes back positive, then each sample will be tested individually to find out which was positive. For all persons in a positive pool, care must be taken to confidentially handle the resultant health-related information in an appropriately discrete manner. Our safety monitors will be monitoring the pooled testing results in order to take proactive actions and will be working closely with county health officials on isolation/quarantine protocols for any positive test results. All individuals who test positive through our pooled testing, will be advised to isolate, per the guidance given from county health officials, and the county health department will be notified for contact tracing.
Employees who are physically reporting to work must complete the Daily COVID-19 Screening prior to accessing campus. This includes employee’s coming into the building only for a brief period.
Procedures have been developed to comply with directives from the Director of State Operations and Infrastructure memorandum, entitled, “Employee Testing and Evaluation Protocols for COVID-19,” which includes cleaning and disinfecting protocols, as well as notification to health officials as required. SUNY Sullivan also works with Constable, a 3rd party cleaning company, to thoroughly disinfect any work area of any in person employee as well as any common area surface and shared equipment such employee may have touched including:
- Building and elevator lobbies.
- Restrooms & drinking fountains.
- Hallway light switches, turnstiles, and waste receptacles.
- Building entrances, stairwell doors and handrails.
While the amount and types of leave available to an employee will be dependent on the particular communicable disease emergency that has been declared and any provisions of law that provide for leave under such circumstances, during a communicable disease emergency an employee’s leave options include GOER quarantine leave, other applicable State policy leave, leave provided under a Federal Act and an employee’s own leave accruals. Collective Bargaining Agreements may also be applicable. Policy on available leaves will be established by the Department of Civil Service and/or GOER who shall provide guidance to the agencies/authorities on how to instruct employees about available leaves.
F. Protocol for Documenting Work Hours/Locations
SUNY Sullivan is responsible for tracking the population of exposed employees in order to facilitate the provision of any benefits which may be available to certain employees on that basis. Employees entering SUNY Sullivan worksites must undergo a health screening which is recorded as described in Section E (above). Logs from that application are saved daily and are accessible by key personnel including the College Nurse and Human Resources Office who will use the information for the purposes of disease tracking, identifying potential exposures, and contact tracing.
G. Protocol for Identifying Emergency Housing for Essential Employees
SUNY Sullivan is responsible for contacting county officials, hotels and college and university officials to develop information about the availability of emergency housing for essential employees. Emergency housing opportunities, once developed, will be communicated to employees who may need such housing.
H. Other Requirements Determined by the NYS DOH
- Current DOH guidelines for COVID-19 are as follows and will be modified depending on the particular emergency declared.
- Ensure a distance of at least 6 feet is maintained among employees at all times, unless safety of the core activity requires a shorter distance (e.g., moving and lifting equipment). Any time an employee must come within 6 feet of another person, the employee and person should wear acceptable face coverings.
- When distancing is not feasible between workstations or areas, provide and require the use of face coverings or erect physical barriers, such as plastic shielding walls, in lieu of face coverings in areas where they would not affect air flow, heating, cooling, or ventilation.
- Tightly confined spaces should be occupied by only one individual at a time, unless all occupants are wearing face coverings. If occupied by more than one person, occupancy will be kept under 50% of maximum capacity.
- Social distancing markers should be posted around the workplace using tape or signs that indicate 6 feet of spacing in commonly used areas and any areas in which lines are commonly formed or people may congregate (e.g., clock in/out stations, health screening stations, break rooms, water coolers, etc.). Further, bi-directional foot traffic should be reduced by using tape or signs with arrows in narrow aisles, hallways or spaces.
- Post signs, consistent with the DOH COVID-19 signage, to remind employees about social distancing, hand hygiene, PPE, and cleaning guidelines.
- Limit employee travel for work to only essential travel.
- Hygiene and sanitation requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DOH must be followed, and cleaning logs that that include the date, time, and scope of cleaning must be maintained.
- Hand hygiene stations, including handwashing with soap, water, and disposable paper towels, as well as NYS Clean hand sanitizer or a hand sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing facilities may not be available or practical, must be provided and maintained for personnel.
- Appropriate cleaning/disinfection supplies for shared and frequently touched surfaces must be provided, and employees must use these supplies before and after use of these surfaces, followed by hand hygiene.
- Regular cleaning and disinfection of the office location must be undertaken. More frequent cleaning and disinfection must be undertaken for high risk areas used by many individuals and for frequently touched surfaces, at least after each shift, daily, or more frequently as needed, and align with DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19”.
- Exposed areas must be cleaned and disinfected in the event of an employee testing positive for COVID-19. Such cleaning should include, at a minimum, all heavy transit areas and high-touch surfaces (e.g., vending machines, handrails, bathrooms, doorknobs, etc.).
- CDC guidelines on “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility” should be complied with if someone in your facility is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.
- Agencies/authorities must have internally identified key points of contact including but not limited to site safety monitors, individuals responsible for monitoring compliance with this plan and central points of contact who will coordinate efforts to notify appropriate health authorities of positive cases and assist with required contact tracing.
- SUNY Sullivan will also comply with all executive orders and emergency regulations related to the state disaster emergency.