Bailey Health Center is partnering with CVS Wed., Oct. 11, to administer the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to students and employees.

The immunization will be processed by CVS and they will use your private health insurance. Therefore, you will need to pre-register by using this link. Appointments are required.

9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. • Bailey Health Center • MORE

You may receive your flu shot during the same visit. Employees | Students

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“I am pleased to report that the daily case counts for students self-reporting through the Bailey Health Center website has been steadily trending downward over the past week and has remained in the single digits over the past several days,” said Director of Health Services Dr. Jeff Goldstein. “Thank you for doing your part to keep our campus healthy by getting tested while symptomatic and using a mask regardless of the test result. Stay well and have a great week.”

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I am writing to update the community on COVID-19 and to review some recommendations to keep our campus healthy this fall. May 2023 marked the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, and the College made some important policy changes for pandemic preparedness in the spring aligned with the federal declaration. As expected, with the new highly contagious variants circulating in our community, we have seen an increase in cases during the first two weeks of classes. 

For the same reasons, I expect to see a rise in the number of infections in the coming weeks. Recently, hospitalization rates for COVID-19 have increased nationwide, although rates remain low in Northampton County. Data on the virulence of newer variants is lacking, but for most people, symptoms are generally mild and include sore throat, cough, congestion, headache, and fatigue.

In an effort to mitigate a rising number of infections on campus, I would like to offer some important guidance for those who become ill or come in contact with others who test positive.

While I encourage you to assess your individual risk factors in making decisions about masking and vaccines, there are five primary preventative measures we ask you to take to keep our infection rate as low as possible: 

1. If you are symptomatic, get tested.
   
2. If you are symptomatic, (a) use a mask regardless of the test result since a negative test does not guarantee that you are not infected with the virus, and (b) do your best to isolate yourself from others. 
3. For those who test positive:
   • Employees who test positive should stay home and isolate for at least 5 days; you are most likely to infect others during this time. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms.
   • Students who test positive should not attend class. Further:
     • Students should always self-report via the Bailey Health Center website regardless of where the test was performed. After self-reporting, you will receive an email from the health center with instructions. A Dean’s Excuse will be issued from the health center. 
     • Isolate in your assigned room or off-campus housing for at least 5 days. Select a grab-and-go option for dining and have a friend pick up the meal for you if possible. 
     • The health center has added a nurse phone line after our operating hours. If you have a question or are unsure what to do, please call 610-590-2719.
   • For employees and students: While you may end isolation after 5 days if your symptoms are improving and you are fever free, you should wear a KN95 mask through day 10.
4. If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, CDC guidance recommends masking, especially while indoors, for 10 days. Testing is recommended on day 6, sooner if you feel sick.
5. In addition to basic health and hygiene preventive strategies such as regular and thorough hand washing, you can lower your risk of getting sick by spending more time outdoors, maximizing ventilation while inside, staying up to date with vaccines, and avoiding contact with people who are sick. 

Thanks for taking care of yourself and looking out for others.

Be well,

Jeff Goldstein, MD
Director of Health Services

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I am writing to update you on important changes to our COVID-19 vaccine policy. The College continues to monitor the virus closely and will provide guidance accordingly. 

At this time, the status of the COVID-19 pandemic has improved dramatically, with cases and hospitalizations in decline regionally and nationally. With the planned ending of the national public health emergency officially scheduled for May 11, 2023, the College is adjusting its COVID-19 guidance for the upcoming fall semester.

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate will no longer be in effect and proof of vaccination will no longer be required for students or employees. I strongly recommend that everyone follow the CDC guidelines, which still recommends that everyone be up-to-date with the vaccine and booster doses. The decision to rescind the mandate follows the available evidence and understanding of immunity and pathogenicity of the virus.

Thank you for your continued commitment to the health and safety of our community.

Respectfully,

Jeff Goldstein, MD
Director of Health Services

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I am writing to update the community on COVID-19 cases on campus and to provide timely related information. 

As expected, with the highly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variants still circulating in our region, we have seen an increase in cases during the first 10 days of classes. Although the omicron variants cause less severe illness than prior variants, especially for those who are fully vaccinated, it also spreads more easily regardless of vaccination status or history of prior infection. 

In an effort to mitigate a more widespread outbreak and offer guidance for those who may become ill with the virus, I would like to share with you some important relevant information consistent with our protocols and CDC-recommended practices:

• Reporting a positive test result: Students who test positive for COVID-19 using a rapid self-test or at an off-campus location should use Bailey Health Center’s COVID-19 self-reporting form. A positive test result can be reported 24 hours a day. After submitting the form, you will receive an automatic response with next steps.
• Isolation: Students who test positive for COVID-19 should both 
  • (1) isolate themselves in their assigned rooms or off-campus apartments for at least five days and until they are fever free and their symptoms are improving, AND 
  • (2) mask for an additional five days immediately after isolation. During isolation, a Dean’s Excuse will be issued, and we expect the student to use mobile ordering for meals. 
• Masking: While I recognize that we are all confronting COVID-19 fatigue, for the safety of everyone on campus we expect that you will wear a mask for 10 days if 
  • (1) you are ill with any respiratory virus, since the rapid tests are not as sensitive for the Omicron variant; OR 
  • (2) if you have come in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19.

• Vaccines: We encourage everyone to get vaccinated with one of the newer vaccines that targets the highly contagious omicron variant. The CDC and FDA have cleared the new Pfizer and Moderna reformulated vaccines, which should be available in the coming weeks.

As a reminder, Bailey Health Center has added a nurse phone line so that anyone who wants to do so may speak with a health professional even if the center is closed. If you feel ill and are unsure of what to do when the Health Center is closed, please call the Nurse Line at 1-888-402-5846, opt. 4. 

Let’s do everything we can to keep our campus safe and healthy.

Dr. Jeff Goldstein
Director of Health Services

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Dear 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 students, faculty, and staff:

I hope everyone is enjoying some restorative time. As we approach the final weeks of the summer break and prepare to welcome new students and their families to campus, I thought it would be helpful if I reviewed our safety measures for COVID-19 for the upcoming semester. Our protocols have evolved to reflect the changing landscape of the virus, the benefits of enhanced therapeutics, and our collective immunity status to COVID-19. While we are now in a position to manage coronavirus similarly to other endemic respiratory viruses, we will continue to adhere to some specific public health policies that remain highly valuable for individual and community safety as the virus continues to mutate. Specifically, our protocols for this fall semester will be as follows:

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Another academic year has come to a close and, while COVID-19 is still with us, we are continuing to navigate toward a new normal together. We encourage you to continue to reference community transmission levels to inform your decisions about masking and other precautions to protect your health and the health of those around you. As many colleges and universities have done, we will be sunsetting our COVID-19 dashboard today, May 27.  

We have discontinued required weekly testing for members of the community who are not vaccinated for COVID-19. The standard for being compliant with COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all employees and students (incoming and returning) is to meet the CDC definition of “fully vaccinated.” Our recommendation is that each member of the community meet the CDC definition of being “up to date for COVID-19 vaccines.” COVID-19 vaccines remain accessible and free. In addition, vaccines continue to prove effective at minimizing the most serious outcomes of an infection especially hospitalization and death. You can check to see if you are eligible for additional boosters. If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, regardless of age, you should contact your primary care provider to discuss available options, as there may be other strategies recommended by your provider. 

Here is some additional information we hope you find helpful: 

• We continue to have at-home test kits on hand for students or employees who need one. Bailey Health Center will continue to provide testing for students who are symptomatic. Test kits are currently available in Feather House and can be picked up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
• KN95 masks and surgical masks are also available at Feather House for those who wish to use them.

Be well, stay safe, and have an enjoyable summer,

Annette Diorio
Vice President for Campus Life

Dr. Jeff Goldstein
Director of Health Services

COVID-19 Action Group
[email protected]

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As we approach Commencement weekend, we have updates on COVID-19 cases and precautions to share with the community. Both local health networks report increased cases, and, as the semester wrapped up, we saw an increase in cases among students and employees. Commencement is an exciting time, and we will be welcoming back to campus members of the Class of 2020 in addition to celebrating the members of the Class of 2022.

Here is some additional information we hope you find helpful: 

• The CDC suggests specific guidance for individuals and communities tied to transmission levels. Both Northampton and Lehigh counties are currently at the high community level.
• On-campus PCR testing ended May 11. We have a number of at-home test kits on hand for students or employees who need one. Bailey Health Center will continue to provide testing for students who are symptomatic even as we enter the summer months. Test kits are currently available in Feather House and can be picked up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
• KN95 masks and surgical masks are also available at Feather House and will be made available during Commencement weekend for those who wish to wear a mask in crowded venues.
• A reminder that you can check to see if you are eligible for additional boosters. If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, regardless of age, you should contact your primary care provider to discuss available options, as there may be other strategies recommended by your provider.
• The symptoms of COVID-19 are not significantly different from the symptoms of a cold or of seasonal allergies. If you experience symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19, stay home unless you have tested negative for COVID-19. If someone in your household recently tested positive for COVID-19, you do not need to isolate, but you should test; if you are symptomatic, you should certainly stay home and get tested.

Together we have navigated another year and will continue to provide information as we learn more about COVID-19 and how best to manage our shared environment. We understand that COVID-19 will remain with us and that each of us needs to carefully consider the best steps to ensure we are protecting our own health and the health of those around us. 

Be well and stay safe,

Annette Diorio
Vice President for Campus Life

COVID-19 Action Group
[email protected]

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You have likely read or heard news reports regarding COVID-19 cases increasing in some areas of the country, including the Northeast. While our campus experience remains manageable, now is a good time to update the community on several aspects of our COVID-19 planning.

• KN95 masks remain available at Feather House for students, faculty, and staff. 
• Boxes of surgical masks are also available for any department that would like to keep a box on hand for individuals who forget a mask in areas where they remain required. Departments can send a designee to pick up a box of surgical masks at Feather House.
• Anyone over 50 years of age can obtain a second COVID-19 vaccine booster. Find booster availability and check booster eligibility based on the vaccine received. If you are unsure if getting a booster is right for you, please consult your personal physician. 
• We have transitioned to a system of isolation in place for students who test positive for COVID-19. Students are best able to recover comfortably in their assigned rooms, and staying in place is appropriate for all but the small subset of students whose roommates may have a significantly elevated risk profile. In those cases, we will work with Bailey Health Center to make appropriate arrangements. 
• Moving to a program of isolating in place also means we have ended the system of providing emergency grants to students for food while in isolation or to cover expenses for traveling home to isolate
• Weekly, required monitoring testing and required masking in campus buildings for unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff will end on May 13. Test kits will remain available in the lobby of Feather House for students, faculty, and staff. We ask that symptomatic individuals refrain from visiting Feather House for test kits. Students who are symptomatic should be tested at Bailey Health Center. Faculty and staff should be tested through their primary physician or off-site testing facility. 
• Your COVID-19 vaccine record can be added to your phone. Instructions are available for both Apple Wallet and Google Pay. Many members of our campus community received COVID-19 vaccinations through on-campus LVHN clinics. Those who did can access their COVID-19 vaccine record through the MyLVHN app. 

Be well and stay safe,

Annette Diorio
Vice President for Campus Life

COVID-19 Action Group
[email protected]

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We are all excited to be heading into spring break and hope the updates contained here help with your departure and return to campus. Recently, the CDC issued updated guidance regarding masking recommendations. The current community alert level for Northampton County is low alert level, and the CDC guidance is summarized as follows:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Get tested if you have symptoms.

For those traveling over the break, we recommend checking the alert level for your destination and following the CDC guidance for that level.

Effective yesterday (March 7), masking is optional in more areas across campus. The list below details the only places where members of the community must mask.

Masking is required for all members of the community:

• in classrooms and laboratories unless otherwise directed by the faculty member.
• in Bailey Health Center, including the first- and second-floor offices (medical and Counseling Center spaces).
• in the game room area of Kirby Sports Center on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while COVID-19 testing is taking place.

• in the Williams Center for the Performing Arts, Weiss Theater of Buck Hall, and Studio Theater in 248 N. 3rd St. In addition, proof of vaccination is required at all performances through the spring semester.

• on the LCATS or other College group transportation per the federal government requirements regarding common transportation carriers.
• in administrative offices at the request of occupants.
• inside all campus buildings by members of the community who are not vaccinated. 

We are ending the online request forms used by faculty and staff to request masks and at-home COVID-19 tests. Masks and test kits remain available and can be obtained in Feather House (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Students can pick up a test kit for spring break use at the same location and during the same hours.

We are still working on the process to remove COVID-19 signs on and inside buildings. Members of the community who are requesting individuals to mask in their office or area should use this updated COVID-19 sign. The new sign has a gray background to make it easier for members of the community to understand this is a current request for masking and not an outdated sign.

We wish all Leopards a safe and healthy spring break!

Annette Diorio
Vice President for Campus Life

COVID-19 Action Group
[email protected]

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