The college now has additional tools for testing and monitoring.
Alfred State signed an agreement to join other institutions in using SUNY
Upstate Medical’s pool testing and will begin testing hundreds of students each
week beginning as early as next week. These tests will allow the college to
monitor infection rates on campus by testing 12 students in a single test,
doubling back to test students individually in the event of any positive
results.
Alfred State has already received four Becton Dickinson
Veritor Plus Analyzers and kits to perform rapid tests for Influenza A+B and
Strep to help eliminate the “white noise” of illnesses that produce similar
symptoms to COVID. ASC Health and Wellness Services will coordinate use of
these new tools. The Veritor Plus is FDA-approved to also test for COVID-19 and
the college expects those test kits next month. Taking the investment in
testing even further, Alfred State also has two Quidel Sofia2 analyzers on
order to further ensure adequate testing capacity at Alfred State; those units
are also expected soon.
“With the addition of pool testing happening as soon as next
week, multiple analyzers, and imminent rapid testing capacity on campus, we
have even more resources at our disposal,” said Alfred State President Dr. Skip
Sullivan. “We have partnerships established with St. James Hospital in Hornell,
Jones Memorial in Wellsville, and the Allegany County Health Department for a
network of local support working closely with our Health and Wellness Services
Office.
With the recent FDA approval of the SUNY Upstate Group
Saliva Surveillance Testing, the college will now be able to perform weekly
pool surveillance testing where groups of 12 can be tested in a single PCR test
at the Upstate Medical Center labs. With this capability, any positive pools
will follow additional protocols for individual testing and precautionary
quarantine while awaiting a second round of test results. This process will
allow the campus to monitor groups across campus for additional testing, as
needed.
Recently some misinformation has been spread questioning
ASC’s response to COVID-19 and preparedness. The college will take this
opportunity at the start of the semester to remind the public of some of the
many precautions that are being taken including the newly announced testing
capabilities.
Contact tracing has been in place since March 16 and details
related to each incident and current statistics are listed at
www.AlfredState.edu/covid-19/cases. Alfred State has reserved an entire
residence hall to be available for any students who need to be in precautionary
quarantine and additional townhouse space is held in reserve for dedicated
isolation space. The reopening plan approved by the state and SUNY was compiled
with input from a large cross-section of the campus. Membership on the 12 task
force groups included faculty members, along with many administrative and professional
staff.
Once the reopening plan was approved, ASC held virtual town
hall meetings to discuss it and shared details during the month of July. The
Employee Town Hall was extended from 60 to 90 minutes to cover more faculty and
staff questions. While most of the questions asked were redundant, college
leaders responded to a total of 50 questions that were submitted.
The state approved Alfred State’s request for in-person
instruction to continue our college’s mission for applied learning in every
major. In order to facilitate hands-on learning opportunities, there is a
greater need for in-person instruction.
ASC has greatly increased the frequency and intensity of
cleaning and sanitation. This includes making supplies available to faculty,
staff, and students. Plastic barriers are one of many additions made to office
and classroom environments in combination with a number of additional
precautions. These barriers are recommended and commonly used in many public
settings. Since social distancing is not possible in halls, elevators, and
other confined physical spaces, ASC is requiring face covers in all
non-residential buildings. For all decisions related to sanitation and
facilities improvements, ASC relies on guidance from CDC, WHO, and NY Forward.
Class and lab schedules have been altered to accommodate
more COVID-19 precautions. Additional technology to assist with instruction
includes the installation of 150 new hovercams that provide faculty with both a
document camera and web cam. These tools arrived in time for class start
despite a heavy demand on the supply chain due to the needs of universities,
colleges, and schools all preparing for fall.
“I’m proud of all the work we are doing to prepare but it’s
important to note that no one can guarantee that coronavirus will not appear on
campus,” said Sullivan. “Every business and public facility is battling this
virus. I call on all of our students, faculty, and staff to closely follow our
new protocols and work together to make us stronger.”
Alfred State recently updated its reopening plan as it is a
living document that now captures the transition from planning to action. All
colleges are asked to constantly evolve and adapt their plans to the changing
conditions and regulations around operating their campus community. Online at
www.AlfredState.edu/covid-19/reopen-plan some of the newest information
includes plans if in-person instruction must be curtailed, information for
international and out-of-state students, and the latest information regarding
testing and monitoring. A campus safety video also illustrates many of the ways
ASC operations have changed due to the coronavirus.
