Fall 2022 Operations Plan
NOTE: Any and all guidelines and processes outlined in this plan are subject to change as local conditions dictate.
Given the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, at-home COVID-19 testing, medications to treat COVID-19, falling case counts, and our collective experience mitigating the spread of COVID-19 using layered mitigation strategies, WCSU will align its COVID-19 mitigation efforts with the new CDC guidance. During Fall 2022, WCSU will operate by following CDC’s “COVID-19 Community Levels” guidance. According to this approach, operations will be consistent with one of the three risk levels: low (green,) medium (yellow,) and high (red.) COVID-19 Community Level in Fairfield County will be monitored daily by the COVID-19 coordinators and will be displayed on the Emergency Management webpage: https://www.wcsu.edu/emergency-management/
Last Updated: 09/06/22
COVID-19 Coordinators (Name and Title):
- Pano Koukopoulos, Director of Emergency Management
- Deanna Schaab, Interim Chief Facilities Officer and AVP for Campus Planning
Email: covid-coordinator@wcsu.edu
Phone: 203-837-9352
WCSU encourages and highly recommends that every member of the University community is up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster shots, regardless of COVID-19 Community Level.
All students, faculty, and staff should monitor their health daily for symptoms of COVID-19. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and might include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
IMPORTANT: If you are exhibiting ANY of these symptoms, please stay home and get tested. If you test positive, please report your condition here: https://westconn.tfaforms.net/201
Hand sanitizer and self-service surface cleaning supplies will continue to be available in hallways and other common areas throughout the WCSU campus. Washing hands is best practice, but when in doubt, use some sanitizer to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other seasonal illnesses.
WCSU is upgrading its normal ventilation practices. These upgrades are as follows:
- Air filters will be installed and serviced in accordance with equipment manufacturers’ recommendations
- Air filters will have a rating of MERV 13, as a minimum where possible
- Fresh air intakes will be opened to their maximum settings
- Restroom exhaust systems will be set to their maximum operating ranges
Before you travel, domestically or internationally, please refer to CDC’s latest travel updates here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/
COVID-19 Community Level-based Operations
The current COVID-19 Community Level can be checked here: https://www.wcsu.edu/emergency-management/ by selecting “Connecticut” and “Fairfield County” in the COVID-19 County Check prompt.
Green-Level Operations: Low COVID-19 Community Level
- Masking Requirements
- Masking is optional in all indoor and outdoor places. Masks will still be available for distribution.
- Testing requirements
- Surveillance PCR testing is not applicable
- Antigen test kits will be available by appointment during regular business hours at Health Services
- If you test positive, please report your status here https://westconn.tfaforms.net/201
- Physical distancing requirements
- Not applicable
- Events
- No restrictions on indoor or outdoor events. Masking during events is optional
Yellow-Level Operations: Medium COVID-19 Community Level
- Masking Requirements
- Masking is recommended for high-risk individuals, particularly indoors
- Testing requirements
- Screening or surveillance testing may be necessary based on a given scenario
- Antigen test kits will be available by appointment during regular business hours at Health Services
- If you test positive, please report your status here https://westconn.tfaforms.net/201
- Physical distancing requirements
- Not applicable
- Isolation and quarantine requirements
- To be based upon CDC requirements
- Events
- No restrictions on indoor or outdoor events. Masking during events is recommended for high-risk individuals, particularly indoors
Red-Level Operations: High COVID-19 Community Level
- Masking Requirements
- Masking is highly reccomended in all indoor spaces
- Masking is optional outdoors but is recommended for high-risk individuals
- Testing requirements
- COVID-19 screening and surveillance testing may be necessary based on CDC/DPH/Danbury Health Dept. recommendations
- Antigen testing will be available
- If you test positive, please report your status here https://westconn.tfaforms.net/201
- Physical distancing requirements
- May be implemented based on CDC/DPH recommendations, space capacities, functions, etc.
- Events
- Restrictions will be consistent with other masking, distancing and testing requirements applicable to this COVID-19 Community Level
Mitigation Strategies for Worsening COVID-19 Conditions
WCSU will continue to monitor local conditions as well as state and CDC guidelines for safe campus operations. Should there be a spike in infections or the emergence of a new variant that does not respond to the existing vaccinations, the university may have to implement additional mitigation strategies