2023-2024 COVID-19 Safety Plan

Welcome to Academic Year 2023-2024! As Juniata continues to be committed to the wellbeing of our community, we encourage you to be proactive about protecting yourself and others from the spread of any contagions. We are a community of caring, strength, and resilience!

As a reminder, everyday actions people can take to stay healthy include:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have a tissue, cough into your elbow/upper sleeve. Do NOT cough into your hands and DO NOT cough into the air. ALWAYS COVER YOUR COUGH!
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Don't share beverages or eating utensils.

Symptom monitoring and testing:  Symptoms of COVID-19 include congestion, runny nose, headache, fever, and fatigue. Students are encouraged to keep a supply of self-test kits in their room. Students experiencing any of these symptoms should test themselves or arrange for a diagnostic test at the health center. (814-641-3356 or 814-641-3410) 
Employees should arrange for a diagnostic test using home tests or through their health care provider.

Masking:  Masks are optional in all campus settings. Individuals are encouraged to use masks as they deem beneficial and in accordance with CDC guidance.

Student and employee vaccinations:  The College encourages everyone to stay up to date with COVID vaccines in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control. The updated vaccine booster is scheduled to be released in mid-September (per FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee) and Juniata will once again be offering COVID booster clinics on campus after that release.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after having COVID-19: Even if you have had COVID-19, vaccination boosters are recommended:

• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after having COVID-19 provides added protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.
• People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery.

If you recently had COVID-19, you still need to stay up to date with your vaccines, but you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose by 3 months from:

• when your symptoms started.
• or, if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test.

Student testing, isolation and close contacts:

• Individuals who test positive will isolate for five days, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask around others, as long as they are asymptomatic and have been fever free for 24 hours.
• Students are to notify Health Services (814-641-3410) healthservices@juniata.edu of a positive result from a test that was performed at an off-campus location or as the result of a home test.
• Students who are close contacts of someone who has tested positive should monitor symptoms and wear a mask around others for at least 5 days following exposure.
• Students who test positive should plan to isolate at home, except in instances where travel is unsafe or impossible. Health Services will check in with you daily during your isolation.
  • Students who test positive may isolate in their residence hall room if all roommates agree. Students isolating in place may leave their room (masked) to use bathroom facilities or to pick up to-go meals from campus dining; such students must wear a mask when leaving isolation and return directly to their room.  Eating in public dining areas is not permitted during isolation.
  • Additional limited isolation housing on campus may be available upon request. Contact Health Services with this request.
  • Students who must isolate locally may arrange for local hotel accommodations at their own expense; a daily delivery of meals will be provided to meal plan participants who have arranged local isolation. Health Services will coordinate this with the student.
  • Students who have financial concerns should contact the Dean of Students Office (814-641-3605) to discuss possible assistance options.
  • No refunds or adjustments to room and board charges are provided for absences from campus related to isolation and quarantine.
  • Faculty will be encouraged to help isolating students remain current with course materials to make progress but zoom participation or recordings of class are not expected or required during COVID-related absences.

Employee testing, isolation and quarantine:

• Employees who test positive must stay home for five days, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask around others, as long as they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours).
• Human Resources must be notified immediately of a positive test result off-campus or as the result of a home test.
• Health Services does not provide testing for employees. All testing must be administered via at home tests or off-campus resources.
• Employees who are close contacts of someone with whom they live should monitor symptoms, wear a mask indoors at work for at least 5 days following exposure, and self-test before coming to work, if possible.

Campus Events and Activities: Student clubs and organizations will be able to host events.  
Students participating in off-campus events and activities, including internships, volunteer or community engagement experiences, student teaching, etc. should consult the site supervisor about COVID-19 regulations and policies that exist at the event site.

Athletics: Athletes who test positive may not participate in events, practices or training while in isolation. Juniata Athletics will provide further information and specific policies and practices that relate to sport participation.

Residence Hall Guest Visitation: Students may host non-Juniata guests on campus. All guests hosted on campus must be in compliance with other regulations regarding the presence of and responsibility for campus guests.

Travel: Student travel is not restricted.