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Dear Maria Community,

As a follow up to the last email, this notification provides more detail on the COVID-19 testing requirements for all students, faculty, and staff. In order to further ensure the health and safety of our community, we will be instituting (along with the share my health daily screening) a system of surveillance testing. Testing is being done at no cost to individuals.

From January 1, all community members will be required to have a negative COVID test result, taken no more than 5 days prior to first accessing the Maria campus. Tests can be self-scheduled and are provided free of charge through the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Going forward throughout the semester, community members who come to campus will be selected for surveillance testing on a regular basis. This is a proactive and conservative approach to identify cases early, limit contact among at-risk Campus Community members, and thus reduce transmission. Instructions for surveillance testing are below, and like the initial test, they can be obtained through ACPHS at no charge.

Initial Campus Access Testing Requirement Information
How to schedule a test

You will be able to schedule your own test at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on their website below. Testing is done between 8am and 3pm, Monday – Friday, and testing will be available on Sunday, Jan 17th.

1.      Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Please enter surveillance as the reason for the test
2.      Enter Maria College in the comments section.
3.      This link will only work with yourname@mariacollege.edu email addresses

If you wish to access campus the week of January 4, please schedule your test for that week. Campus access will not be granted until your test is completed.
 
Where to go for the test

Testing will take place at the Albany College of Pharmacy’s Gymnasium (click here for a map with the Gym indicated)
The ACP campus location is 106 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208 – the address will bring you to the Visitor’s lot (Lot A on the map). Please park there and proceed to the Gymnasium.

How to prepare for the test

Please do not eat, drink, or smoke 30 minutes prior to your test.
Please bring a form of ID, such as a driver’s license.
 
What to expect for the test

Your test for surveillance purposes will be a nasal swab (rapid test). This nasal swab will be performed with the swab being placed only in the front part (1 cm) of each of your nostrils and rotated about 5 times on each side. You will find out the results while you are there. The total time will be around 30-40 minutes, depending on the number of people at the testing center.

What to do if you have a negative test

You may proceed with any responsibilities on campus or off campus for Maria College designated activities, provided you can appropriately answer the Share My Health daily self-screener questions. The daily self-screener will be used throughout the semester for campus access.

What to do if you have a positive test

Instructions will be provided onsite at the testing center regarding isolation procedures after a positive test result. A positive test result would not allow you on campus until you are cleared by the Department of Health.
1.      Students and employees will need to reach out to the COVID Point-of-care Coordinator for further instructions.
2.      All community members will be notified of the need to go home directly after receiving a positive test– do not come to campus.
3.      Students who test positive can reach out to the Frank E. O’Brien, Jr. Student Support Center and Team to connect with support services if they are unable to access campus.
Where/how to report test results

Your test at Albany College of Pharmacy will be recorded into the ShareMyHealth app.
 
Can I use the test I had done recently to fulfill my surveillance testing requirement?

Yes, a COVID-19 test from an outside source (i.e. a job) can be used to fulfill the surveillance testing requirement. The test must be within the prior 5 days of being selected to test or of the first access to campus. You will be able to upload a copy of this test result to Share My Health. Details on how to do this will be sent in the near future.

What if I don’t want to participate in the testing?

The expectation is that everyone who needs access to the campus this spring will participate in testing, which includes the initial Spring Semester Test and then the surveillance testing in random samples. This policy has been decided by Maria College Senior Leadership Team, and campus access will not be allowed if you fail to participate. Your card will not work to gain access to campus buildings if you have not complied with the testing requirement.

How to Prepare for the Initial Testing Requirement for Spring ’21 semester

Students:
  • Please follow all instructions on the testing requirements, including self-scheduling your initial test through ACP (or submitting test results through Share My Health)
  • Compliance with state, local, and college policies and procedures related to COVID-19 is a requirement of all community members and is outlined in the student handbook.
  • Should your initial test indicate you are positive for COVID-19, be prepared to contact your instructors about an excused absence, and contact the COVID Point-of-Care Coordinator.
  • You can familiarize yourself with the COVID procedures, and the return to campus plan, by visiting the College’s website.

Faculty and Staff:
  • Please follow all instructions on the testing requirements, including self-scheduling your initial test through ACP (or submitting test results through ShareMyHealth)
  • Campus access will not be granted until you have an initial test with a negative result. Please be prepared to schedule your test for early in the week of Jan 4 if you need to or want to access campus that week.
  • When you leave campus for the Christmas break, bring everything you need to be prepared to work remotely at the start of the semester.
  • If you test positive but are asymptomatic, and can work remotely, you should do so. If you test positive and are unwell you can speak with your supervisor about taking sick leave.
  • Should your initial test indicate you are positive for COVID-19, be prepared to contact your supervisor and the COVID Point-of-Care Coordinator.
  • You can familiarize yourself with the COVID procedures, and the return to campus plan, by visiting the College’s website.


Ongoing Surveillance screening for Spring ’21 semester

Beginning in late January and early February, a stratified sampling of those community members who access campus will be taken each week and a group of people selected for testing will be notified. As outlined in the previous email this is to ensure the limitation of asymptomatic spread of COVID-19.

How will I be notified of the random surveillance testing? How do I schedule my test?

Each week a sampling of campus community members will be chosen for surveillance testing, with the goal to including everybody in surveillance testing at several points in the semester. You will be notified by email to your Maria College email address. When you are chosen, you will receive an email on a Friday and be required to complete testing by the following Wednesday. You will be able to schedule your own test at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on their website below:
Please enter surveillance as the reason for the test and enter Maria College in the comments section.

The testing procedure and reporting procedure will be the same as for the initial January testing requirement. All tests are offered at no charge through ACP, and employer-mandated tests taken within five days of the notification email will be sufficient to meet the requirement.

What happens if I am not tested?

If you have been chosen for the stratified surveillance testing and don’t complete the test by Wednesday of the following week, campus access will be restricted until the test is completed.

Where can I send any questions?

You can reach out to the COVID Point-Of-Care Coordinator at with any questions about this process or surveillance testing at 518-764-4718 or COVIDCare@mariacollege.edu

Student questions about Maria College policies, procedures, and assistance to students can be directed to the Student Support Center at studentsupport@mariacollege.edu

Thank you for your cooperation as we prepare for a safe and healthy spring semester.
Joel Nudi
Vice President for Administration
Chair, Covid Task Force
700 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
Phone: 518-438-3111 • Fax: 518-438-7170 • mariacollege.edu