Human Resources Notice / Daily Wellness Screening

To: Paul Smith’s College faculty and staff

Delivered: July 31, 2020

An essential aspect of community safety is ensuring that all present are healthy. An important tool to reduce the potential exposure to COVID-19 is a daily health screening. The College is working on a smart phone application for this daily screening that will be available in early August. Until then we are asking all employees to perform a self-administered wellness screening.

Prior to your work shift, please consider the following questions:

  1. Within the last 14 days, have you experienced any symptoms of COVID-19?
    • Fever (100.1 or greater)
    • Shortness of Breath
    • Coughing
    • Loss of smell/taste
    • Nausea/vomiting
    • Weakness and/or body aches
  2. In the last 14 days, have you tested positive for COVID-19?
  3. In the last 14 days, have you had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case?
  4. In the last 14 days, have you traveled outside New York to one of the restricted states listed on NYS travel advisory?

If your answer is NO to all 4 questions than you are cleared to work on campus.

If your answer is YES to one of more of the questions, please do not report to work on campus. Contact your supervisor to report your absence and refer to the information below connected to each question.

Within the last 14 days have you experienced any symptoms of COVID-19?

  • Contact your health provider for further direction. If your symptoms are severe consider going to urgent care or the emergency room.
  • Do not return to work before contacting Human Resources for clearance.

Within the last 14 days have you tested positive for COVID-19?

  • Follow the directions of Franklin Health Department (or the public health department of the county that you live in) regarding isolation.
  • Your condition – asymptomatic to very ill – will influence which leave code you report for the duration of your isolation period. Please contact Human Resources for further guidance.
  • Do not return to work before contacting Human Resources for clearance.

Within the last 14 days, have you had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case?

  • Close contact is defined at this time as more than 15 minutes with no face covering and less than 6 feet apart.
  • If you meet this definition, please contact your county health department for further direction. Franklin County Public Health 518 481-1709, Essex County Public Health, 518 873-3500.
  • Please contact Human Resources for further guidance.
  • If you did not meet this definition you may return to campus.

Within the last 14 days, have you traveled outside New York to one of the restricted states listed on NYS travel advisory?

  • Do not come to campus. NYS requires that travelers to these states must engage in a 14-day self-quarantine. The precautionary quarantine requirements are found in the travel advisory.
  • Please discuss with your supervisor whether there is temporary work you are able to do from home. If appropriate work is not available, you are required to use vacation, personal or floating holiday leave. You may not use sick leave unless you are actually experiencing symptoms. Please contact Human Resources for further guidance.

As President Strauss said in his welcome message, “we are fortunate to be in a rural location where the impact of the virus has been limited, but we must remain vigilant.” A daily wellness screening is an essential step in our vigilance. Your participation is much appreciated. Please keep an eye out for the smart phone app soon to come.

Gwen Goodman

Director of Human Resources

Paul Smith’s College

Key Contacts

COVID Coordinator
Teresa Grosskopf
tgrosskopf@paulsmiths.edu
(518) 327-6451

Student Health Services
Abigail Fontaine, RN, BSN, Director
(518) 327-6349
afontaine@paulsmiths.edu

Housing & Residence Life
Lou Kaminski, Director
residencelifeandhousing@paulsmiths.edu
(518) 327-6488

Campus Safety
Holly Parker, Director
hparker@paulsmiths.edu
(518) 327-6300