As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) guidance related to respiratory virus protection changed in Spring 2024, the following is the updated COVID-19 policy and protocol for the Curry College community. Please take a few moments of your time to review these updates.
Effective August 2024, here is how Curry College is aligning with these guidelines:
Respiratory Illnesses & Testing Updates
- Curry College no longer requires students, faculty, or staff to self-report a positive COVID-19 test result.
- If you become sick with COVID-19 or any respiratory virus, stay home and away from others and seek guidance from your health care providers. You are encouraged to wear a mask. Treatments are available for COVID-19 and the flu, which can help reduce symptoms and the risk of severe illness. You should only return to normal activities when symptoms improve and you are fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours.
- Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are no longer required to isolate for 5 days:
- Resident students may return home if they wish, but are no longer required to isolate, on- or off-campus.
- Students should communicate with their instructors to coordinate any work missed, or absence should a student decide to isolate and not attend class.
- A faculty member may, at their own discretion, allow an individual student to attend an in-person class by video conference, in case of illness or other serious reason.
- On-campus isolation housing will no longer be provided or required.
- The Health Center will have a supply of free COVID-19 tests for students. Students should schedule an appointment at the Health Center if they cannot test independently.
- If a student is sharing a room with a COVID-19 positive person and has an underlying medical condition that puts them at greater risk of a severe COVID-19, please contact the Health Center for additional guidance.
- If exposed, you do not need to stay home or quarantine if you remain asymptomatic.
- If exposed, to protect others, especially those with risk factors for severe illness, take precautions: Wash your hands often, consider wearing a mask, and avoid crowded places.
We recommend if you are COVID-19 positive or have symptoms that you mask when getting your meals at the Student Center. We also ask that you get your meals to go and eat in your room until your symptoms are better or order via our Kiwibots, delivery robots.
Prevention
- One of the best ways to prevent infection is good hand hygiene.
- Other preventative steps include wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, opening a window/having fresh air, and keeping up-to-date with COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
- Wash clean surfaces that are shared with others such as light switches, doorknobs, bathroom surfaces, telephones, chairs, remote controls, etc. with a standard disinfectant. Wash your hands after cleaning these areas.
Support
- Students with respiratory symptoms may contact the Health Center for guidance or medical care/testing. Call 617-333-2182 x 2 to book an appointment. Students can also self-test for COVID-19.
- Staff and faculty with respiratory symptoms should seek medical guidance from their primary care provider as needed.
Masking
The College will maintain its optional masking policy across campus.
Vaccination Clinics
The Curry College Health Center will offer multiple vaccination clinics to the College community in the fall. Further details about clinic dates and times will be communicated at a later date.
Staying Well
- As always, take the time to rest, stay hydrated, use over-the-counter medications as needed, prioritize good hand hygiene, and eat healthy foods to stay as healthy as possible.
- Staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations is strongly recommended: CDC COVID-19 vaccination recommendations
- Be a good community member, stay home if you are feeling sick or if you are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness. This helps prevent the spread of germs to others. Remember to rest, hydrate, and seek medical advice if needed.
Faculty/Staff
Unit members (faculty) who are unable to come to campus because of illness or injury are not considered to have taken sick leave if, with permission of the Provost, they complete their teaching and service tasks remotely. Unit members (faculty) who use sick time are not expected to work remotely during that time.