COVID FAQ for Staff and Administrators (Fall 2023)

1. What steps should an administrator or staff member take following a positive Covid-19 test?

If an administrator or staff member tests positive for Covid-19, they are subject to a required 5-day period of isolation.  The employee should maintain communication with their supervisor while they are isolating to make the department aware of their eventual return date.

Return to work guidelines follow the recommendations of the CDC:

• End isolation after 5 days if you have been fever-free for 24 hours (Without fever-reducing medication)
• If you still have a fever or symptoms are not improving after 5 days, continue to isolate for up to 10 days until you are fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms improve
• If your fever persists beyond 10 days, please contact [email protected] to file a Short Term Disability claim

Please note: employees are not required to provide a negative Covid test prior to their return from isolation.

2. Are administrators and staff permitted to work remotely during their period of isolation?

Administrators and staff may work remotely during their period of isolation if they feel able to do so, if the essential duties of their position can be performed from home, and if their supervisors approve.

3. Do administrators and staff need to use their Sick Leave to cover a Covid-19-related absence?

Administrators and staff may use Covid-specific Sick Leave to cover Covid-19-related absences (provided that they are not able to work remotely), so that they do not have to draw upon their yearly allotted Sick Leave.  In order to be eligible for Covid-specific Sick Leave, an employee must provide a copy of their positive test results to the Office of Human Resources Management.  

Employees may use Covid Sick Leave on three separate occasions.  After three Covid-19-related absences covered by Covid Sick Leave, subsequent Covid-19-related absences must be covered using yearly allotted Sick Leave. 

4. Is the University still providing masks to administrators and staff members? 

Kn95 masks are available at the Public Safety office on both campuses.

5. Will the University be providing the updated mRNA vaccines (from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech) on campus?

Fordham is not administering these vaccines. However, the vaccines are readily available at major pharmacies or doctor's offices and are fully covered by the University's health insurance plan.

6. What is Fordham doing to improve indoor air quality and reduce COVID transmission? 

Facilities Operations has modified buildings’ ventilation systems to maximize the use of outside air and reduce the amount of recirculated air to the extent that we can maintain reasonable building comfort levels. The University is employing enhanced particulate filtering where possible through the use of HEPA air filtration.

7. Does the University still engage in disinfecting all surfaces?

Enhanced cleaning of surfaces is not being undertaken, as we know surfaces are not the means of transmission for this airborne virus. Disinfectant distribution units are still in place, but the University is not replenishing them once the disinfectant is consumed.

Faculty members should visit COVID FAQ for Instructors (Fall 2023).