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Campus Access
Isolation and Quarantine Procedures 
On-Campus Guidelines

CAMPUS ACCESS

Am I required to be vaccinated?

All University faculty, students, and staff must be fully up-to-date as defined by the CDC as of Tuesday, November 1, 2022, which includes the updated bivalent booster.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals 12 and older are eligible for the updated (bivalent) booster that is effective against multiple COVID variants, and in order to be considered up to date with vaccines, they should receive the updated booster if it has been 2 months or longer since their last COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals under 18 can only receive the Pfizer updated booster. The updated Moderna booster is only available for those 18 and over. Being up-to-date on the vaccine is particularly important because it will be more effective against new variants of the virus, helping us to both keep our community safe, and to function with less disruption.

Individuals can upload proof of vaccination to VitalCheck by clicking on the link text “Has your vaccination status recently changed?” on the daily VitalCheck email/text message.

Is the vaccine and booster available at Fordham?

The University has the new updated vaccines in stock and will administer them free of charge. You can sign up for the vaccine on the Testing and Vaccine Resources Page. (The updated vaccines are also available in the New York City area.) Members of the campus community must receive the updated vaccine as soon as they are eligible—individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days will have the deadline for compliance adjusted accordingly.

How do I  gain access to campus?

Fordham will discontinue required daily screenings on VitalCheck as of August 1, but will continue to use VitalCheck to manage vaccine and testing requirements, and for integration with the ID card system for access to campus.

While daily screening will not be required for all individuals, Vitalcheck will continue to send a daily reminder text that can be accessed by anyone who has and needs to report symptoms and access telehealth appointments (particularly for employees and graduate students). Asymptotic individuals will no longer have to complete the daily attestation.

To access campus, make sure to upload proof of vaccination/booster.

Am I required to be tested for COVID-19?

The University will offer on-demand testing and testing for suspected exposure, and for students only, diagnostic testing, but will discontinue surveillance and return-to-campus testing in the Fall semester. (Employees who have COVID-19 symptoms should not come to campus, but should see their healthcare providers for diagnostic testing.)

The University will continue to require weekly testing for individuals with medical or religious vaccine accommodations, or who are not yet fully up-to-date with their vaccines.

Fordham recommends that everyone returning to campus for the Fall semester take a COVID-19 test (PCR or rapid antigen) prior to arrival on campus, especially individuals who are traveling from outside of the New York metropolitan area. Anyone who receives a positive test result should complete their isolation before coming to campus. In August, the University will share testing locations and times for the Fall semester.

You can track the number of COVID-19 positive cases on . 

Am I required to wear a mask?

On campus, masks are recommended but not required in classrooms, labs, work settings, and public spaces for individuals fully up-to-date on vaccinations. (The CDC's mask guidelines say that individuals may "wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.") All individuals may wear masks in any setting if they choose to do so. Faculty may require masks in classrooms and laboratory settings, if they believe the particular circumstances warrant such measures. 

NOTE: Faculty may require masks in classrooms and laboratory settings, if they believe the particular circumstances warrant such measures.

Exceptions:

• Unvaccinated individuals with an exemption must still wear masks.
• Masks remain mandatory on Ram Vans and in University Health Service locations (offices, and testing and vaccination sites).

Isolation and Quarantine Procedures

What if I recently tested positive for COVID-19?

If you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, please upload a copy of those recent positive test results via VitalCheck, and you do not need to have a new test. VitalCheck is working on an upgrade, so, for now, upload your positive test image and select that it is a negative test (not a positive test).  

What if I test positive for COVID-19?

If you have COVID-19 or have symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days. Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive test. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected.

If you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving or you never experienced symptoms, you can test on or after day 6 using a rapid/antigen test (not a PCR test).

If your rapid test is negative, please complete this Symptom-Free Attestation Form to notify us. If your rapid test is positive or you are continuing to experience symptoms, you need to remain in isolation for 10 days. If you leave isolation before day 11, wear a well-fitted mask any time you are around others inside your home or in public.

Note that after a confirmed case of COVID-19, you may continue to test positive on a PCR test for an average of 90 days. However, a rapid or antigen test is only likely to be positive if you are still at risk of spreading infection OR you have contracted COVID-19 again, so it is an accurate way to test.

What if I have been exposed to COVID-19?

If you have close contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive and have received a COVID-19 booster vaccination; OR completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines within the previous 6 months; OR completed the primary series of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last 2 months:

• You do NOT need to quarantine. You should be tested approximately 5 days after exposure.

If you have close contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive and have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over 6 months ago and have NOT received a COVID-19 booster vaccination; OR have completed the primary series of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over 2 months ago and have NOT received a COVID-19 booster vaccination; OR are partially vaccinated (only 1 dose of a 2-dose vaccine series); OR are unvaccinated:

• Notify your supervisor; AND
• Quarantine for 5 days; AND
• Get a Broad PCR test on day 5 and wait for the results; once negative results are received (likely late on day 6 or possibly on day 7), you can leave quarantine; AND
• For an additional 5 days, wear a well-fitted, layered mask whenever you are around other individuals, indoors or outdoors.

For all contacts, regardless of vaccination status, if symptoms occur, you should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms that your symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Guidance around quarantine and isolation is provided by the CDC. Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have COVID-19.

• Isolation separates sick people with COVID-19 from people who are not sick. ​​People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, stay in a specific “sick room” or area, and use a separate bathroom (if available).
• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to COVID-19 to see if they become sick. Quarantine if you have been in close contact (within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19, unless you have been fully vaccinated. 

What should a fully-vaccinated employee do if their child is quarantined for COVID-19, and they need to stay home as the primary caregiver?

• Notify supervisor
• Notify Dan Wexler in Human Resources and provide appropriate documentation
• Stay home to care for quarantined child
• Work/teach online if possible

Fordham has also identified resources for short-term childcare during the semester. 

I am traveling from another state or country to Fordham. Will I have to quarantine upon my arrival?

Asymptomatic travelers entering New York from another country, U.S. state, or territory are no longer required to test or quarantine according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York state Department of Health.

Students living overseas who are not vaccinated before they arrive in the U.S. will be required to notify Fordham in advance so they can be vaccinated upon arrival. Those students will be required to test weekly until they are 2 weeks past their final vaccine dose. Students living overseas can find more detailed information online.

If I am required to quarantine or isolate due to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation, will I have to use my annual sick leave? 

Employees will be entitled to up to 14 calendar days (including weekends and holidays, if applicable) of job-protected paid sick leave if they or a minor dependent child are under a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19. Learn more about Fordham's Temporary Emergency Leave Guidelines.

Will my Fordham-sponsored healthcare plan cover medical expenses associated with testing for and treatment of COVID-19?
Yes, you will have the same coverage that is currently available for any emergency or non-emergency illness, subject to the normal deductible, copay, or out-of-pocket amounts associated with your medical plan.

On-Campus Guidelines

Do I have to wear a mask?

The CDC's updated mask guidelines say that individuals may now "wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk." Accordingly, at Fordham masks are recommended but not required in classrooms, labs, work settings, and public spaces for individuals fully up-to-date on vaccinations (meaning an individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible). All individuals may wear masks in any setting if they choose to do so.

NOTE: Faculty may require masks in classrooms and laboratory settings, if they believe the particular circumstances warrant such measures.

Exceptions:

• Unvaccinated individuals with an exemption must still wear masks.
• Masks remain mandatory on Ram Vans and in University Health Service locations (offices, and testing and vaccination sites).

Are fitness centers open?

All campus fitness centers are open.

Are visitors allowed on campus? 

Beginning September 1, Fordham campuses will be open to non-Fordham visitors and guests, as well as Fordham sponsored external events. All visitors 6 months of age and older are expected to be "up-to-date" on vaccinations, as stated above, and proof of vaccination will be required. More information and details on residence hall visitation and overnight guests will be provided soon by the Offices of Residential Life.

As always, our policies and protocols are subject to change, based on conditions on and off campus, and any new federal, state, or local regulations. Thank you for your support and cooperation.