University at Buffalo (UB)
Updated December 15, 2021
- Students who live on or come to campus must be vaccinated (except for medical and religious exemptions).
- Employees are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
- UB is strongly encouraging COVID-19 booster shots for those on campus who are eligible.
- Masks are required indoors (except in certain settings), even if you’re vaccinated.
- Masks are required outdoors at large gatherings.
- Monitor your health, and stay home if you’re sick.
If you have not tested positive for nor been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you may return to work.
Individuals may return to work after day 5 of their isolation period (where day zero is defined as either date of symptom onset if symptomatic, or date of collection of first positive test if asymptomatic) if they meet all the following criteria:
- The individual is fully vaccinated (e.g. completed 1 dose of J&J/Janssen or 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine at least 2 weeks before the day they become symptomatic or, if asymptomatic, the day of collection of the first positive specimen).
- The individual is asymptomatic, or, if they had mild symptoms, when they return to work they must:
- Not have a fever for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication
- Have resolution of symptoms or, if still with residual symptoms, then all are improving
- Not have rhinorrhea (runny nose)
- Have no more than minimal, non-productive cough (i.e., not disruptive to work and does not stop the person from wearing their mask continuously, not coughing up phlegm)
- The individual is able to consistently and correctly wear a well-fitting surgical face mask or a fit-tested N95 respirator while at work. The mask should fit with no air gaps around the edges.
Individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are not eligible to return to work under this guidance.
Testing is not required to return.
Affected individuals should also follow these guidelines
- Practice social distancing from coworkers at all times except when job duties do not permit such distancing.
- If they must remove their respirator or well-fitting face mask, for example, in order to eat or drink, they should separate themselves from others.
- They should self-monitor for symptoms and seek re-evaluation from their personal healthcare provider if symptoms recur or worsen.
Individuals working under these guidelines must continue to stay at home, take precautions to avoid household transmission, and observe other required elements of isolation while not at work until the end of the 10-day period.
The CDC has shortening the recommended time for isolation for the public and updated the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19.
If you have not tested positive for nor been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you may return to work.
- Stay home for 5 days.
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
- Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you have been boosted, have received two doses of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, or have received the J&J/Janssen vaccine within the last 2 months:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
- Test on day 5, if possible.
If you are unvaccinated, received two doses of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine more than 6 months ago and are not boosted, or received the J&J/Janssen more than 2 months ago and are not boosted:
- Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
- If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
- Test on day 5 if possible.
If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you are required to isolate for at least 5 days.
Medical students who test positive should follow our standard procedure of notifying Dr. Milling, Dr. Silvestri or Dr. Lesse.
Any student who receives a positive COVID-19 test result should report it via UB’s confidential reporting form.
If you need to miss class due to illness, isolation or quarantine, you must notify your instructor by email as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after missing class.
Employees who receive a positive COVID-19 test result should isolate and report it to their supervisor and to UB’s Office of Human Resources - HR will provide guidance.
UB Human Resources
716-645-7777
ub-hr@buffalo.edu
Contact Tracing, Close Contacts
The county health department will notify you if you are believed to be a close contact of someone who has tested positive. If you are a close contact, you must take the following steps, per CDC guidelines.
Guidance for Healthcare Personnel
Updated December 23, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance to enhance protection for healthcare personnel (HCP), patients, and visitors, and to address concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system given a surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
The guidelines advise that, in general, asymptomatic HCP who have had a higher-risk exposure do not require work restriction if they have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses, including booster dose, as recommended by CDC and do not develop symptoms or test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The duration of protection offered by booster doses of vaccine and their effect on emerging variants are not clear; additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Periods for the General Population
Updated December 27, 2021
The CDC has shortened the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. People who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.
Updated December 24, 2021
The New York State Department of Health has issued an Advisory on Shortening Isolation Period for Certain Fully Vaccinated Healthcare Workers and Other Critical Workforce that describes the limited circumstances where employers may allow a person to return to work after day 5 of their isolation period.
Boosters are available on campus, at the designated New York State vaccination site at Harriman Hall, on the UB South Campus.
WNY Vaccine Hound, a website launched by UB, can help you find available COVID-19 vaccination appointments across Western New York.
The New York State Department of Health has a website to help find a COVID-19 test site near you.
UBMD physicians practice in urban and suburban locations throughout Western New York, making it easy for you to find state-of-the-art care close to home.
If you have not found the information you need or answer to your question, please let us know, below.