Salem Academy Fall 2022 COVID-19 Protocols

COVID-19 vaccination

• Salem Academy requires that any student who resides in on-campus housing, is enrolled in in-person classes or participates in any campus-sponsored events, must remain up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccine and booster.
• Students who have a medical, religious or personal belief exemption, must submit their exemption request to their Magnus account.
  • Exemption requests are subject to review and approval by Student Health Service staff and may require additional specialty evaluation as part of that process.
• Students who fail to meet this requirement, may face disciplinary action.
• Salem Academy’s COVID vaccine and exemption FAQ.

Masking

• Salem Academy will follow masking recommendations and requirements set forth by the City of Winston-Salem.
  • This policy is subject to change based on recommendations from the city and community transmission levels.
• Individuals are encouraged to assess their personal risk level and make individual decisions regarding masking.
  • Salem Academy will remain a mask friendly campus and expects all individuals to respect others’ personal masking preference.
  • Cloth face coverings, including gaiter-style, bandanas and mesh, should be refrained from use.
• Masking is required in Health Services for anyone being seen for sick symptoms.
• Additional information regarding CDC masking recommendations. 

Quarantine

• Individuals no longer need to quarantine after an exposure, unless they become symptomatic or test positive per newly updated CDC recommendations for quarantine.
• A student who has been directly exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a well fitted mask for 10 days, and obtain a COVID test on day 6.
  • If an exposed individual subsequently tests positive after an exposure, isolation will begin immediately.
• Students who must quarantine for COVID-19 while symptomatic and awaiting test results are not permitted to attend in-person classes, eat in the Refectory, Club Dining Room, or Cafe, or attend campus sponsored events, during their quarantine period.
• Students who have had an exposure, regardless of whether they test positive or negative, should notify Student Health Services by telephone at 336-721-2713 or email health.services@salem.edu.
• Students should not return to campus while symptomatic, awaiting a test result or once quarantine is complete, prior to being cleared to return by Student Health Services.
  • Students must contact SHS 1 day prior to review symptoms.
• On-campus students exposed to COVID, will have the option to quarantine-in-place in their dorm room or go home.
  • Students who are exposed to COVID-19, become symptomatic and choose to quarantine on campus, will have meals provided during this time.
  • Students will be asked to wear an N-95 and pick up their meals from a designated area.
    • SHS will provide an N-95 to students, by request.
    • Academy staff will work with students who are too ill to retrieve their own meals.
  • On-campus students will receive daily check-ins from Academy staff.
  • On-campus students should promptly report the development of new, worsening and/or concerning symptoms to SHS.
• Students who test negative after an exposure and develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, must immediately quarantine and retest.
• Students in quarantine should limit their interactions with others on and off campus and MUST wear an N-95 at all times when they leave their dorm room.
  • This includes when entering and exiting the building, in hallways, in the restroom (except when showering), and outside.
• Students whose roommate(s) are quarantined, may request a temporary housing reassignment during that time.
  • Temporary assignments cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability.

Isolation

• Any student who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status and/or symptomatology, must follow CDC recommendations for isolation.
  • Individuals who test positive must isolate for at least 5 full days.
  • After 5 days, if no symptoms develop, individuals remain fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication or show a vast improvement in symptoms, isolation may end.
  • If isolation ends after 5 full days, individuals must wear a well-fitted mask for an additional 5 days.
  • Those who have moderate to severe illness, or lingering symptoms after 5 days, will be required to isolate for at least an additional 5 days.
• Students who are positive for COVID-19 are not permitted to attend in-person classes, eat in the Refectory, Club Dining Room or Cafe, or attend campus sponsored events during their isolation period.
• Any student who tests positive for COVID must report their diagnosis to Student Health Service at 336-721-2713 or email health.services@salem.edu.
• Students should not return to campus while symptomatic, awaiting a test result or  once isolation is complete, prior to being cleared to return by Student Health Services.
  • Students must contact SHS 1-day prior to review symptoms.
• On-campus students, diagnosed with COVID, will have the option to isolate-in-place in their dorm room or go home.
  • Students who are diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolate on campus, will have meals provided during this time.
  • Students MUST wear a well fitted N-95 and pick up their meals from a designated area.
    • Academy staff will work with students who are too ill to retrieve their own meals.
  • On-campus students will receive daily check-ins from Academy staff.
  • On-campus students should promptly report the development of new, worsening and/or concerning symptoms to SHS.
• Students in isolation should limit their interactions with others on and off campus and MUST wear a well fitted N-95 at all times they leave their dorm room.
  • This includes when entering and exiting the building, in hallways, in the restroom (except when showering), and outside.
  • SHS will provide an N-95 to students, as needed by request.
• Students whose roommate(s) are in isolation, may request a temporary housing reassignment during that time.
  • Temporary assignments cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability.
• If a COVID positive individual isolates for 5 days, ends isolation due to either limited to no symptoms and/or vastly improving symptoms, then redevelops symptoms, isolation must restart at day 0.

Contact tracing

• Students who test positive for COVID are encouraged to immediately notify close contacts to prevent further spread. Students and families may also contact SHS for contact tracing assistance and to ensure contact tracing has been completed properly.
• CDC recommendations for identifying close contacts
• Resources for anonymously notifying close contacts

Testing

• Boarding students will be provided with at-home self test kits.
  • Students must report positive results to Student Health Services.
• Students requiring a PCR must obtain the test off campus and report all positive diagnoses to Student Health Services.
• SHS reserves the right to use their discrepancy when testing is requested from a student per testing guideline as set forth by the CDC.
• Students are encouraged to retain home test kits to use as needed.
• Any student displaying COVID-like symptoms should not report to campus or class without first consulting SHS.
• Any student who needs to be seen in SHS for sick symptoms should call or email to schedule an appointment to be seen by a nurse.

Classrooms, events and gatherings

• Individuals are encouraged to assess their personal risk level and determine their need for physical distancing, when in classrooms or other indoor places of gathering.
• Occupancy numbers will be determined by the space capacity of the setting.
• COVID-19 vaccination is encouraged, but not required, to attend in-person events.

Visitors

• Residence hall and campus visitors will follow the policy as outlined in the student handbook.

Salem Academy and College continues to work closely with the Forsyth County Department of Health and additional community partners in an effort to monitor and mitigate COVID-19 on our campus. Policies and protocols are subject to change.