College of Medicine pandemic response round-up: Updates for the week ending Aug. 28

College of Medicine leaders updated faculty, staff and students on Aug. 28 about the College’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Exposure protocols
If you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have symptoms yourself, please do not come on campus. Instead, follow this protocol:
- Medical, physician assistant and graduate students: Call Student Health at 717-531-5998.
- Student Health will provide screening and schedule a COVID screening test as needed with a short turnaround time. While awaiting results, please quarantine and alert any roommates and other close contacts.
- Postdoctoral fellows and employees: Call Employee Health at 717-531-4208.
COVID-19 Cases on Campus
We will maintain our capacity level of 50% for the next several weeks.
We continue to monitor the number of cases in our county and at our facilities.
Starting today, we will be sharing the number of COVID-19 cases among our College of Medicine faculty, staff and students.
Thank you all for your continued compliance with the policies we have in place.
Week of Aug. 23 to 29
- Current employees/students represents the number who have shown symptoms this week.
- Total employees/students represents the number who have been quarantined or tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020 (for employees) or July 2020 (for students)
Surveillance Testing and Contact Tracing
The College of Medicine is a partner with Penn State in its comprehensive strategy for surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals and contact tracing, which is part of the full “COVID-19 ‘Back to State’ Health and Safety Plan.” In the coming weeks, approximately 1% of the faculty, staff and students at the College will be randomly selected each day to participate in surveillance testing, at no cost to the individual. If selected, students and employees are required to complete the free testing and should plan to do so within 48 to 72 hours after being contacted.
The University and the Pennsylvania Department of Health will work together conducting contact tracing for anyone with a positive test result. The overall goal of both programs is to limit community spread and viral transmission.
Research Update
We remain at phase 3 with a time-averaged laboratory research capacity of 50% for departments and institutes. There have been no significant changes pertaining to ramping up research during the past week. Those seeking approval for animal orders should continue to contact Dr. Ron Wilson (rwilson2@pennstatehealth.psu.edu) The University form for approval for observational research has been updated to gather more information about WHY the research needs to be conducted at this time. Human subjects research also remains unchanged, and questions can be directed to Dr. Neal Thomas (nthomas@pennstatehealth.psu.edu). Finally, undergraduate and high school student internships are still suspended in order to maximize laboratory time to staff and trainees.
Laboratory staff, postdoctoral fellows and students who are COVID-positive: To assure transparency in reporting and facilitate contact tracing, it is the responsibility of lab supervisors to report suspected or documented cases of COVID infection in their research group to Dr. Chuck Lang (chl1@psu.edu) and Ray Scheetz (BioSafetyOfficer@pennstatehealth.psu.edu). Confidentiality of health information will be maintained. Lab supervisors should report any postdoctoral fellow with COVID symptoms or positive test results to Dr. Gail Thomas (gthomas4@pennstatehealth.psu.edu). Failure to report persons under investigation will be viewed as a serious violation of biosafety protocols and may result in closure of the lab.
Safety precautions in labs: A reminder to guard against complacency in maintaining safety precautions in lab. It is critical for everyone in lab to wear a type 1 procedure mask (no cloth masks) and maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance between workers. This keeps everyone safe and will minimize viral spread if someone in the lab becomes infected. Even if you are the only person in the lab, please wear a mask to prevent possible contamination. Failure of individuals or groups to follow safety guidance may have their lab activities reduced preemptively for noncompliance.
Comparative Medicine and Animal Resources Program: We are currently approving and processing animal orders to complete existing work, resume work that was stopped during the reduction, and imports and exports that had been on hold. Orders for starting new projects involving animals will continue to be prioritized during phase 3 with priority given to time-sensitive work. Those seeking approval for animal orders should contact Dr. Ron Wilson (rwilson2@pennstatehealth.psu.edu). We appreciate research staff using the Outlook calendars to schedule their work in the animal facilities.
Education Update
Graduate education: Course instruction for all graduate students started this past Monday and, despite some technical glitches, everyone seems to be adapting to this new reality. Depending on the class, instruction is being offered in person, remotely or a hybrid of both. Faculty are able to select the mode of instruction and should be communicating this clearly to their classes. In-person courses should also be offering a synchronous remote (Zoom) option so vulnerable student populations and students feeling ill will not be pressured to attend in-person classes.
The Office of Graduate Studies has worked with the Pandemic Response Team at the College to provide a safe laboratory environment, and there is the expectation that all upper-level graduate students have ramped up their in-person research activities to near pre-pandemic levels. Students who are having difficulty getting back in the lab should contact their program director or Dr. Lang (chl1@psu.edu). Thanks to everyone for completing the student COVID-19 Compact. Since the start of the pandemic in early March, 18 PhD or DrPH candidates have successfully defended their thesis research. Congratulations to all!
Flu shots: In the coming weeks, you will receive emails about free flu shots being offered to faculty, staff and students. Unless there is an overriding medical reason, we strongly recommend that ALL students be vaccinated against the flu in September. Doing so will help prevent our COVID testing capabilities from being overwhelmed by those with flu symptoms.
Additional news and information
Reminder: University Fitness Center moved to next phase of capacity
On Aug. 17, the University Fitness Center (UFC) moved to the next level in capacity by allowing spouses and family members to also use the facilities. Hershey campus employees and their family members as well as students are eligible to return during phase 2. The center will maintain the current hours of operation, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit times are restricted to a maximum of 75 minutes. For additional information, please visit the UFC website.
Harrell Health Sciences Library open with limited capacity
The Harrell Health Sciences Library at the College of Medicine is open to faculty, staff and students. It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on weekends until further notice. In this first phase, the library will restrict its capacity to 50% and implement new safety precautions.
If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email Penn State Health Marketing & Communications.