Return to Campus: Health and Safety

We require members of our community to be fully vaccinated, which is defined by the CDC as: “Everyone, except those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen vaccine.” 

We strongly encourage members of our community to be up to date with vaccines defined by CDC as: “You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for you, when eligible.”

Onboard testing will be required for all members of the Curry community (including all commuter and residential students, faculty, and staff, regardless of vaccination status) before the start of the fall semester, as follows: 

ALL Students:

Must conduct their own rapid home test within 72 hours prior to return to campus and upload their test results to CoVerified. Students can download and install the CoVerified App to their mobile device from iTunes or Google Play.

ALL Faculty and Staff:

All faculty and staff need to complete a COVID-19 test (home rapid tests kits are okay to use) within 72 hours prior to returning to campus for the Fall Semester and no later than Wednesday, August 24, 2022. The results must be uploaded into CoVerified prior to your arrival on campus.  If you test positive, please do not come to campus.

For faculty and staff who have been on campus during the summer, please also complete a COVID-19 test (home rapid tests kits are okay to use) and upload into CoVerified no later than Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

To upload a COVID-19 Test in CoVerified:

• Take a photo or screen shot of your COVID19 Test result.
• Open the CoVerified App on your phone.
• At the bottom of the app, tap on the "+" symbol and select "Upload Test Result" from the menu.
• If you are uploading a home test, you need to take a photo of the test with a piece of paper that has your name, student ID number, and date and time you took the test. Take the photo next to your Curry College ID or state-issued ID. Here is an example.
• Tap the word "Confirm" and you're done!

Having trouble with the CoVerified App? View the step-by-step guide for support.

*Students who test positive before returning to campus, should isolate at home for five days after the onset of symptoms, and contact their primary care provider for additional instructions.

New Students:

To upload your Vaccination information, please visit the myCurry Portal and click on the "Pyramed" icon (located towards the bottom of the menu area on the left side) and follow the instructions.

As with all College vaccine requirements, exemptions may be made for medical or religious reasons.

Students:

A student seeking an exemption from the vaccination requirement, must either submit a medical or religious exemption waiver request, which can be found on your health portal (Click on Pyramed icon). Please note that the deadline for all waiver requests has passed, so please submit immediately with the appropriate supporting documentation to be reviewed prior to the start of classes.  If you are a returning student and would like to extend your waiver for this year, you should email covidclinic@curry.edu of your intent to renew your waiver or send a copy of your vaccination card. Please note the process of reviewing and accepting exemption requests is not immediate and may take up to 14 days.

Faculty/Staff:

A faculty or staff seeking an exemption from the vaccination requirement must either submit a medical or religious exemption waiver request, which can be found here. Please note all waiver requests need to be submitted with the appropriate supporting documentation to be reviewed prior to the start of classes. 

According to the CDC, Norfolk County is currently at “medium” risk and Curry will follow CDC recommendations where all students, faculty, and staff will no longer be required to wear masks when inside campus buildings except in designated areas such as Health Services and the Covid Clinic.

Any student, faculty, or staff member, who feels more comfortable wearing face coverings should feel free to do so. Surgical masks will continue to be provided and stocked in all classrooms, and throughout campus.

Changes may be made to this policy. We are closely following the developing public health situation with regard to COVID-19 variants and guidance from federal, state and local authorities, and will communicate any updates to the community promptly (noting that all protocols are subject to change based on changing campus and public health conditions).

Students must be fully vaccinated with a World Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccine before arrival on campus. You may be vaccinated either abroad or in the United States, but you must be fully vaccinated and submit proof of vaccination to the College, or have been approved for an exemption, at least 14 days prior to returning to campus.

As of August 1, these are the seven vaccines approved for use by WHO:

• Moderna
• Pfizer/BioNTech
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
• Oxford/AstraZeneca
• Serum Institute of India
• Sinopharm (Beijing)
• Sinovac

Please monitor the list online, as WHO may make changes, and plan to be vaccinated as soon as possible with one of these options.

We are unable to provide quarantine or isolation housing for students travelling to the United States ahead of the scheduled start-of-semester move-in to campus, so we ask that you make your travel and vaccination plans accordingly.

There will be NO on-campus surveillance during the semester as the screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures is no longer recommended by the CDC.

There will be NO on-campus surveillance during the 2022 fall semester as the screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures is no longer recommended by the CDC. 

However, if a student tests positive for COVID-19 during the 2022 fall semester, they should follow these procedures:

• Students should report their positive COVID-19 tests by calling Health Services at 617-333-2182.
• Resident students who test positive and live more than 200 miles from campus will be provided space on campus to isolate. Resident students who test positive and live closer to campus and commuter students may isolate at home.
• Students who are isolating can attend classes remotely through Curry’s hyflex module. Faculty will be notified when any students—residential or commuter—are in quarantine or isolation.
• If after 5 days, a student is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and symptoms are improving, or they never had symptoms, isolation can end after day 5.  However, regardless of when isolation ends, student should avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11.  A high-quality mask is required to be worn through day 10.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

People with these symptoms may have COVID-19*:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

* This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

This is a challenging time for us all, and we realize that students may need additional emotional, psychological, and physical support managing the difficulties that COVID-19 has created in our lives, even as we navigate resuming “normal” life. Our Counseling Center & Health Services staff remain fully available to assist students in managing their mental and physical health. To access help, students may contact Carol Moser our Administrative Assistant, either by calling the front desk at 617-333-2182 or email cmoser@curry.edu. Students will be directed to speak with the Clinician of the Day or a Nurse Practitioner who can provide support and guidance via a telehealth appointment.

The Counseling Center also offers a self-help resource for all Curry students. Students may access TAO Connect for anonymous online use at any time. TAO is free, and available with a Curry email account. Students may sign up with their Curry email by visiting the Counseling Center web page.