COVID Information

COVID-19 Campus Protocols

Effective Date: 5/22/2023

Updates

Effective May 22, 2023, A-B Tech will no longer require mandatory reporting of COVID-19 symptoms, exposures, or positive results.  The World Health Organization has announced that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency.  However, we know that COVID-19 is still impacting our community and we want to ensure that we keep our campus safe.  If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, please do not come to campus and contact your medical care provider.  If you are exposed or test positive for the virus, please follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or your medical provider.

Students notify their instructor and employees notify your supervisor if you are anticipating missing class or work.  As with any transmittable sickness, you are expected to keep our community safe by NOT coming to campus.

Safety Precautions for all Employees, Students, and Visitors

  • Face masks optional while on campus
  • 6 feet of physical distancing is encouraged when possible
  • Wash hands frequently
  • Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
  • Keep personal space clean

COVID-19 Symptoms

  • 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

Reporting of symptoms, exposures, and positive results no longer required!

As with any transmittable sickness, please do not come to campus and contact your medical provider if you are experiencing any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.

Email any questions to covidupdate@abtech.edu

Faculty & Staff Update

The Notification Team stopped contact tracing in the Fall of 2022 along with several other associated protocols. Effective 5/22/2023, the College will no longer require COVID-19 reporting of symptoms, exposures, or positive test results. This decision was made after receiving guidance from the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services.

How this impacts:

  • COVID-19 positive students are not asked to provide a list of individuals that they have been in close contact with
  • Classmates of COVID-19 Positive Students are not alerted of possible exposures from the COVID-19 Notification Team
  • Students are no longer required to submit a COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form if they experience symptoms, test positive, or have been exposed to a COVID-19-positive individual
  • If Students are experiencing any COVID or Flu-Like symptoms, they are not to report to campus and contact their medical care provider
  • Students should report any class absence following the normal process outlined by their faculty
  • The COVID-19 Notification Team does not place entire classes in quarantine
  • The COVID-19 Notification Team does not ask for seating charts
  • The COVID-19 Notification Team does not request information on other students if an individual is COVID-19 positive
  • The COVID-19 Notification Team will no longer continue to notify faculty if a student must miss class due to symptoms, exposure, or testing positive
  • Faculty shall follow their normal absence protocols if a student must miss class due to any sickness
  • Faculty should not ask about the vaccination status of any student
  • Remove any signs or language that instructs students to report on the COVID-19 Self-Reporting form
  • COVID-19 positive employees will not be asked to provide a list of individuals that they have been in close contact with
  • Co-workers of COVID-19-positive employees are not alerted of possible exposures from the COVID-19 Notification Team
  • Employees are not required to submit a COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form if they experience symptoms, test positive, or have been exposed to a COVID-19-positive individual
  • Employees should report any absence from work to their supervisor following the normal process
  • The COVID-19 Notification Team will no longer notify supervisors if an employee must miss work due to symptoms, exposure, or testing positive
  • Supervisors should follow the normal absence process if an employee must miss work due to any sickness
  • Supervisors should not ask about the vaccination status of any employee
  • Teleworking approval remains at the discretion of the supervisor
  • Remove any signs or language that instructs employees to report on the COVID-19 Self-Reporting form
  • Supervisors should not ask about the vaccination status of any employee

Q&A

Q — Am I expected to report to work if I have COVID-19?
A — No. You are expected to follow the current CDC guidance regarding isolation and duration or the advice from your health care provider.

Q — If I have COVID-19, am I expected to bring my test result to my supervisor?
A — No. However, your supervisor does have the ability to request a doctor's note regarding your absence if you've had an increase in non-FMLA or ADA-related absences.

Q — Am I expected to report to work if I have symptoms of COVID-19?
A — You are expected to follow the current CDC guidance regarding symptoms. As with the flu, strep throat, stomach bug, etc., you are also expected to make the best judgment call regarding COVID-19 symptoms.

Q — Am I expected to report to work if I have been exposed to COVID-19?
A — You are expected to follow the current CDC guidance regarding exposure. There are many variables that determine when you should quarantine due to exposure and the CDC website has great guidance to help you determine what you should do based on your individual factors.

Q — If I have determined I need to remain home due to anything related to COVID-19, can I still telework or do I have to use a sick day?
A — It depends on several factors including but not limited to how you feel, your job duties, your ability to telework, and your current schedule. If you remain home for any illness, you are expected to notify your supervisor following the Sick Leave Procedure and your supervisor may or may not allow teleworking.

Q — If my supervisor does allow teleworking while I have COVID-19 but I don't feel well enough to work, what should I do?
A — Contact your supervisor and request Sick Leave following the Sick Leave Procedure. If you have an extreme case that has you out of work for 4 or more days, your absence may be covered under the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act). You may contact benefitsHR@abtech.edu for questions regarding FMLA.

Q — What do I do if an employee tells me that they have COVID-19?
A — If the employee has not already done so, encourage them to either speak with their healthcare provider or refer them to the CDC guidance regarding isolation and duration. Do not ask them questions regarding their illness, nor should you go to the CDC to try and determine what the employee should do. As with any other illness such as the stomach bug, cold, flu, strep throat, etc., we expect our employees to make this determination based on their individual circumstances and recommendations from their physician.

Q — What do I do if an employee tells me that they have COVID-19, but then shows up to work the next day.
A — As with any spreadable illness, if an employee has given you a clear indication that they tested positive for the flu, COVID-19, etc., but then they show up to work the same or the next day, you may send the employee home and contact benefitsHR@abtech.edu unless the employee brings you a physician's note clearing them to work. The benefits team will work with the employee to determine when they should be clear to return to work.

Q — What if an employee comes to work with COVID-19 symptoms?
A — As with any illness, we expect employees to make the determination of coming to work based on CDC guidance regarding symptoms and their medical care provider.

Q — Can I require my employees to wear a face covering?
A — No, face coverings are optional.

Q — Can I require a doctor's note from my employee?
A — Generally, no. However, if your employee has attendance issues please contact the benefits team for guidance on how to handle the frequent absences. These absences may qualify under the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act).

Q — What do I do if a student tells me that they have COVID-19?
A — If the student has not already done so, encourage them to either speak with their healthcare provider or refer them to the CDC guidance regarding isolation and duration. Do not ask them questions regarding their illness, nor should you go to the CDC to try and determine what the student should do. As with any other illness such as the stomach bug, cold, flu, strep throat, etc., we expect our students to make this determination based on their individual circumstances and recommendations from their physician.

Q — What if a student comes to work with COVID-19 symptoms?
A — As with any illness, we expect students to make the determination of coming to campus based on CDC guidance regarding symptoms and their medical care provider.

Q — Can I require my students to wear a face covering?
A — No, face coverings are optional.

Q — Can I require a doctor's note or test result from my student?
A — You should treat a COVID-19-related absence the same as you would treat any other illness-related absence.

Q — Am I expected to report to class or clinical if I have symptoms of COVID-19?
A — You are expected to follow the current CDC guidance regarding symptoms. As with the flu, strep throat, stomach bug, etc., you are also expected to make the best judgment call regarding COVID-19 symptoms and the directive of the clinical site. Contact your instructor to notify them of your absence as you would do any other time when you need to miss class.

Q — Am I expected to report to class if I have COVID-19?
A — No. You are expected to follow the current CDC guidance regarding isolation and duration or the advice from your health care provider. Contact your instructor to notify them of your absence as you would do any other time when you need to miss class.

Q — Am I expected to report to class if I have been exposed to COVID-19?
A — You are expected to follow the current CDC guidance regarding exposure. There are many variables that determine when you should quarantine due to exposure and the CDC website has great guidance to help you determine what you should do based on your individual factors. If you determine that you need to quarantine, contact your instructor to notify them of your absence as you would do any other time when you need to miss class.

Q — If I have COVID-19, am I expected to bring my test result to my faculty?
A — You are expected to follow the protocols set forth by your faculty member/department regarding any absence from class.