COVID-19 FAQs
No, but vaccines remain strongly recommended.
On April 11, 2023, SUNY announced the end of its emergency COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all 64 campuses, coinciding with the official end of the national public health emergency.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), there is no need to wait for the flu shot or another vaccination if you’ve recently gotten the COVID-19 vaccine (and vice-versa: There's no reason to wait on the COVID-19 vaccine if you’ve recently received a flu shot or other vaccination).
You can even get multiple vaccines during the same visit (though it’s recommended to get the two shots in different arms!).
From the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines resource page:
“You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit. You no longer need to wait 14 days between vaccinations. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are the leading national sources of good information about research and development of vaccines.
The CDC maintains a comprehensive vaccine information hub online that is updated on a regular basis with new information. The CDC also updates these pages to explain what scientists and doctors do not yet know about the vaccination process, as research is ongoing.
Another useful CDC resource is this list of Frequently Asked Questions about the Vaccines.
New York State’s COVID-19 vaccine resource hub includes a great deal of information about how and when residents can get vaccinated.
The state is also reporting on its progress to date on their COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, which is updated daily with new numbers on doses administered, broken down by region.
Many counties are also publishing vaccine information online. Ulster County offers tools for finding vaccination sites (most counties are running their own sites in addition to the state-operated locations). Dutchess County and Orange County provide similar online services to their residents, as do most other counties in New York.
COVID-19 tests are optional for all vaccinated students, faculty and staff, but are strongly encouraged when you develop symptoms or if you are returning to campus after extended time at home or traveling (for instance, in the week before each of the fall and spring semesters).
Unvaccinated students may be periodically required to participate in surveillance testing. Any such requirement will be clearly communicated with sufficient advance time.
As always, people with symptoms should get a test as soon as they can, and mask and avoid close contact with others until testing is complete.
If you test positive using an at-home antigen test or a PCR test conducted off campus, you please contact the Student Health Service ASAP by emailing healthservice@newpaltz.edu or calling 845-257-3400.
Sharing your test result with the Student Health Service allows us to support you through your illness and required isolation, including by providing confirmation for your professors that you will be unable to attend in-person classes during your isolation.
According to the CDC:
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. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. 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
This list does not include all possible symptoms.
Vaccinated people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should be tested for COVID-19. You may use a self-administered, "at-home" antigen test, or contact your health provider about scheduling a PCR test.
If you get a negative result with an antigen test, but your symptoms persist, it is recommended that you do a second antigen test 48 hours later or take a PCR test. Students who test negative by antigen test, but have symptoms and/or had an exposure, should contact the Health Center at (845) 257-3400 for advice about further testing.
While experiencing symptoms, please wear a mask and isolate from others until you have a negative test result, and/or follow any other directions given by their physician.
Per the CDC and New York State, anyone (regardless of vaccination status) who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for five days after becoming symptomatic or testing positive. They must then wear a mask in all public spaces during days 6-10 after symptoms or positive test.
Members of our community who test positive for COVID-19 are responsible for notifying the College. The Student Health Service will work directly with students who test positive to provide guidance and identify possible exposures. HRDI will work with employees (see below).
Students who test positive for COVID-19 must notify the Student Health Service at (845) 257-3400 or healthservice@newpaltz.edu as soon as possible.
Per the CDC and New York State, anyone (regardless of vaccination status) who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for five days after becoming symptomatic or testing positive. They must then wear a mask in all public spaces during days 6-10 after symptoms or positive test.
Faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are expected to notify the Office of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion (HRDI) so the College can support you during your mandatory isolation period.
If you are able to work from home during your isolation, you should do so. If you are unable to work from home or are too sick to work, HRDI will work with you and your supervisor to determine appropriate use of non-chargeable time and/or sick leave.
Employees who complete the mandatory isolation must submit a signed Affirmation of Isolation to HRDI, per New York State and Ulster County Health Department policy.
Yes. Notices of positive cases reported to the Student Health Service will continue to be shared with students’ in-person faculty.
This is done primarily to support the student by confirming with faculty that the student will be unable to attend in-person classes during their 5-day isolation.
Anyone who is exposed to COVID-19 through a close contact should monitor symptoms and plan to test.
If you don't develop symptoms, test 5 days after your last contact with the positive individual. If using antigen tests, test 3 times over 5 days with 48 hours between tests. If the 3 tests are negative, no further testing is needed. Note: If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 30 days don’t test if you have no symptoms. If you tested positive for COVID-19, 31-90 days ago, test with an antigen test NOT a PCR test.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, test as soon as possible. If you are symptomatic and your first antigen test was negative, precautionary measures, and repeat an antigen test in 48 hours. If your second antigen test is negative you are unlikely to have COVID-19. Contact the Student Health Service by emailing healthservice@newpaltz.edu or calling 845-257-3400 for advice.
Effective March 1, 2024, SUNY New Paltz is joining other New York State agencies in following updated CDC recommendations on isolation following a positive test for COVID-19.
SUNY New Paltz students, faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are advised to stay home and away from others while they recover. Isolation is recommended but no longer required.
The CDC recommends a return to normal activities when symptoms show continuous improvement for at least 24 hours and there has been no fever in the last 24 hours.
Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next five days to curb disease spread, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.
The CDC’s updated guidance brings COVID-19 recommendations into alignment with best practices for other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza and RSV.
No, masks are optional in all locations on the SUNY New Paltz campus.
Individuals who have respiratory infections may be asked to wear a mask at the Health Center or in other locations as a measure to protect other members of our community.
As always, we will remain in close contact with SUNY and health department partners and will react quickly to modify these policies should pandemic conditions or guidance change.
We know that some in our community may ask others to voluntarily wear masks in campus spaces where it is no longer required, and we hope that people respect such requests from colleagues, peers and professors.
SUNY New Paltz will not enforce individual requests by faculty that students wear masks in specific courses. No conduct charges will be brought against students who fail to comply with such requests.
SUNY New Paltz will not enforce individual requests by employees or offices that visitors wear masks in those areas, with the exception of the health-related areas listed above.
We know that some in our community may ask others to voluntarily wear masks in campus spaces where it is no longer required, and we hope that people respect such requests from colleagues, peers and professors.
Students who are uncomfortable attending in-person classes are encouraged to consult with their faculty and/or academic advisors about altering their course schedule and their plan of study.
The Division of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Services have been working continuously to develop faculty proficiency in teaching both online and seated modalities with content-specific webinars and other training opportunities.
We are also working to provide additional free training and resources for students to help ensure they can succeed in online learning settings.
Yes, our protocol for cases when an instructor is unable to complete a course is unchanged from the pre-COVID-19 era.
If a faculty member becomes unable to teach due to illness or for other reasons, their faculty colleagues will work with the department chair and other academic leaders to make arrangements for course instruction to continue in the original instructor’s absence.
Student Health Service will be open Monday – Friday. Please call 845-257-3400 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Triage nurses will be available for phone assessment and will advise students on self-care measures, schedule in-person consultations as needed, and direct students to emergency services, if warranted.\
Student Health Service will help ensure that students have access to COVID-19 testing when needed and will work with local health departments to coordinate isolation, monitoring and treatment efforts.
Have questions? You may also get in touch via email at Healthservice@newpaltz.edu.
Yes, flu shots will be given out at the on-campus Health Center and at local pharmacies.
In addition to the Health Center, the following medical facilities are located in the New Paltz area:
- New Paltz Family Health Center: 279 Main Street, New Paltz, NY, (845) 255-2930
- CareMount Medical: 264 Main Street, New Paltz, NY, (845) 255-7900
- Health Quest Medical Practice: 514 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-9200
- FirstCare Medical Center (functions as an Urgent Care Facility): 222 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-3627
If a student has an urgent medical problem and they are not sure how to proceed, they may reach the Student Health Center’s Nurse Advice Line outside of regular office hours by calling (845) 257-3400.
The Nurse Advice Line is available to discuss urgent medical questions with students by telephone and to help the student caller identify their options for care.
Students who require in-person medical attention can go to FirstCare Medical Center, which functions as an Urgent Care Facility and is located at 222 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-3627.
For students experiencing severe medical problems, there are Emergency Departments at the following area hospitals:
- HealthAlliance Hospital: 105 Mary’s Avenue, Kingston, NY, (845) 338- 2500
- MidHudson Regional Hospital: 241 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY, (845) 483-5000
- Vassar Brothers Medical Center: 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY, (845) 454-8500
Please be advised that you should only go to these Emergency Rooms for serious medical issues. Wait times for non-life-threatening emergencies may be significant, and emergency medical services can be costly.
Guidance issued in March 2020 by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) remains in effect for employees who are subjected to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation.
Quarantine is no longer required under the March 1, 2024, CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance. it is therefore unlikely that a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine (which hasn’t been required by the CDC since August of 2022) or isolation will be issued by the state of New York, the department of health, local board of health, or any governmental entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19.
Unless such an order has been authorized, individuals who absent themselves from work must charge appropriate accrued leave credits if they choose to have their absence covered with pay.
Please contact benefits@newpaltz.edu with questions.
