Notice

Updated March 17, 2020, 4:00p.m

Dear NYFA Community,

We want to share some important information with you. We have just received word that a student who was on the New York campus last week tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. 

This student was enrolled in the Fall 2019 One Year Documentary program. She was not on campus during the time she was experiencing symptoms of concern. She reports having had no contact with NYFA students, staff, faculty since Thursday, March 12. On March 15, after having returned home to Canada, the student started experiencing symptoms. The student was tested by her local health care provider on March 16 and tested positive for COVID-19 later that night. The student is presently in self-quarantine, in her home country, and resting well. She reported having experienced very mild symptoms (mild fever, sore throat, congestion), on March 15, and as of today, we are happy to report, she has no fever, only slight congestion and a mild cough.

NYFA is taking appropriate action, following CDC directives. Steps currently underway include:

• Contacting NY State Public Health Department
• Contacting faculty, staff and students who may have been in close contact with this student and encouraging those individuals to self-isolate, self-monitor for cold/flu symptoms seek immediate medical assistance, as needed.
• Deep cleaning the NY campus facility

NYFA recommends that all faculty, staff and students comply with the CDC and state and local health directives, shared on the HUB and in previous Health Alerts. https://hub.nyfa.edu/health-alert

Monitor Your Symptoms and Seek Medical Care:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty Breathing
• Sore throat

Follow medical directives received which may include continued self-monitoring and self-isolation or referral for COVID-19 testing. Please refer to the HUB for how and where to seek medical care, based on your location and your insurance coverage.  https://hub.nyfa.edu/health-alert

Practice Good Personal Hygiene to Protect Self and Others

• Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water is not readily accessible, use an alcohol-based sanitizer
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discard tissue into a trashcan. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
• Practice Social Distancing
• Maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others and do not attend gatherings that would prohibit you from keeping a 6 feet distance from others at all times.
• Do not have close contact with those vulnerable to severe symptoms--individuals older than age 60, individuals with weakened immune systems, individuals with diabetes, or chronic lung or heart disease.
• Clean and Disinfect Your Home
• Clean all frequently touched objects and surfaces with detergent and water. Disinfect cleaned surfaces with diluted bleach or an EPA approved disinfectant.
• For additional information on protecting yourself and others from COVID-19, please read the information posted and updated routinely on the CDC Coronavirus webpage:
  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

  Please reach to your campus resources for information, support, or to report concerns for yourself and others experiencing symptoms of concern:

  Students:
  Sandra Schein, Dean of Students, NY:   sandra.schein@nyfa.edu
  Susan Ashe, Dean of Students, LA:   deanofstudentsLA@nyfa.edu
  Maylen Dominguez, Campus Dean, SB:   maylen.dominguez@nyfa.edu

  Faculty/Staff:
  Pankti Shah, HR Director (LA):   pankti.shah@nyfa.edu
  Domingo Morales, Associate HR Director (NY, SoBE):   domingo.morales@nyfa.edu

  NYFA Administration