Notice

Updated March 20, 2020, 11:15 a.m

NYFA COVID-19 Health Alert

Dear NYFA New York,

We just received word that a second student who was attending classes on the New York campus until March 12, 2020, tested positive today for COVID-19.
 

This student was enrolled in the Fall 2019 One Year Acting For Film program.  She was not on campus during the time she was experiencing symptoms of concern.  On March 13, after having arrived in Switzerland, the student started experiencing mild symptoms.  The student was tested by her local health care provider earlier today and received a positive test result for COVID-19.  The student remains in Switzerland.  She is self-quarantined and resting well.   The only symptoms she experienced throughout her illness were headache, slight fever, and cough.  Presently she is experiencing only a slight cough and she will soon be fully recovered. 

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 (presently the NY campus is closed; the facility was deep cleaned multiple times between last week and today).

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:

Call your medical provider, an urgent care facility or engage with a virtual medicine resource should you experience any of the following symptoms:

• 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

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

NYFA Administration