New York Film Academy
August 13, 2021, 3:00pm

Dear NYFA NY Community,

We would like to apprise you of new information regarding COVID-19 cases in our community and very important recent updates to city and campus health guidelines.

Two members of the NYFA community tested positive for COVID-19 during our on-campus surveillance testing program on Tuesday, August 10th.

The two individuals were asymptomatic and on campus during the infectious period. As a result, two additional members of the community have been asked to Self-Quarantine. Several other members of the community who came in close contact with the two positive cases were fully vaccinated and, as a result, they are not required to Self-Quarantine.

The two individuals who tested positive have been instructed to Self-Isolate. These two individuals do not reside in the EHS facility.


NYC Vaccine Mandate: The Key to NYC Pass:

As of August 16, 2021, entry to indoor dining, fitness, and performance facilities will be restricted to those who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use by the F.D.A. (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson).

To dine indoors, go to the gym, or attend an indoor performance or sporting event, you will be required to present either a CDC Vaccination Card, or a “pass” issued through either the NY Excelsior Pass, the NY Excelsior Pass Plus, or the COVID Safe Pass.

Please know that forging vaccination cards is considered a felony in NY State. Please report your information, when prompted by these apps, accurately.

Only individuals who have been vaccinated in NY State will be able apply for a “pass” through NY Excelsior Pass or the NY Excelsior Pass Plus.

If you have received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccination outside the state of NY, please download the COVID Safe App and use this app to gain entry to indoor dining, fitness and performance facilities.


Updates to the NYFA Travel Guidelines

NYFA Travel Guidelines have recently been updated to align with the new CDC Travel Advisory designed to minimize community spread of the Delta variant.

NYFA continues to strongly discourage all nonessential travel. If you are a current and continuing student or employee with plans to engage in domestic or international travel between now and the start of Fall semester, please read the revised guidelines noted below.

Unvaccinated students/employees returning from either domestic or international travel will be required to self-quarantine for 10 days after the day they returned to their campus region and before participating in any in-person NYFA class or activity. Unvaccinated students/employees returning from travel are required to closely monitor their symptoms and check their temperature twice daily for 14 days after return from travel. Unvaccinated students/employees returning from travel may reduce their self-quarantine period to 7 days if and only if get a RT-PCR COVID-19 Diagnostic Test 3-5 days after return from travel and submit a negative test result report to covidteamny@nyfa.edu.

Fully vaccinated students/employees who have travelled to countries where virus transmission rates are high and very high (CDC Level 3 and Level 4, respectively) are required to seek RT-PCR testing 3-5 days after return from travel, submit test result report to covidteamny@nyfa.edu, monitor symptoms for 14 days post return from travel, and wear a mask during travel and in all indoor settings for 14 days post return from travel.

Regarding other NYFA health and safety protocols, if you would like to be exempt from self- quarantine, post travel and exposure, and NYFA pre-entry and surveillance testing requirements, please submit photos of your valid COVID-19 Vaccination Cards to PAYCOM (employees) or the Continuing Student Registration Form (students). Vaccination cards are viewed and stored in accordance with all relevant privacy regulations.


Best Practices To Staying Healthy? Good Personal Hygiene and Getting Vaccinated

Currently, the incidence rates of new cases of COVID-19 in NYC are rising. Because of the present-day transmission rates in New York City, unvaccinated people are at very high risk of infection. Vaccinated people are at less risk of infection.

If you are vaccinated and if you are unvaccinated, please remain vigilant by: strictly following personal hygiene guidelines; practicing physical distancing; wearing masks when indoors; and staying home when you are sick. In abiding by these practices, you will limit your exposure to the virus, and you will be doing all you can to stay healthy and protect the safety of our community.


Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Large scale clinical studies have conclusively determined that all of the vaccines approved for use in the United States prevent most people from developing severe illness. COVID-19 vaccinations are also an important tool in ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

To protect your health and safety, to protect the health and safety of the NYFA community, and to do your part in ending this pandemic, please consider getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

If you are 12 years old and older, you are eligible, at no cost, to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Walk-in vaccination sites have opened throughout NYC.
  • To find out where to get a vaccination and what you might need to prove eligibility (regarding age, residence, work/school), visit the NYC Vaccine Finder or call 1-877-VAX-4NYC.
  • Individuals who live or work or attend school in NY are eligible to receive a vaccine at various walk-up vaccination sites located throughout NYC, without an appointment. Visit the Vaccine Command Center for walk-in vaccination sites located near campus.
Please consult the CDC for updated and detailed information regarding all we presently know about the vaccines and what we hope to learn from ongoing research.


For more tips on staying healthy and for guidance on how to access care should you become ill, please visit the NYFA Student Hub.

To stay updated on all NYFA COVID-19 health and safety protocols, please visit the COVID Safety Plan.

For ongoing updates of the incidence of illness on the NY NYFA Campus, please consult the NY Campus Dashboard.

Also, please report positive COVID-19 test results to: covidteamny@nyfa.edu.

We thank you and applaud you for your cooperation!

NYFA COVID-19 Response Team