Testing, Quarantining, Arrival, and Ongoing Screening Procedures for Fall 2020

Dear students, faculty, and staff,

We hope this message finds you well. After careful research and collaboration with medical professionals, we are ready to share more detailed information regarding testing and quarantining for those arriving on campus for Block 1. While the message below is lengthy, we ask that you read it carefully as it contains critical information.

This message covers the COVID-19 initial testing, quarantine procedures, and ongoing screening procedures for students arriving in Block 1, whether they are living in the residence hall or off-campus.

Procedures for faculty and staff will be sent separately. The process for ongoing student testing as well as for Block 2 student arrival and quarantine will be shared closer to the start of Block 2 (Block 2 begins on October 29).

We are pleased to announce that we will have support from our local medical community including a new relationship between Juilliard and Mount Sinai that includes assistance with testing nearby and special help in navigating follow-up care for our community if needed.

TESTING PRIOR TO ARRIVAL ON CAMPUS FOR BLOCK 1

Juilliard requires that all students be tested in their home communities prior to traveling back to campus. This testing will help prevent anyone from unknowingly bringing the virus with them and give us a baseline understanding of the status of our community. Further information about subsequent testing will be communicated as it becomes available. Your test must be a PCR (nasal swab or saliva) COVID-19 diagnostic test, not an antibody test. It must take place within the 10-14 days prior to your initial return to campus. Before you arrive you must electronically send a scan or photo of your negative test result to Student Health Services ([email protected]) or upload it into Medicat (located in OKTA).

Many states and localities are offering free COVID-19 testing, and we urge you to research options in your community.

In New York State, testing is free to all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider or by calling the NYS COVID-19 hotline at (888) 364-3065. If you go to a test site run by New York State, there is no charge. forward.ny.gov/covid-19-testing#overview

New York City offers free testing through the City Health & Hospitals Corporation; here is a link to NYC locations. nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page

If you live outside New York State or New York City and are unable to arrange for a test in your community, please contact Student Health Services in advance of your travel for further instructions.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, have been informed by a contact tracer or other health professional that you have been exposed, are in a household with someone who is sick or has tested positive, or yourself have tested positive within 14 days of coming back to campus, please do not come to campus, and let Student Health Services know right away so we can provide support and any necessary arrangements.

QUARANTINE INFORMATION

All students who have spent time in the 14 days prior to arrival to Juilliard in states designated as “restricted,” [coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory] or are coming from international points of departure must quarantine in New York State for two weeks before entering the Diamond Building.

Residence Hall Quarantine Information
All residence hall students who are unable to get a test prior to arriving at Juilliard will be tested on arrival and will stay in an isolation room until their test results have been received (which is likely to be within 48 hours). If your test result is negative, you can check into your assigned suite to continue your quarantine in your assigned room and bathroom.

If you are coming from any state on the restricted list or from any international port of departure, or if you have spent time in the 14 days prior to arrival to Juilliard in any of these locales, you must, by law, complete a 14-day quarantine. Please check this list regularly as the list of states changes frequently. During this time period, you will need to remain in your assigned bedroom and bathroom and will not be able to access any other parts of the Rose Building, nor will you be able to enter the Diamond Building. There is more information about this process below.

Residential students arriving ahead of Block 1 from any state on the restricted list or an international location should plan to move in between August 26 and August 29. If travel restrictions prevent you from arriving during this timeframe, please be in contact with the Office of Residence Life immediately.

Residential students arriving from the tristate area (New York, Connecticut, New Jersey) or any state in the U.S. that is NOT on the restricted list should plan to remain home for 14 days, practicing precautions, and arrive at the residence hall starting September 9. Arriving after the initial group has finished their quarantine will help reduce risk of exposure to students from impacted areas.

With approval from the Provost’s Office, residential students arriving from the tristate area will have limited access to the Diamond Building starting August 31—see above for instructions on providing negative diagnostic test results. Those arriving from outside the tristate area will have access to the Diamond Building after completing their quarantine. Any student requesting access to the Diamond Building must submit a request form to do so.

Due to the strict nature of New York State quarantine rules, students should plan to arrive at campus with enough supplies and clothing to maintain them throughout the 14-day quarantine period.

• The Office of Residence Life will arrange AVI boxed meal delivery for residential students throughout this period. Please inform us of any food restrictions/allergies ahead of time.
• Throughout quarantine, students will not be permitted to leave their assigned bedroom and bathroom and will be subject to the terms of the student code of conduct if they are found in violation of this requirement.
  • During this time, students will not have access to practice rooms or common areas (lounges, laundry, community kitchen, etc.). Practicing will be allowed in your individual room—questions about this should be directed to [email protected].

Additional details will be shared soon by the Office of Residence Life.

Non-Residence Hall Quarantine Information
Non-residential students coming from restricted areas should plan to quarantine in their New York City residences for 14 days prior to coming to the Diamond Building.

According to the New York State Department of Health, an individual quarantining must follow the Precautionary Quarantine Requirements set forth here: coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory. Among other rules, you “must not be in public or otherwise leave the quarters that they have identified as suitable for their quarantine.” This means that during quarantine, students will not be permitted to go to social meet-ups or gatherings, parks, restaurants, stores, or classes. You will need to stay home during this time.

Non-residence hall students should also note that even after their quarantine, you will only be permitted to certain areas in the residence hall, such as Student Health Services (a prescreened appointment must be made in advance). Most areas of the residence hall will not permit visitors until further notice.

SCREENING

Anyone seeking to enter the Juilliard facilities will be required to wear a mask and fill out an online screening questionnaire daily. This questionnaire will ask about any COVID-19 related symptoms prior to a temperature scan and confirmation that a mask is being worn.

ONGOING TESTING TO TRACK COVID-19 PRESENCE IN THE JUILLIARD COMMUNITY

Further information about testing to track COVID-19 in the Juilliard community will be forthcoming.

If a residence hall student is found to test positive, they will move to an isolation suite and a contact-tracing process will begin.

If any student tests positive after arrival on campus, their care will be coordinated by Health Services. Medical care may include testing and appointments outside of Juilliard. If so, these will be billed to the student’s health insurance plan, as usual.

SYMPTOMATIC TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19, you must contact Student Health Services immediately to arrange a test. You may be directed to take a COVID-19 test at Mount Sinai’s 200 W. 57th St location or another location near you, and you may also have follow-up care delivered in person or via video conference with a health-care provider. Symptoms include but are not limited to fever, cough, difficulty breathing/shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell or taste.

In the meantime, self-isolate: stay home, and don’t go to class, activities, or other places where people gather. Those found to have active infections will be contacted with instructions. If you live in the residence hall, you will move to an isolation suite and have your meals, medicine, and other needed items delivered to you there.

COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY AND HEALTH RULE

For your own health and the health of those around you, including students, faculty, and staff, it is extremely important for everyone to follow these safety and health rules. Tremendous progress has been made in New York to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including a great effort on the part of the general public to follow safety protocols such as wearing masks, physical distancing, frequent hand-washing, staying home when sick, getting tested when needed, and providing the necessary information for contact tracing.

We do plan to enforce our health and safety rules, and we will not tolerate repeated or serious lapses, and violating the safety rules can result in sanctions according to our code of conduct.

This is a moment of challenge and change for everyone. But working together, we help keep each other safe.

CONCLUSION

Thank you all for your attention to this lengthy, yet important communication. We have worked to develop testing, tracing, screening, and health-care protocols with the help of excellent local medical professionals. Our goal—to provide a rich educational experience in the safest possible manner—relies on strong protective measures and everyone’s cooperation on health and safety matters.

As we have shared, the most important element is you and your efforts to keep yourself and those around you healthy. We are so fortunate to have a school community whose members care deeply about one another.

As always, we are happy to answer any questions you may have. Specific questions about testing and medical insurance should be directed to [email protected]. A separate communication with additional information for students in the residence hall is also being sent today, and questions about the residence hall should be directed to [email protected].

We look forward to seeing some of you in Block 1, and many more of you in Block 2!

Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your summer.

Sincerely,
Adam Meyer
Provost