COVID Plan

With a robustly vaccinated student and employee population, Skidmore looks forward to resuming an in-person residential and academic experience.  We will continue to take a variety of measures to prioritize the health and safety of our community members.

Jump to:    Vaccination   /   Testing   /   CoVerified   /   COVID Exposure

---

Vaccination

AllSkidmore College students are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before arriving on campus for the fall, unless they receive a medical or religious exception. You must be at least 2 weeks past your last dose to be considered fully vaccinated.  Vaccines that satisfy this requirement include all FDA- and WHO-approved vaccines.

As of June 22, 2021, the following vaccines are approved:

• AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine (which includes Covishield)
• Johnson and Johnson
• Moderna
• Pfizer/BionTech
• Sinopharm
• Sinovac

Important details regarding Skidmore's fall vaccination requirement and how to submit proof of vaccination or apply for a medical or religious exemption or an extension were sent to all returning students on June 28, 2021. 

At this time, Health Services is not offering administration of COVID-19 vaccines, but vaccines are widely available in the United States. Click the "Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You" link below for more information.

If you have questions or concerns about vaccine requirements, please call Health Services at 518-580-5550 or email us at health@skidmore.edu 

For more information about COVID-19 vaccine, please click on the links below:

• Summer/Fall 2021 Vaccine Statement from the President (May 27, 2021)
• Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You
• For transportation to a scheduled COVID vaccine appointment
• FAQ Handout from the American Academy of Family Physicians
• If you prefer a short video – Johns Hopkins University

---

Testing

Testing: Testing is a key component of our multilayered strategy to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus. We are continuing our partnership with the Broad Institute, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for PCR test collection and processing. Weekly testing for students will continue to be required whenever the College is operating at a "yellow" status level, as we currently are. All students must be tested every seven days. Covid testing will be available at dining hall 2nd floor.

     

Surveillance testing is performed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and is characterized by timely detection as well as high sensitivity and specificity. Test samples are collected using a non-invasive nasal swab in the front part of the nostrils. Samples are sent to the Broad Institute lab for analysis and results are typically reported within 24-36 hours.

 

 

CoVerified

CoVerified - The CoVerified app will be used by every student to receive their test results. All matriculated students are automatically enrolled as users, and the app can be used with a phone or other electronic device. CoVerified loads names as listed in student registrar records. If you would like your name changed in the CoVerified app, please contact Health Services staff and we can immediately make that change.

To print a Covid test result from the CoVerified phone app, follow these steps:

• Log into CoVerified on your phone
• Go to ‘Records’ on the bottom of the screen (next to ‘Home’)
• Several tests will appear: Click on the test result you would like to print.
• Scroll down under ‘Attachments’ and click on the square with the arrow pointing upwards
• Email to yourself to print

To ensure compliance with testing requirements, beginning Friday, Oct. 1, all students will be required to show a “cleared” status in CoVerified in order to gain entry to Murray-Aikins Dining Hall and Williamson Sports Center. This means you must be up-to-date with your requirement of being tested every seven days and students are not required to use the app to monitor symptoms.

If you are restricted in CoVerified because of missed testing, you must test and receive a negative test result in order to clear your status. Health Services WILL NOT be able to change your status.

COVID symptoms: People with COVID-19 may experience a wide variety of symptoms that range from mild to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and include the following:

• Fever of 100F or greater
• 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

If you experience any of these symptoms or combination of symptoms, mask, isolate from others and contact Health Services. If you are experiencing mild symptoms, such as mild sore throat or runny nose, after hours, you should mask, isolate from others and contact Health Services during business hours.

Contact Campus Safety to seek emergency medical care if concerning symptoms occur, including the following:

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, grey, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

Health Services has the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid COVID-19 test that will be used for students who exhibit symptoms. Test results are available within 15 minutes or less. Symptomatic students will be evaluated and tested in a separate trailer with outdoor space located in Jonsson Tower parking lot to prevent transmission within the Health Services building.

 

---

COVID exposure

Exposure to COVID 

The CDC currently defines a “close contact” to COVID-19 as any exposure to someone with COVID 19 that takes place within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Recommendations on managing Covid exposures vary depending on vaccination status and recent infection: 

Booster status	Quarantine recommendation
If you have been boosted  or  If you have had Covid within the past 90 days  or  If you are not yet eligible for the booster because you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna less than 5 months ago or J&J less than 2 months ago	You do not need to quarantine.  Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days and test on day 5 with a PCR or rapid test.  If you develop symptoms, stay in place and follow the directions below.
If you are not boosted and completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna over 5 months ago or the J&J over 2 months ago  or  If you are unvaccinated	Quarantine for 5 days (where Day 0 is your last day of exposure). After 5 days continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 5 additional days (through Day 10).   Test on day 5-7 with a PCR test through the Dining Hall or rapid test.   If you develop symptoms, stay in place and follow the instructions below.

 

If you have been exposed to a person with Covid and are exhibiting symptoms, please do the following: 

• Contact Health Services by filling out an Appointment Request Form. A triage nurse will call you back within the same business day until 4pm. If you develop symptoms when Health Services is closed (evenings or weekends), call Campus Safety at (518) 580-5566.   
• Stay in Place: Do not attend class or other activities (athletics, employment, etc).  
• Use ‘Grab and Go’ food services from the Dining Hall and eat by yourself in a private location.  

• Double mask or wear a medical style mask, such as a K95.  
• Await further instruction from Health Services.