Return to Campus – Fall 2022

Dear Students and Parents:

We are providing an update to our campus COVID-19 procedures as we kick off the new academic year.

Since mid-June, we have urged faculty, staff, and students on campus to:

• Wear masks indoors in public
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19

The COVID-19 Community Level for Central Florida is currently high. Levels are determined by new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, as well as COVID-19's impact on the County’s healthcare system. Because of this, at this time we strongly recommend masks indoors for the first two weeks of the semester. We will then reassess. As always, we will continue to monitor County levels and other factors. You can find the most up-to-date information for Orange County on the Florida Department of Health’s site.

Please refer to these updated FAQs to help you best prepare for your return to campus.

Fiat Lux!

Susan Rundell Singer
VP of Academic Affairs and Provost

Current Variant

Why are we still concerned about COVID?
The current COVID variant in Florida, BA.5, is highly transmissible and widespread. Incidences of COVID in our county are currently rising and many individuals are quite ill. Orange County and Rollins College participate in the National Wastewater Surveillance System, which is currently the best indicator of the prevalence of COVID in our county and on campus.

I already had COVID, why do I need to be concerned about this new variant?
The current variant can readily slip by your immune system and reinfect you.

I’m vaccinated, so I don’t need to worry, right?
Vaccines reduce hospitalizations and death, but you can still contract COVID and share it with others.

Will Rollins have a COVID dashboard when classes begin?
Yes, the dashboard will be available and regularly updated starting Monday, August 22.

Will there be any changes to the dashboard this year?
Yes. We will continue to adapt the dashboard as needed based on changes in our protocols. This year we will no longer use #CampusClear for daily screening/case tracking and will not be reporting employee COVID isolation and quarantine case totals.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments

Do I need to share my COVID vaccination status?
We encourage everyone to upload their vaccination status via FoxLink. Click here if you need step-by-step video instructions on how to upload. If you have had a booster since leaving campus, please submit the updated information.

Is it possible to obtain a vaccine on campus this fall?
We will have a small supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available on campus at the start of the school year. We are monitoring the development and release of new vaccines and will work with the Florida Department of Health to obtain those vaccines.

Will the Wellness Center have Paxlovid?
For students, we will have a small supply of Paxlovid on hand for those for whom there is a medical indication to use it. Paxlovid is readily available at pharmacies.

Testing

Will we have return-to-campus testing?
We encourage students to complete testing on their own 24-48 hours prior to arrival on campus. If an individual tests positive, they should notify the Wellness Center at 407-628-6340 or wellness@rollins.edu and will not be permitted to move onto campus until they are cleared.

Is there required testing for athletes?
Not at this time.

Is there required testing for those who do not share evidence of vaccination?
Not at this time. Testing may be required for those with direct exposure to others (i.e. roommates, close contacts).

Masks

Do I need to wear a mask?
According to the CDC, Orange County is currently a high-risk area. For the first two weeks of the semester, we strongly recommend that all members of the campus community wear KN95 or N95 masks indoors if we continue to be at high risk. Cloth masks do not provide sufficient protection. We will then reassess following the first two weeks.

Masks will continue to be required in the Wellness Center.

COVID-19 Attendance Policy

Will I be penalized for not attending class in person because I need to isolate or quarantine?
No, we will continue with our COVID absence policy (for CLA and Holt) which is available here.

Crummer’s attendance policy can be found here.

Isolation and Quarantine

I have tested positive, or I've had a close contact with someone who tested positive. Who do I contact?
To self-report that you tested positive (or if you've had a close contact), email wellness@rollins.edu.

Do I need to quarantine?
Please use the COVID quarantine and isolation calculator to determine if and for how long you need to isolate, and be sure to reach out to the Wellness Center.

If I test positive for COVID, how long and where do I need to isolate?
Please use the COVID quarantine and isolation calculator to determine if and for how long you need to isolate, and be sure to reach out to the Wellness Center.

We strongly advise any residential student who tests positive for COVID to isolate at home, off campus for comfort, and to be sure to reach out to the Wellness Center for medical support and return clearance.

If you cannot return home via private transportation, please isolate in your room and we will provide meals.

What do I do if my roommate tests positive?
Follow the guidance for a close contact and be sure to reach out to the Wellness Center. If you need to quarantine, we encourage you to quarantine at home, off campus, for comfort. If you cannot return home via private transportation, please isolate in your room and we will provide meals.

Are daily screenings required?
At this time, daily screenings are no longer required. As of May 2022, the College ended their with #CampusClear and Rapid-Trace. To report positive status, email wellness@rollins.edu and contact those who you were in close contact with.

Monkeypox

What do I need to know about Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which was recently listed as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). At this time, the risk of monkeypox in the United States is believed to be low. Monkeypox does not spread easily between people; however, anyone in close contact with a person with monkeypox can become infected and should take steps to protect themselves. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.

Click here to learn more about monkey pox please visit this CDC website.