SARS-COV-2 Health and Safety Updates - Rutgers - AAUP/AFT Town Hall Tuesday, January 26th, 4-5:30pm Note: Information in this presentation is ...
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SARS-COV-2
Health and Safety Updates
Rutgers – AAUP/AFT Town Hall
Tuesday, January 26th, 4-5:30pm
Note: Information in this presentation is current as of January 25, 2021.
1
Vaccines – It’s Going to Take a While, Folks
• To defeat this virus, we
need a multi-layered
strategy and plan.
• Vaccines are an important
part of effective control
against community spread
but not the only one.
The State of New Jersey recently expanded the eligibility guidelines for COVID-19
vaccinations to include a number of new groups, including those 65 and older and younger
individuals with certain high-risk health conditions. 2
Rutgers Plan
• Rutgers has prepared and applied to the State to run multiple distribution sites for
vaccinations.
• They are waiting on this authority shortly and the plan is to make the needed
vaccine available to the Rutgers community soon thereafter.
• That will provide Rutgers with the ability to administer vaccinations to students,
faculty, and staff.
• They will follow the same guidelines established by the state for vaccine
distribution.
• The problem – we don’t have enough vaccine at this point in time.
3
What We Know about the
Vaccines to Date
• The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are more
than 92% effective in preventing COVID-19
after completing the two-dose series. Future Vaccine Options:
The vaccine from J&J doesn’t have the same need to be
kept supercold and only requires one dose. J&J has said it
• Both doses are necessary for full protection, expects to have 100 million doses available by April.
achieved about two weeks after the second
A vaccine developed by AstraZeneca with Oxford
dose. University has received emergency authorization in the
U.K. and could receive a similar go-ahead in the European
Union in mere days. It, too, is relatively easier to store
and transport and carries a relatively lower price tag per
• The effectiveness is consistent across age, dose.
gender, race, and ethnicity.
“We’ll look at the data and determine if it’s ready to be
given to the public,” Fauci said, “so they can go to the FDA
4
to ask if they can get an emergency-use authorization.”
According to Dr. Fauci,
vaccinating 70% to 90% of
the population can halt the
spread of the COVID-19
virus by establishing
immunity within our
communities.
• This is sometimes called
herd immunity.
• It is estimated that it will be
mid to late 2021 to reach
the desired level of
vaccination for herd Widespread education about and participation in the
vaccination program is needed for it to be fully effective.
immunity.
5
As of Yesterday …
• Nearly 2 million residents
have signed up to be
immunized through the
state’s online portal.
• The state is seeking to
inoculate at least 4.7
million people within six
months to achieve a safe
level of immunity.
6
In the Mean-time and for a
Long Time into 2021 …
• It is critical that we maintain the mitigation strategies that
we’ve been living with throughout 2021.
• 6-foot physical distancing protocols
• Necessary updates to ventilation, filtration and
building systems
• Resources and staffing to clean and sanitize facilities
• Universal face covering requirements
• Access to hand-washing facilities
• Vigorous testing procedures
7
Why Ventilation is So Important
In the Air: Droplets & Aerosols
Particles large and small are generated when an
infectious person exhales, speaks, sings, coughs, or sneezes
Graphic: Dr. Lisa Brosseau, ScD, CIH “COVID-19 transmission messages should hinge on science” (March 16, 2020)
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/commentary-covid-19-transmission-messages-should-hinge-science
Ventilation at Rutgers
• First and foremost – the plan is to keep • Looking at increasing outside air
buildings depopulated as much as where possible; hope is we’re in
possible, including the Spring semester. a better place in Fall ’21.
This is the best defense!
• Buildings are being assessed for enhanced • Will be evaluating buildings with
filtration and will be upgraded where w/ minimal filtration/outside air
possible. enhancement and either not put
people in those spaces or limit
• We have a list of all buildings that have occupancy in those buildings.
MERV 13 or higher filtration
COVID-19 may be spread by
people who are not showing symptoms
Why Testing is Still Critical
40-45 % of people with the virus have no symptomsWhat are the types of tests
that are used?
• Diagnostic tests for current (active) infection
• PCR-RT (genetic material of virus)
• Antigen tests (proteins made by virus)
• Test for past infection
• Antibody test (proteins made by person)Testing at Rutgers
• Rutgers is currently offering SARS-CoV-2 PCR saliva testing
to employees and students who are working and learning on
campus.
• They will continue testing based on the risk of transmission
of COVID-19 within the university community.
• Due to the current prevalence of disease within New Jersey,
they will perform weekly testing on individuals regularly
scheduled to be in-person on campus (on average once or
more per week) in addition to those with other risk factors
that have been identified through evaluation.
Tests can be obtained via drive through clinics, walk-in services, and/or departmental distribution, based upon the needs
of the group to be tested and the availability of resources.
12Risk assessments will be based on, but not limited
to, the following criteria:
• Ability to maintain physical distancing while completing
activities on campus
• Working and/or learning in a patient-care environment
• Exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case
• Congregate living environment (e.g. residence halls)
• Working and/or learning in an environment where they
may expose individuals who are at risk for severe illness
• Other factors that may increase or decrease risk based
on the evolving science and public health data
RU Testing Strategy: https://coronavirus.Rutgers.edu/on-campus-testing/• https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu/health-and-safety/testing-program-dashboard/
14What Does this Mean for
Fall 2021?
• Looking to bring back 100% face-to-face instruction but …
”not at the same time” as per Tony Calcado.
• Conditions:
• There would have to be a high percentage of faculty,
staff and students that have been vaccinated
• Mitigation practices would remain in place, including
the wearing of face masks, physical distancing and
reduced population in spaces, and enhanced
ventilation and filtration.
“Easier to go back to remote instruction – we’re good at
that now - but need to plan for the possibility of bringing
back staff, faculty and students to campus.”
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