Daily Health Screening

Daily Health Screening

The College has implemented a Daily Health Screening measure in order to identify individuals who are symptomatic, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, within the last 14 days. Health screenings are currently required by NYS COVID-19 Guidance for Higher Education.

Individuals must monitor their own health on a daily basis prior to leaving their home, and if they have symptoms, they must refrain from coming to campus. All individuals must complete mandatory Daily Health Screening through the Qualtrics survey platform prior to entering campus on their smartphone or PC, to affirm the following:

Questionnaire

Preliminary Statement:

To the best of your knowledge, please select any of the following: 

  • I have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, including fever (of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, abdominal pain/diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell)
  • I have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • I have knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19, outside of clinical research, clinical care or clinical training)
  • None of the above

*By submitting this daily health screening, you agree to the following:

  • TC’s limited use of symptom data.
  • I have received a COVID-19 PCR (nose swab) test in the past 14 days and submitted prior to my first daily health screening. 
  • I have completed the mandatory Teachers College Health and Safety training.

Remote Screening

Individuals must monitor their own health on a daily basis prior to leaving their home, and if they have symptoms should refrain from coming to campus. All individuals must complete mandatory Daily Health Screening through the Qualtrics survey platform prior to entering campus on their smartphone or PC, and have proof of clearance to enter campus.

Student and Employee Link

TC Housing Affiliates (Faculty & Students)

Visitor Link

On-Site Screening

QR Code: Signage at all entrances will be posted to remind individuals of the mandatory Daily Health Screening. Signage will include a QR code which can be scanned with a smartphone and will bring them to the Qualtrics Daily Health Screening page for those who did not complete their Daily Health Screening prior to arriving on campus.

Kiosk: A kiosk with a computer and printer will be available (located at the main entrance at 525 W 120th St., Zankel Hall) for those who did not complete their Daily Health Screening prior to entering campus, and/or do not have a smartphone. 

Process Once Submitted:

  1. If individuals select None of the above:
    • They are sent an email with a copy of the GREEN Day Pass in an email attachment
    • All individuals will be required to show the day pass to public safety upon entering the building, and must also swipe their TC ID at the Public Safety Desk reader.
    • Day Pass has in large characters the date which they completed the screening
    • Day Pass expires at midnight of that day
  2. If individuals select Yes to any of the other questions:
    • Screen appears that displays the message that they cannot enter campus and they are provided with a list of resources.
    • Email sent to user that says:
      • You must quarantine for 14 days
      • Include link to resources for COVID
    • An email is sent to the appropriate TC department for follow-up
      • Staff & faculty: email goes to HR
      • Students and TC Housing Affiliates (Faculty and Students): email goes to Student Affairs

Email Confirmation:

  • Contains next steps to individual
  • Email notification to HR/Student Affairs to notify of positive survey result

Visitor Daily Health Screening

The College has implemented a separate Qualtrics questionnaire for visitors, who will need to provide a current email address to receive their pass. There will be signage posted at the entrance(s) with the QR code, along with a kiosk with a computer and printer for the visitor Daily Health Screening, which will include the following questions:

Visitor Questions:

Preliminary Statement:

To the best of your knowledge, please check all that apply:

  • I have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, including fever (of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, abdominal pain/diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell)
  • I have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • I have knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19, outside of clinical research, clinical care or clinical training)
  • None of the above

*By submitting this daily health screening, you agree to the following:

  • TC’s limited use of symptom data.
  • Visitors will be required to show their green day pass to public safety in order to enter the building.

Frequently Asked Questions

All members of the Teachers College community (students, faculty, and staff) who wish to enter campus for any purpose. If you are working from home or not entering campus, you are not required to complete the daily health screening.

Daily health screening is required by New York State as a condition for office-based workers or for colleges and universities in New York State. The purpose is to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 as facilities reopen or continue to operate.

Every day you plan to enter campus, prior to entry to campus facilities. Completion of the daily health screening will generate a date-stamped certificate, if you are cleared for entry to campus.

Yes, you are required by the New York State regulations to immediately report any new symptoms. You should do this by re-submitting the daily health screening. In addition, you must do the following:

(1) separate yourself from others

(2) Staff should notify their supervisor that they are unwell and are going to go home. Note that the reasons for being unwell are private and confidential, and you are not required to disclose to your supervisor that you have a symptom or symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or any other specific symptom.

(3) wear a face covering, go home, maintain physical distancing, and seek advice from a health care provider including possible testing for COVID-19; (4) follow procedures for return to work described below.

Yes, if you have resumed on-site activity (meaning, you have returned to campus since August 1st, 2020) you must update the health screening questionnaire immediately upon any change, whether you are on campus or at home as per New York State regulations.

No, if you have not returned to on-site activity and have remained remote you are not required to complete the health screening questionnaire if you develop new symptoms while at home. However, you still should seek advice from a health care provider regarding your health and safety and those around you.

No. The process is very quick, but it does require you to open the daily health screening questionnaire on your PC or mobile device, then type in your UNI and answer the questions.

Those states are listed on New York State COVID-19 Travel Advisory.

Questionnaire and Entry to Teachers College Facilities

Individuals who answer “No” to all of the questions will receive a pass with a green check that indicates you are cleared for entry via TC email.

If you have a smartphone, and you submit your information at this link, you will receive a 24-hour “day pass”, with a date and time stamp on it, that you can show to public safety personnel or to other personnel assigned to checking access to College buildings.

Individuals who do not have a smartphone will need to use the kiosk and printer located at the main entrance of Teachers College, at 525 W 120th St. (Zankel hall) where they will receive verification by printing a copy of their day pass.

Individuals who answer "Yes" to any of the three screening questions will receive a pass with a red “X”. Public Safety personnel will not permit any individual who does not have a day pass with a green check to enter the Teachers College campus.

The College is required to report on adherence with the daily health screening for all persons accessing its campus buildings. Thus, for all persons who access campus premises using a TCID card swipe, their names will be cross-checked with information from the daily health screening questionnaire to ensure that they are adhering to the daily reporting of symptoms.

Data and Privacy

No. This information is private and confidential; thus, you do not have to disclose it. In addition, supervisors may not ask specific questions about an individual’s health or symptoms.

All responses, negative and positive, are provided to the Office of Human Resources for staff, and the Office of Student Affairs for students. All information is confidential and will not be shared with a supervisor or anyone else, except to comply with state and local health department requirements. All these data will be deleted after 21 days.

Specific personnel from the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Student Affairs. Data will not be distributed to any other individual or department, except to comply with state and local health department requirements. In addition, extra effort regarding any required disinfection of work spaces for individuals reporting positive on the questionnaire will be communicated from HR to Facilities without disclosure of identity of the individual reporting positive response to any of the screening questions.

Twenty-one (21) days. The data will be deleted thereafter.

Actions in the Event of Positive Case or Symptoms

Facilities should be contacted to conduct the advanced cleaning and sanitation protocol of the space in which the person worked.

You should inform the individual to update the COVID-19 health screening questionnaire. This update will trigger appropriate responses by the Office of Human Resources, including triggering disinfection of relevant areas.

You should also close the workspace, office, or laboratory where that individual worked, notify co-workers not to enter it, and call Facilities to disinfect the workspace, office, or laboratory. You should refrain from disclosing specific reasons for an individual's illness, unless explicitly permitted by the individual.

Clearance and Return to Work

The symptom reporting process does not attempt to make a diagnosis or to distinguish between symptoms caused by COVID-19 or another cause. Individuals with symptoms should seek advice from a health care provider.

The procedures for being cleared to return to work for individuals with symptoms and for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 are described below.

If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the employee may return to work upon completing at least 14 days of isolation from the onset of symptoms or 14 days of isolation after the first positive test if they remain asymptomatic.  All individuals must use face coverings over the nose and mouth and observe other public health guidance while in campus facilities.

Individuals with symptoms consistent with COVID should consult a health care provider and are strongly urged to obtain testing. If the test is positive, the guidelines above apply. The employee may return to work upon completing at least 14 days of isolation from the onset of symptoms or 14 days of isolation after the first positive test. In addition, employees must be evaluated by a health care provider and present a fit-for-duty certificate to the Office of Human Resources before returning to work. 

If an individual has had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time (15 minutes or more and no physical distancing) AND is experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms, the individual may return to work upon completing at least 14 days of isolation from the onset of symptoms. In addition, employees must be evaluated by a health care provider and present a fit-for-duty certificate to the Office of Human Resources before returning to work.

The CDC defines “close contact” as an individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes, starting from 48 hours before illness onset until the time the person was isolated without use of face covering. The local health department should be contacted if the extent of contact between an individual and a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 is unclear.

The individual must complete 14 days of self-quarantine, and present a fit-for-duty certificate to the Office of Human Resources before returning to work, after being evaluated by a healthcare provider.

If an individual is deemed essential and critical for the operation or safety of the workplace, upon a documented determination by their supervisor and the Office of Human Resources, in consultation with appropriate state and local health authorities, the exposed, asymptomatic employee may return to work so long as the individual adheres to the following practices prior to and during their on campus work, which should be monitored and documented by the employer and individual:

Regular monitoring: The individual must self-monitor for a temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit daily, and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (see TC EHS Community Training)

Wear a face covering or face mask: The employee must wear a face covering or face mask over the nose and mouth at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure.

Social/physical distance: The employee must continue social/physical distancing practices, including maintaining, at least, six feet of distance from others.

Clean and disinfect workspaces: Facilities will continue to provide enhanced cleaning and disinfection of all areas, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, elevators, and shared spaces and equipment.

Maintain quarantine: The individual must continue to self-quarantine and self-monitor for temperature and symptoms when not at the workplace for 14 days after last exposure.

See response above regarding return to work for individuals with COVID-19. All individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 are strongly recommended to get tested.

Procedures for Visitors

All visitors must be screened using the same questionnaire prior to being permitted to enter the Teachers College campus.

TC currently has a no-visitor policy; this will continue to be the policy after August 1, 2020, with exceptions for the following types of individuals:

Patients and individuals accompanying them. Screening of patients coming to campus facilities will be done at time of arrival.

Research participants and individuals accompanying them. Screening of research participants coming to Teachers College buildings will be done at the time of arrival (in addition to the day prior to the visit, if this is the protocol). The date and time of the screening, the fact that it was negative, and the name of the person doing the screening must be recorded in the case report form or research file/record for the participant.

All other visitors including outside vendors who are facilitating deliveries.

COVID-19 Supplemental to the Contractor Access and Safety Guidelines

Purpose

This guideline and its requirements here-in shall serve as a temporary supplement to the Teachers College (“the College”) Contractor Access and Safety Guidelines.

As stipulated in the College Contractor Access and Safety Guidelines, the health and safety of the College campus, its persons, and property, are of paramount importance to the College. It is a primary aim of the College to ensure the safety of its students, employees, visitors and those performing work on College property. To that end, contractors performing construction, renovation or repair work at the College must take full responsibility for establishing safe working practices, fully complying with all OSHA and other applicable safety standards, fully complying with New York City and New York State Orders and Guidelines pertaining to COVID-19, and fully complying with College requirements (see item 3.0 below) for the prevention of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, and for policing themselves and their own employees and subcontractors to ensure such compliance. The College is not a General Contractor or Construction Manager, and is not itself in the business of construction or renovation. The College relies on its contractors and their staff to assume and enforce construction safety responsibilities, and safe practices to prevent exposure to and transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Contractors and their contract staff members are responsible to follow safe procedures including those pertaining to COVID-19, take all necessary precautions, provide and require the proper use of adequate and safe equipment and safety devices, including appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), correct any unsafe conditions, investigate accidents and enforce safety rules. The College expressly does not assume any duty to supervise any specific means and methods of contractor work, to inspect for or correct unsafe conditions, to investigate accidents or enforce safety rules. The College fully relies on contractors to perform these functions, and only assumes duties and responsibilities that are expressly and specifically set forth and agreed in writing.

Definitions and Responsibility:

  1. Contract Representative – The Teachers College Employee responsible for the administration of a particular project.
  2. Contractor – Any individual or company hired by the College to perform construction, renovation, maintenance, repair, or specialty work for a specific project, as well as any subcontractors or their employees. Nothing herein shall be construed as having any bearing on whether any particular work or project is or is not “routine maintenance” work as set forth under the New York State Labor Law.
  3. Contractor Staff Members – Any persons who are working at the College as employees or agents on behalf of a contractor, sub-contractor or sub-sub-contractor, including without limitation, principals, supervisors, foremen, laborers, helpers or any other staff members or workers.
  4. Contractor Supervisor – The person or persons responsible to supervise and oversee the operations of a contractor and/or the work of contractor staff members for any work at the College. This person shall be the primary point of contact with the College.

College requirements for the prevention of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus:

  1. All persons entering campus must complete a daily symptom check prior to entering campus each and every day. The contents of the daily symptom check shall be supplied daily to contract staff members by the contractor in the form of a hard copy questionnaire, on-line questionnaire, or smartphone app questionnaire. The contractor shall be required to maintain records of the daily symptom check completions by contract staff members and maintain up to a maximum of 30 days of daily symptom check records subject to review by the College Environmental Health & Safety Team. At minimum, the contractor’s daily symptom check must include the following questions:

    To the best of my knowledge, select any of the following:

    • I have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, including fever (of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, abdominal pain/diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell)

    • I have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

    • I have knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19, outside of clinical research, clinical care or clinical training)

    • None of the above

    • Persons answering “Yes/checking the box” to question # 4 may enter campus.

    • Persons answering “Yes/checking the box” to any of questions #1, #2, or #3 may not enter campus, and in the case of a contract staff member shall immediately notify their contract supervisor. The contract supervisor must ensure that the contract staff member does not enter campus. The contract supervisor shall immediately notify the College contract representative.

  2. All persons entering and remaining on campus must practice six-foot social distancing.

  3. All persons entering and remaining on campus must wear a face covering. Contract staff members must wear PPE appropriate to the work-site on campus.

  4. All persons entering campus shall disinfect their hands upon entry by using the Purell type dispensers located at campus entrances.

  5. All persons entering and remaining on campus must follow the guidelines of COVID -19 prevention signage placed throughout campus, including but not limited to face coverings, elevator use, social distancing, pedestrian traffic flow, hand washing, restroom use, and use of Purell type hand disinfectant.

 

Daily Health Screening Entrance Signage Content

Daily Health Screenings for Campus Entry

Welcome to Teachers College!

All individuals who wish to enter campus are required to complete the Daily Health Screening. You may complete the Daily Health Screening at the kiosk, or using your smartphone by scanning the QR code that corresponds to your TC affiliation:

TC Students, Faculty and Staff

Hold your camera up to the barcode here:
QR code #1

Visitors

Hold your camera up to the barcode here: QR code #2

Please check your email upon completion, and show the Day Pass attached in the email you received to the Public Safety Officer at the entrance to campus building to enter.

Rationale

This questionnaire is pursuant to NYS COVID-19 Guidance for Higher Education, which requires all employees or visitors to affirm all of the aforementioned requirements for entering campus.

Temperature Monitoring Policy

Modified Recommendation: Version 1 of the TC Health and Safety Proposal included a recommendation for mandatory temperature monitoring for all individuals who wish to enter campus. Upon further review of guidance on health screenings, the working group has decided to rescind this recommendation due to the following reasons:

ProsCons

Provides an extra sense of safety to the community

 

Not a valid predictor of COVID-19
 

Requires a significant amount of additional staff hours to administer

 
  Limits entry points to campus  
  Difficult to provide privacy 
  Puts persons who administer the test at greater risk  
  Will likely cause bottlenecking at the main entrance, which exposes people to privacy issues, social distancing violations, and weather conditions

Rationale

Other measures such as physical distancing, healthy hygiene practices, daily health screening, testing, and the community-wide Health and Safety training, and other measures, will be sufficient in mitigating risk of COVID-19 spread on campus. The CDC General Business Information Page describes on-site temperature checks to be an “optional strategy”, and recommends having individuals self-screen prior to coming on-site, which the College is implementing through the Daily Health Screening requirement.

Contact Us

Teachers College Preparedness

* Phone: (212) 678-3111 * Email: publicsafety@tc.columbia.edu
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