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**NEW COVID INFORMATION**
3/12/21 New York COVID Vaccination Leave –
On March 12, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed into law that employers are to allow employees a “sufficient period of time,” up to four hours of paid leave, per injection to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The law expires 12/31/22.
Kulanu requires employees to send CDC vaccination Card to HR as proof of vaccination per injection.
*Please note, this policy is not retroactive according to New York State law.
12/26/20202 *New* New York State DOH Guidance: Consistent with the CDC’s updated guidance, New York now permits persons exposed to COVID-19 to end quarantine after 10 days, without testing, if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period. In addition, the following additional requirements must be met:
- Daily monitoring of symptoms must be continued for the full 14 days;
- Strict adherence to hand hygiene and use of face coverings must continue for 14 days;
- If any symptoms develop, individuals must immediately self-isolate and contact their healthcare provider or local public health authority.
This guidance applies only to individuals who have not tested positive to COVID-19.
10/29/20 Guidance After Testing Positive
When we did our initial staff training, in order for someone who tested positive to return to work, CVC guidelines called for a negative COVID test, 24 hours fever free without use of medication (Kulanu opted for 48 hours) and a doctor’s note clearing you to come back to work. Since then, the CDC guidelines regarding the return to work for someone who has tested positive has changed. This is the explanation of new CDC guidance: CDC: Why aren’t survivors required to test negative before returning to work or school? Wouldn’t that be safer? At the start of the pandemic, we did use two negative tests 24 hours apart to indicate someone was safe to come out of isolation -- but over time, research showed that a significant number of people stayed positive past 10 days -- even though doctors couldn’t grow any infectious virus from them after 10 days. That’s why the CDC no longer requires negative tests for clearance. In light of this, we are updating our COVID protocol. A doctor’s note clearing you to return to work is still required and you still must be fever free for 48 hours without the use of medication, but a negative COVID test will no longer be necessary.
TRAVEL GUIDLINES FOR NEW YORK:
While No Longer Required, Quarantine After Domestic Travel is Still Advised
As Added Precaution, Mandatory Quarantine Remains in Effect for International Travelers
All Travelers Covered Must Continue to Fill Out Traveler Health Form Upon Arrival Into New York State
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory starting April 1st. While no longer required, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread - wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings.
Regardless of quarantine status, all individuals exposed to COVID-19 or returning from travel must:
· Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
· Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated);
Must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
Travel to New York From Other Countries Current CDC guidance requires air passengers traveling to the U.S. from another country show either documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 within in the previous 3 months or a negative test result from no more than 3 days prior to day of travel to the airline before boarding the flight. This applies to both U.S. residents and visitors from other countries. (Documentation of vaccination status or antibody test results will not be accepted as proof of COVID status prior to boarding, per CDC guidance.)
After arrival in the U.S., travelers must either quarantine for 7 days with a test 3-5 days after travel, or quarantine for the full 10 days without a test. This requirement applies to all international travelers whether they were tested before boarding, are recovered from a previous COVID infection, or are fully vaccinated.
For more information on acceptable documentation visit “Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States | CDC.” The CDC is providing limited exemptions for flight crews and other extraordinary circumstances. Compliance with CDC guidance for international travel is required in New York State for all travelers arriving or passing through New York from other countries (e.g., connecting flights), including healthcare workers and essential workers.
The travel guidelines require all New Yorkers, as well as those visiting from out-of-state, to take personal responsibility for compliance in the best interest of public health and safety.
For general inquires contact the call the Hotline: 1-888-364-3065 or Ask a Question.
To file a report of an individual failing to adhere to the quarantine pursuant to the travel guidelines click here or call 1-833-789-0470.
Individuals may also contact their local department of health.
Reflect, Re-position, Reopen 2020- 2021 Plans
Dear Families, Employees and Friends:
We are delighted to welcome everyone back to Kulanu! Through the well-planned efforts of our re-opening committees, our school and OPWDD programs are operating on-site with employees and participants maintaining safety protocols. The time it takes to fill out the morning questionnaire, or the evening’s tracing of everyone’s whereabouts are a small inconvenience as we work to keep everyone safe. Masks may not be comfortable, but they are one of the most critical components of our safety protocols- wear them.
The next several weeks will test our systems and your compliance. We continue to rely on Kulanu employees and our families to accurately report any possible encounter with someone exposed to COVID-19. As we celebrate the New Year and perhaps spend more time with individuals “outside” our immediate circle, risk factors increase. It is easy to become complacent when we are in a communal environment. PLEASE- for the health and well-being of every participant and employee- keep up the good work:
- Wear your mask! (If you need a Kulanu mask, just let your program leader know)
- Maintain social distancing
- Wash your hands
- Stay home if you are not well
- Remember there is a 14-day quarantine should you travel to a state or area noted under the travel advisory https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory
Kulanu, “ALL OF US TOGETHER”, can keep everyone safe and healthy during 2020-21 . We look forward to a happy, productive and HEALTHY New Year!
Dr. Beth Raskin
Executive Director
Testing for Students and Employees
Testing for Students and Employees
Testing for Students and Employees
Testing of students and employees will not be conducted by the school. Should an individual report illness or arrive on site with a temperature over the acceptable threshold, they will be denied entry and referred for medical attention. A list of COVID-19 testing sites will be provided.
Contact Tracing
Testing for Students and Employees
Testing for Students and Employees
Our school staff, having received certification for completion of the Johns Hopkins Tracing course, will assist in contact tracing through attendance, making note of cohorts and tracking contact as much as possible within the building. The school has created a contact tracing mechanism that allows us to identity any contact between/among the organization’s employees and cohorts. Nassau County requires that the County complete all contact tracing. Kulanu’s Compliance Officer will provide the County all assistance requested. For information please refer to the NY Forward Safety Plan and the Department of Health Plan posted on this site.
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