The Director of the Office of Student Health serves as the primary point of contact for monitoring health conditions on campus, purchasing and administering testing kits as needed, and coordinating with state and local health authorities. Student Health will screen all students for Covid-19 signs or symptoms or exposure, conduct surveillance, and support contact tracing efforts.
Testing Frequency & Protocols
All members of the campus community must complete a daily self-monitoring health survey. Faculty and staff are required to complete this daily prior to arriving at work. The results for all employees will be monitored daily by a designated individual. Residential students will be expected to complete the assessment daily; commuters will be expected to complete the survey whenever they come to campus. The Office of Student Health will conduct periodic assessment of students.
Anyone who reports symptoms of Covid-19 or has been exposed, must be sent home to their primary residence if possible or to the designated quarantine space; contact their primary care physician or the Student Health Center to review their symptoms; and schedule a Covid-19 test.
If symptoms of Covid-19 are suspected, Student Health will work with each student to determine the best testing option based on some of the following criteria: underlying medical conditions, high-risk status, severity of current signs and symptoms, local primary care provider, health insurance status, transportation and presence of local family support.
Telemedicine provider
To ensure 24/7 access to healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic, Canisius University and WellNow Urgent Care have partnered to provide off-campus urgent care and telemedicine (virtual) to our students when the Student Health Center is closed.
Afterhours Care:
Telemedicine 24/7 from anywhere on campus
Well Now Virtual Care
www.wellnow.comwww.wellnow.com
Student Health Plan for Testing for SARS CoV2
Student Health is following the May 31, 2020, New York State Department of Health Protocol for Covid-19 Testing Applicable to All Health Care Providers and Local Health Departments. Student Health is also following the Commissioner’s Standing Order Directive for Medical Professions and Individuals who Collect Specimens for Covid-19 Testing in Erie County dated June 2, 2020.
Diagnostic Testing for SARS CoV2
Diagnostic testing for SARS CoV2 will be authorized by the college physician after a telehealth visit for:
● Students who present with signs and symptoms of Covid-19 disease
● Students who have been exposed to a confirmed case of Covid-19 disease either by close or proximate contact
● Students who has been placed in mandatory or precautionary quarantine
● Students who meet any of the other testing criteria as outlined by New York State Department of Health
Student Health will work with each student to determine the best testing option based on some of the following criteria: underlying medical conditions, high-risk status, severity of current signs and symptoms, local primary care provider, health insurance status, transportation, and presence of local family support.
On-Campus Testing Options:
Resident students in isolation will be tested by Student Health using self-administered, under nurse observation, nasal swab for molecular testing. Samples will be processed by Quest Diagnostics and billed to the student's insurance.
Resident students in quarantine will be tested by Student Health if they develop symptoms or if recommended by the college physician or local health department.
Off-Campus Testing Options
Off-campus students will be referred for Covid-19 testing to WellNow Urgent Care or one of Erie County or New York State testing sites.
Release from on-campus isolation and quarantine will be determined by Student Health in conjunction with the Erie County Health Department and communicated to Student Life.
Serological Testing for Antibodies
Students wishing serological testing for presence of IgG antibodies must have a telehealth visit with the college physician who will determine if the student meets the New York State Protocol for Testing. Serologic testing will be billed to the student’s health insurance or private pay. Blood collection for serologic testing can be collected at the following locations:
● Student Health
● Quest Diagnostic Collection Site
● Sisters of Charity Outpatient Laboratory
New Onset Signs and Symptoms of COVID 19 Disease
All students will be screened by a nurse triager for Covid-19 signs and symptoms and exposures. The nurse will schedule telehealth visit and advise the student to:
● Remain in their current housing location and self-isolate
● Students who live within a 250-mile radius of campus should make arrangements to return to their primary residence.
● Refrain from attending any in-person classes, employment, or other campus activities
● Follow all other infection control recommendations including wearing face coverings, covering coughs/sneezes properly, maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others, and practice good hygiene, including frequent hand-washing, etc.
● Notify parents / emergency contacts of illness
● Notify faculty via email of illness and missing class
● Check email for link to telehealth visit with college physician
Telehealth visits will prioritize high-risk students with asthma, obesity, diabetes, heart, liver, kidney disease, pregnant or immunocompromised. Referral for testing will be ordered by the college physician.
Isolation and Quarantine
If anyone is suspected of illness or diagnosed with Covid-19, a plan for containment, quarantine and isolation has been developed. Faculty, staff members, and non-residential students would need to quarantine or isolate at home and consult with their health care provider.
If a residential student whose home residence is located within our region (within 250 miles of campus) must be quarantined or becomes sick, they should plan to return home.
A quick definition of these terms is as follows:
- Isolation is for persons with Covid-19 symptoms, anyone with Covid symptoms awaiting test results, or anyone who has a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19.
- Student active cases in isolation are those students (commuters and residents) who are confirmed positive cases currently in isolation. Data is reported by Student Health and collected through Student Health testing, Erie County Health Department reports, and student self-reporting.
- Quarantine is for persons who have had close contact with someone known to have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19.
Identified Contact of Confirmed Student Case of Covid-19
If a student is suspected of exposure to Covid-19, the Office of Student Health will screen for signs and symptoms of the disease and exposure history. If appropriate, a Telehealth visit with a physician will be scheduled. If a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 is made, Canisius will notify ECHD of the positive result.
The Office of Student Health will notify students via a Telehealth visit of positive test results and review the student’s current health status. Daily telehealth visits will be scheduled and self-care tips, infection control, isolation requirements, emergency symptoms and signs, and action plans will be reviewed.
Referral for diagnostic testing either in home, if a resident student or in the community. Testing should be done around day five after exposure. If diagnostic testing is negative, students must complete full quarantine. If a diagnostic test is positive and the exposed student is asymptomatic, they must remain isolated for 10 days after 21the positive test result received and follow all procedures for positive test result. If a student becomes symptomatic while in quarantine, referred for testing.
Mandatory quarantine will be implemented for any student who has had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Close contact means within six feet for 10 minutes or longer. These individuals will be required to quarantine per NYS guidelines.
Precautionary quarantine may be implemented for any student who had contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 but not within six feet but had prolonged contact such as in a classroom, car, or dormitory. The decision for precautionary quarantine will be made after consultation with the ECHD.
Residential students, residing in on-campus housing, who live within a 250 mile radius of campus will be sent home to quarantine for 14 days since the last exposure with a sick individual. If unable to go home, the student will be moved to a designated quarantine space. Quarantine space will have in-home test kits in the room for testing on day five under direction of the Student Health nurse. Daily checks will be completed by the Office of Student Health in Medicat for the entire duration of quarantine for on-campus students. Anyone required to go into mandatory quarantine, will complete a required form from the Erie County Health Department that includes self-care instructions, a daily temperature log, and a daily quarantine symptom form that must be completed throughout the quarantine period. Students will be released from isolation following the CDC and NYSDOH recommendations.
On campus support for students in isolation and quarantine is being made available by the following departments and offices on campus:
Student Health Center
Tunnel Level, Frisch Hall
716.888.2610
Canisius Counseling Center
Bosch Hall Room 105
716.888.2620
Click here to schedule an appointment with a counselor.
Campus Ministry
Old Main Room 207
716.888.2420
Click here to meet one-on-one with a member of Campus Ministry
Griff Center for Student Success
Old Main Room 013
716.888.2170
Click here to learn more about the Griff Center's services.
Chartwells Dining Services
716.888.2565
Click here to learn about the various dining options available to students.
Student Health Center and After Hours Care
Students with further questions or in need of care should contact:
Student Health Center
Tunnel Level, Frisch Hall
716.888.2610
Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday / 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(No clinic hours are available between 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.)
Students in need of care after hours should contact:
Telemedicine 24/7 from anywhere on campus
Well Now Virtual Care
www.wellnow.comwww.wellnow.com
Any Urgent Care provider in WNY, these include:
Well Now
Western New York Immediate Care
Public Safety (available 24/7 for medical and emotional emergencies)
716-888-2330
