Current COVID Protocols

Posted: August 4, 2022

GANNON’S CURRENT COVID PROTOCOLS

COVID-19 remains a public health concern and we are continuing to track its presence on our campuses and in our adjacent communities. If community transmission rates return to high levels and severity of the illness rises, we will reevaluate and adjust as we have over the past few years in our management of this disease.

Here is an at-a-glance reminder of our protocols:

• Gannon University’s Erie and Ruskin campuses are currently mask optional. 
• We strongly encourage vaccination for COVID-19 and the booster. We do not require the vaccine to attend or work at Gannon and are facilitating every opportunity for our community members to access the vaccines and treatments currently available. In keeping with the definitions recommended by the CDC, we consider “fully vaccinated” as having received both courses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the booster or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and booster, for those eligible.  We will also accept vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization. If you have not received a booster, we strongly recommend that you do. For students in clinicals, be aware that most clinical sites require vaccination and choosing not to be vaccinated could jeopardize the progress of your education.
• If you’ve recently received the vaccine and or booster, you can share that to assist the contact tracing and COVID support team, should it be needed. Submit your vaccination here. Submit your booster here.
• Reach out through the LiveSafe app if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. This is monitored by our nursing staff, and they will call you with advice and to discuss next steps you might need to take, if any.
• We encourage anyone who is ill to refrain from coming to campus. Instead, complete the LiveSafe questionnaire or reach out to our Health Center and await instructions.
• We will continue to provide COVID testing through our Health Center for symptomatic individuals free-of-charge. We can provide testing on request if you are not symptomatic through our Health Center.
• We are no longer going to require quarantine for close contacts regardless of vaccination status. However, we will continue to require isolation should you test positive for COVID-19 and a Day 5 or Day 7 negative test result to test out of isolation. We will provide guidance and recommendations for isolation, based on symptoms and vaccination status. A Health Center nurse will advise you on what you should do and for how long.  For reference, we are providing CDC guidance: For isolation, a minimum of 5 days will be required for everyone; and quarantine is recommended for a minimum of five full days for those who are not up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines. People who are severely ill with COVID-19 and people with compromised immune systems might need to isolate at home longer. We will require isolation and a negative test on or after Day 6 for early isolation release for all who test positive
• If you are in isolation or quarantine and live in campus housing, our Care team will coordinate meal delivery for you.
• If you are in isolation or quarantine, you are eligible for remote instruction so you can stay current with coursework. It is the student’s responsibility to inform their professors if they will be unable to attend class in person due to Covid, illness, or any other reason.
• Surveillance testing for unvaccinated individuals is no longer required. 
• There will be no testing at move-in. However, we ask that if you are symptomatic that you delay your arrival to the university, and email reslife@gannon.edu to coordinate alternative move-in arrangements.

As always, for any questions or concerns, visit: https://www.gannon.edu/Questions-or-Comments/

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR NEW STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES, REMINDERS FOR THOSE RETURNING:

LiveSafe

The LiveSafe app will still be used as the main source to notify the Health Center of any illness. Employees and students (including those completing off-campus clinicals or other placements) should use LiveSafe to report symptoms or positive COVID-19 test results. LiveSafe is no longer required to enter classes. However, we recommend using it daily for physical and mental health screening as a resource to connect you or peers with our Health and Counseling Center for any concerns.

• Click here to view what happens after you report symptoms. 
• Click here to view instructions for downloading the LiveSafe app for Ruskin Campus members.
• Click here to view instructions for downloading the LiveSafe app for Erie Campus members.

COVID-19 Testing 

Making testing available on campus has been a vital resource in our mitigation and safety efforts throughout the pandemic, and this will continue.

Testing availability for the Ruskin campus will be shared soon. 

The current on-campus testing schedule on the Erie campus is as follows:
M-F from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tests can be obtained, completed off campus as well. We encourage keeping home test kits readily available for when you experience symptoms or have known exposure to a positive case. Positive home test results can be reported via LiveSafe to notify the Health Center. Please write your name and the date and time the test was completed on your test result in marker.   

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to promote vaccination. Vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself and our campus communities. Unvaccinated students and employees who can receive the COVID-19 vaccine are strongly encouraged to do so. 

Those who are vaccinated are asked to please upload an image of your vaccination to assist our COVID response team with contact tracing efforts and processing any future LiveSafe reports you submit. This information helps guide our mitigation efforts and monitor health and safety on campus.

• Upload an image of your vaccine series at update.gannon.edu/vaccinecard  

• Upload an image of your booster at https://update.gannon.edu/boosters  

Want to receive the vaccine, but unsure where to go, Click here to view the Florida Vaccine Finder. Click here  to view the Pennsylvania Vaccine Finder. 

Travel

Incoming International Travel 

Effective June 12, 2022, the CDC rescinded its requirement for passengers traveling via air into the U.S. from a foreign country to provide a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 prior to boarding a flight. This ruling will be reconsidered 90 days after the current rule was issued. 

Outbound International Travel 

Anyone traveling on a Gannon-sponsored international trip is required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Some domestic travel may require this as well and will vary by program. We will also test all travelers in advance of their trip.

In addition …

• Prior to travel, international travelers should research and remain current on relevant COVID-19 rules and regulations which might impact travel. 

• Travelers should remember that increased transmission of newer COVID-19 variants has been well-documented and that asymptomatic infections and transmission, including among fully vaccinated individuals, is presumptively common. COVID-related risks may be greater when participating in international travel and in transportation hubs. 

These protocols and reminders serve as a reflection of Gannon’s current COVID-19 guidelines as of today. These continue to be assessed and updated to reflect the latest guidance from CDC and other federal, state and local entities to best align the institution’s practices. Changes to these policies will be communicated via email and shared at update.gannon.edu as they arise.

For other questions or comments, you may submit them on update.gannon.edu at https://www.gannon.edu/Questions-or-Comments/.