SUNY no longer asks campuses to report the number of active COVID-19 instances or administer COVID-19 testing on campuses starting in September, according to SUNY press secretary Holly Liapis. The resolution made to “reflect the newest situations” and protocols are “subject to replacement as COVID-related situations develop,” under SUNY’s COVID-19 rules for the fall 2022 semester.
SUNY campuses may continue to impose additional withdrawal requirements “at any time due to changes in local situations or due to requirements imposed by federal, state, or local authorities. “
The recent resolution to suspend mandatory surveillance testing and reporting on SUNY’s physical activity portal was made to “comply with federal and state guidelines,” according to SUNY’s COVID-19 tracking site.
SUNY campuses are encouraged but required to conduct testing and surveillance at the beginning of the semester for unvaccinated students.
The UB did not require return-to-campus testing this semester, however, those with COVID-19 vaccine exemptions who live in or come to campus will still have to take the COVID-19 test, according to the UB’s summer and fall 2022 COVID-19 guidelines. . .
Erie County is still tracking instances on the network. Thomas Russo, head of the infectious diseases department in UB’s Department of Medicine, said it provides the UB network with a “sense of where we are” when it comes to instances.
“Our number of cases has been vastly underestimated,” Russo said. “Tracking cases at this level is not value-added data in terms of where we are. “
Russo says that because of vaccination rates and previous strict rules, UB has noticed a reduction in cases, but trends show that “as [Erie County’s] network advances, UB advances. “
Russo acknowledged hospitalizations and deaths as the two parameters to consider when tracking COVID-19 cases.
Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein said last Thursday that reported cases and serious hospitalizations in Erie County were lower than last year, according to The Buffalo News.
While mandatory reporting was suspended, SUNY can continue to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 on campus.
UB continues to monitor the presence of COVID-19 on campus, offering students, university and staff guidance on what to do in the event of a positive case, according to Jerod Dahlgreen, senior director of problem control and internal communications.
Students who test positive for COVID-19 “must isolate and report it on UB’s confidential report form,” UB’s COVID-19 rules say.
UB rules are based on recommendations from the CDC, the New York State Department of Health, and SUNY.
Dahlgreen urges all members of the UB network to “familiarize themselves with UB rules and be aware of any changes. “
Kiana Hodge is a news and feature contributor and can be reached at kiana. hodge@ubspectrum. com