Covid Info

Protocols

Kendall College follows the Ferris State University protocols, which state:

"At the conclusion of the Spring 2022 semester, masks were no longer required in classrooms or other instructional spaces. This protocol remains. However, masks were and continue to be required in patient care areas such as the Pharmacy Care Clinic, the University Eye Center and Birkam Health Center. Masks for the KCAD campus are available at both building security desks. The University will continue to support all campus community members and visitors who choose to wear a mask while indoors on campus."

"Faculty, staff, students and visitors will no longer need to complete the University’s daily symptom checker before coming to our campuses. If you are feeling ill, you are encouraged to use the new COVID-19 symptom checker on the CDC website. This site also provides clear details and information on what to do if you have or have been exposed to COVID-19."



DAD Protocols for Viruses and Flus

It is our goal and responsibility to ensure that we do everything we can to keep our campus, families, and the community at large safe. The Swiss cheese approach to managing the Covid virus, Flu, and the common cold, can still help keep everyone healthy and safe. This includes things like staying home and Zooming into class when you're sick, washing hands, cleaning workspaces when you leave them, and getting vaccinated.

Exposure and Illness

If you suspect you have been exposed to or have symptoms of Covid or flu:

Classrooms

  • Please don't eat in the classrooms.

  • Please clean-in and clean-out. When you sit down at a workstation, use the cleaning supplies to wipe down the desk, keyboard, Cintiq, etc. Please do the same as you leave that workstation.

  • Feel free to spread out while in class if you are having some anxiety about viral or flu spread.

  • The CDC recommends washing hands frequently to help mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 and the flu.

Masking

  • Wearing a mask is entirely optional. Some people have or live/work around others that have health conditions that make them more susceptible to viruses and flu. Wearing a mask can greatly mitigate the risk of infection for them.

  • Support for mask wearers: It may feel awkward to wear a mask when most of those around you are not. Please feel confident that the faculty will support and respect all of those who wish to mask. And, we ask that all students support those fellow students and faculty who are choosing to mask.

  • According to the CDC not all masks offer equal protections.

    • Cloth: 56% effective

    • Surgical: 66% effective

    • N95/KN9: 83% effective



Covid Resources

A guide to approved masks

For those that elect to wear masks, please keep in mind that cloth masks offer very little protection for the wearer and those around them. Surgical masks are significantly better and N95/KN95 masks offer the best protection by far.

Here is a very concise and comprehensive resource for finding legit N95, KN95, and Surgical masks: Project 95 Mask Guide. And, here is the science behind the relative effectiveness of different mask types (from the CDC).

KN95 (readily available, affordable and highly effective)

  • The quickest way to find a legit mask: Project95: KN95 Masks list.

  • To check the legitimacy of a mask you own or are considering purchasing: Here is a list of FDA-approved KN95 masks that were granted an emergency OK, which was revoked July 6, 2021, once N95 became publicly available.

  • Typical cost: WWDOLL KN95 masks are available on Amazon: 25 pack for $20, and 50 pack for $30.

N95

Surgical(U.S.) + Cloth: Current CDC guidance is to wear surgical masks under a cloth mask.

  • To check the legitimacy of a mask you own or are considering purchasing: Here is a list of FDA-approved surgical masks.

  • Typical cost: Ecoguard masks by FriCare are about 33 cents each on Amazon.

  • Surgical masks a good for single-day use only. Cloth masks should be washed in hot water daily.

Wearing & Cleaning N95 & KN95 Masks

This is a summary of N95 mask cleaning information released by NIH and the inventor of the N95 mask material, Peter Tsai

  • Masks can be rotated, using 1 mask every 5 days. Use 5 masks, numbered on the outside as 1–5 for each day. They can be used each day in numerical order. All SARS-CoV-2 viruses on the mask will be inactive in 3 days. Masks should be stored at room temperature in individual paper sacks or other individual breathable containers.

  • Cleaning when dirty:

    • Wash with plain water, at any temperature. Do not clean with soap and water, alcohol, or any other chemicals.

    • For a quick de-contamination; boil for 5 minutes, but do not immerse the strap.

At Home Self-Test

FDA Approved COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Self Tests Detect active COVID-19 infection in 15 minutes. It's a good idea to have at least one on hand in your place of residence. Here are the CDC self-testing guidelines.

  • Free tests are available at ShopUICA in the Federal Building.

  • Tests are available at pharmacies like Meijer, Walgreens, Walmart, Rita-Aid, and CVS. They may also be available on Amazon.

Find a Free Vaccine near you

The Covid Vaccines are available with a walk-in at most pharmacies, Meijers. This Vaccine Finder will help you to find one near you that has the type of vaccine you want in stock.

Find a test site

Tests should be taken on day 3 and again on day 5. Day 1 is the first full day after your positive test

(There are 3 types of tests)

    • Diagnostic Lab Test (PCR): The RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel Test (NAAT) will be sent to a laboratory for testing. Most turnaround times in 48 hours or less.

    • Rapid Diagnostic Test (such as ID NOW): The Rapid Point-of-Care (POC) - NAAT (ID NOW) test is performed on-site, and results are available within 24 hours.

Same day, free pharmacy testing and treatment for high risk persons

High-risk persons with COVID symptoms will be able to walk into hundreds of pharmacy-based clinics for a free test – and walk out with a free course of COVID treatment pills. Get more information about same day testing and treatment. from the CDC.



Preventing Infection and Community Spread Requires Multiple Interventions Working Together:

Personal Strategies

  • Physical distancing

  • Masks

  • Hand hygiene

  • Cough etiquette

  • Avoid touching your face

  • Limiting time in crowded rooms

Community Strategies

  • Testing and tracing

  • Good ventilation

  • Government and administrative messaging

  • Quarantine and isolation

  • Vaccination



A Case For Vaccination

We hope that you will get vaccinated for Covid 19 if you have not been already. Vaccines are nothing new, and have been regulated by the FDA since their inception.. Think about all of the current vaccines that are required for K-12 students in Michigan. These have been saving lives for decades.

  • Diphtheria

  • Tetanus

  • Pertussis

  • Polio

  • Measles

  • Mumps

  • Rubella

  • Hepatitus

  • Meningitus

  • Chickenpox