Updated Guidance on Face Coverings
MEMO: Special Message from the President
FROM: Marion Ross Fedrick, President
TO: ASU Community
RE: Updated Guidance on Face Coverings
DATE: Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for managing COVID-19 related issues. Among the changes are definitions for people who will need extra precaution due to age and underlying medical conditions. In response to those changes from the CDC, the University System of Georgia (USG) has provided updated guidance on the wearing of face coverings and for who is eligible to seek alternate work arrangements due to falling into one of these categories.
Use of Face Coverings Required
Effective July 15, 2020, Albany State University will require all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities/buildings where six feet social distancing may not always be possible. Face covering use will be in addition to and is not a substitute for social distancing.
Face coverings are not required in one’s own residence hall room or suite, when alone in an enclosed office or study room, or in campus outdoor settings where social distancing requirements are met.
Anyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or must leave the area. Repeated refusal to comply with the requirement may result in discipline through the applicable conduct code for faculty, staff or students.
Reasonable accommodations may be made for those who are unable to wear a face covering for documented health reasons.
People of Any Age with Underlying Medical Conditions
The CDC no longer gives a minimum age for those at risk. The USG and Albany State University will continue to use 65 as its measure for evaluating requests for alternate work arrangements. Individuals who are younger than 65 can provide documentation from a health care provider that their age is a determining factor for risk that should prevent them from working on campus as scheduled.
People with the following underlying medical conditions may request alternate work arrangements under the previously developed process:
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
- Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
- Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
- Liver disease
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
- Smoking
- Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
As members of the Albany State University community, we care for the health and safety of each other as well as ourselves. These guidelines are necessary in order to keep us safe and healthy. Thank you for your continued dedication to following the health and safety guidelines and protocols.
The University will continue to provide updates throughout the summer. Please continue to check your ASU email and follow our official social media platforms for updated information.