COVID-19 Safety Protocols

MASKING

Effective March 8, 2022, employees and students who are fully vaccinated and boosted are permitted to remove their masks. We are following the science and believe that lifting the mask mandate is appropriate for those who are vaccinated. This applies to indoors and outdoors. You may also continue to choose to wear your mask. We ask that everyone is respectful of an individual’s choice if they are vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated or have an approved exemption, you are required to continue wearing your mask. We have KN95 masks available for pickup as needed throughout the campus. As we monitor the CDC’s guidelines and adjust as needed, we expect the MSM community to continue using their best judgement when it comes to mask wearing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

LIBRARY ACCESS

Effective March 8, 2022, students who are compliant with vaccination/exemption documentation on file and current on their testing cadence may have access to the 24-hour Library rooms. We know that it is critical for our learners to have spaces that are conducive to studying. We ask that you remember to follow all Library rules. As a reminder, when accessing the campus after hours, the Public Safety team will require that you are able to show them a green pass.

EVENTS AND OTHER CAMPUS GATHERINGS

We want to support your onsite and offsite MSM events. All participants must follow our required MSM protocols, which include participants being fully vaccinated. The booster is highly recommended. The participants must have a test result that is not older than three days from the date they are planning to attend the event. The COVID-19 Safety Team will continue to review this information in advance of all events and to provide approval.

TRAVEL GUIDELINES

We have returned to traveling for personal or business reasons as well as professional development. Those approved to travel should ensure that you follow MSM’s required steps to enter information into the Concur system and receive any required leadership approvals. If you have questions, you should engage your manager or the Director of Administration and Finance for your department. We continue to ask that you use the travel registry for any international travel; this includes travel to/from U.S. territories, Alaska, and Hawaii. You will have COVID-19 quarantine restrictions upon your return from these areas.

VACCINES AND TESTING

The collection of vaccine/booster information and surveillance testing will continue. If you are not boosted, you must have an approved medical or religious exemption on file. This is an important step to further protect yourself and the MSM community. Morehouse Healthcare (both locations) is open and can help you with completing this action. The hours of operation at both locations for vaccine and booster shots are 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:00 p.m. daily.

Testing will continue every other week for employees and students.

you tested last week, you are compliant through this week and should test again next week. If you are an employee, you will continue using the Color platform to self-report your antigen test results every other week. If you are a student, you will use the Thermo Fisher platform to test every other week. Employees and students may choose to test privately and upload that information for review. Please review and observe the full schedule below.

Locations and Hours of Operation – EMPLOYEES ONLY

Main Campus (Clinical Research Center) – For employees who are testing to maintain their compliance Monday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Wednesday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Thursday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Main Campus by appointment (Plaza at the Lee Street entrance)

For employees who are not remaining on campus but testing due to COVID-19 safety protocols or return from international travel Monday 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Piedmont Hall (1st Floor)

Serves Piedmont Hall, Grady Hospital, and the Hurt Building *Employees at these locations may also come to the main campus for testing Tuesday 7:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

MHC-Howell Mill Road and MHC–Lee Street

For MHC employees Tuesday 7:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Testing Locations and Hours of Operation – STUDENTS ONLY Main Campus (Clinical Research Center)

For students who are testing to maintain their compliance Monday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Wednesday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Thursday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Main Campus by appointment (Plaza at the Lee Street entrance)

For students who are not staying on campus but testing due to COVID-19 safety protocols or return from international travel Monday 8:30-10:00 a.m.

PROTOCOL GUIDANCE

Our current isolation and quarantine procedures are below. Clinical-facing individuals at offsite locations (Grady, Crestview, CHOA, VA, and other clinical sites) that may test positive or have an exposure will follow the return-to-work procedures of their site. All others, including MHC workers, will adhere to the protocols below.
  • Isolation procedures
  • if you test positive for COVID-19:
  • 1.  Isolate for five days.
  • If you have no symptoms, take a test on Day 6.
  • 1.  If a negative result is achieved and you have not had any symptoms in 24 hours, you will be cleared to return to work.
  • 1.  If you remain symptomatic, you should delay testing until you are 24 hours without symptoms.
  • Quarantine procedure 
  • procedure if you are exposed to a person with COVID-19 (symptomatic or confirmed) or have a household member symptomatic or positive:
  • 1.  Quarantine for five days.
  • 1.  If you have no symptoms, take a test on Day 6.
  • 1.  If a negative result is achieved, you will be cleared to return to work.
  • If you develop any signs or symptoms, you should get tested.
All employees and students are required to provide notice of isolation and quarantine cases to the Office of Disability Services. Employees and students that are approved to continue working or attending school virtually are encouraged to do so while in this status. MSM now allows you to schedule confirmatory testing for isolation and quarantine cases on the main campus. For protocol guidance and more information about getting tested onsite, you can call 404-752-1871 or 404-752-1159.
  • REMINDERS
  • ·     You are required to maintain your testing compliance every other week.
  • ·     You must complete your daily symptom tracker (green pass).
  • ·     If you have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or believe it could be allergies, stay home and get tested.
  • ·     You must follow the COVID-19 safety protocols for isolation and quarantine cases, which may vary for offsite locations.
  • ·     If you are required to wear a mask, please consider one that fully covers your nose, mouth, and chin. You are encouraged to wear thicker masks, surgical masks or N95/KN95 masks. Gaiters, open weave, and single-layered masks are not allowed.
  • ·     Get your booster shot if you are five months past your Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations or two months past your Johnson and Johnson vaccination.
  • ·     You are expected to use to log your trips in the travel registry. If you are returning from international travel, travel to U.S. territories, or travel to/from Alaska and Hawaii, you must enter a quarantine period and receive guidance on getting tested.
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