Thank you all for your cooperation in submitting your daily health assessments through the Symptom Tracker. This is new for all of us, and as we learn more, we want to share with you to ensure that we are all using the symptom tracker optimally and operating off of the same definitions. Knowing everyone wants to respond to the survey in a truthful manner, let’s address the topic of contact or exposure. One of the survey questions asks if you have had contact with someone in the last 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is being evaluated for Coronavirus. In reviewing CDC guidance, there are three factors that need to be considered when determining if you have had contact with someone who has tested positive or is being tested for COVID-19: physical proximity, duration and whether the exposure was to a person with symptoms (e.g. coughing likely increases exposure risk). When determining whether you have been in contact with someone, there are obvious situations that make answering this question easy: sharing the same household, intimate relationships, family contact, etc. What may be less obvious are casual interactions with co-workers, friends, strangers, etc. The CDC states that exposure is prolonged AND close contact. Close contact would be less than six feet, and prolonged exposure would be greater than 15 minutes. Another important factor to consider when determining whether or not you have actually been exposed is if the person in question was exhibiting any symptoms at the time of the interaction. When you respond to this question, really assess what interaction you may have had and whether it would really be considered exposure based on CDC guidance. Again, the purpose of the symptom tracker is not to catch people in a lie, but instead, to help you make the best decision about your health and the health of others. We want you to respond to the questions using your best judgement, in an effort to make the campus safe for ourselves, our colleagues and our students.

As more employees begin returning to campus, please contact Nicole Ralph (nicole.ralph@llcc.edu) if you have not yet registered with the Symptom Tracker. All employees must be registered with the program and respond to the survey questions prior to coming to campus on any given day. If you are experiencing any issues using the program, please let Nicole Ralph know.