Infectious Disease Plan FAQs

New York state has designated COVID-19 a highly contagious communicable disease and is requiring employers to implement workplace plans to protect employees against exposure.

RIT is required by New York state's HERO Act to implement workplace plans to protect employees against exposure and disease during an airborne infectious disease outbreak. The RIT Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan is in addition to the RIT Safety Plan. RIT’s Safety Plan details the policies and procedures RIT is using to implement the Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Plan, specific to COVID-19.

The HERO Act requires employers to provide all employees with verbal training on the employer’s Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan. RIT has created a training module for its Plan, which is available through the RIT Talent Roadmap Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan Training.

Additionally, all employees must self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to coming onto campus. An online form to assist with symptom monitoring is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

The RIT Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan is an overarching plan on what RIT needs to do if New York state declares an airborne infectious disease to be highly contagious. It is required by New York state per the 2021 HERO Act. The RIT Safety Plan is RIT’s specific response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event of a conflict between the RIT Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Plan and the RIT Safety Plan, the RIT Safety Plan will govern.

Maintain physical distancing for activities and situations identified in the RIT Safety Plan. Members of the RIT community, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, are required to wear face masks while indoors in the presence of others, indoors moving through space occupied by others, or outdoors when six (6) feet of distance from other individuals cannot be consistently maintained. Face masks are not required: (1) when alone in a private office with the door closed; (2) in your living space, or (3) while actively eating.

Provide six feet of separation when unmasked outdoors. Members of the RIT community, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, are required to wear face masks while indoors in the presence of others, indoors moving through space occupied by others, or outdoors when six (6) feet of distance from other individuals cannot be consistently maintained.

Indoor dining options remain available in identified designated dining areas on campus. Individuals must follow all rules posted for that facility or area. All faculty, staff and students are required to wear a mask in these spaces until seated and must put their mask back on as soon as they have finished eating or drinking. Unvaccinated individuals must maintain a six-foot distance from others when unmasked for eating or drinking. Vaccinated individuals are not required to distance while eating or drinking, but it is a good idea to distance as much as possible. Face masks are not required: (1) when alone in a private office with the door closed; (2) in your living space, or (3) while actively eating. Eating can only occur in a cubicle if six (6) feet of distance from other individuals can be consistently maintained while seated and actively eating. 

While in-person meetings can occur at full capacity without physical distancing requirements, it is recommended people maintain physical distancing for activities and situations identified in the RIT Safety plan. Tele- or video-conferencing can be used for administrative functions and/or meetings when it is more appropriate to the event or activity, but they are not required.

Employees will be responsible for screening themselves for symptoms of COVID prior to coming onto campus. They are to self-monitor throughout their time on the RIT campus and report any new or emerging signs or symptoms of COVID to the designated contact. Employees showing signs or symptoms of the infectious disease should be removed from campus and should contact a healthcare professional for instructions.

Employees should refer to the COVID-19 Symptom/Exposure/Absence Process Information for Employees on the HR website for details on reporting requirements. Prior COVID accommodations no longer apply. If you are medically unable to be vaccinated, or your specific situation has substantially changed, or you have a request that was not previously made, please inform your supervisor or the HR department.

The training advises distancing for activities and situations identified in the RIT Safety Plan. Currently, classrooms are not identified as activities or situations that require distancing.

COVID accommodations provided during 2020-2021 no longer apply.  Individuals wishing to discuss a new accommodation, which was not previously made, should contact HR.

No.

It is the responsibility of the department engaging the services of the temporary employee/contractor. 

The department engaging the services of the temporary employee/contractor. 

Section 1 of the exposure plan identifies five people as designated contacts. An employee can report that information to any of the five people, their immediate supervisor, or HR. Employees who are experiencing health related symptoms should report this to RIT’s COVID Symptom/Exposure Hotline: 585-475-6040

A link is in the RIT Safety Plan, which provides information on the steps to take in the event of symptoms, positive tests or exposure.

On the RIT Ready website and various locations throughout campus.

No.