Frequently Asked Questions
Health, Wellness & Prevention FAQs
All MATC community members should follow the preventive measures detailed in Prevention and What to Do if I’m Sick. Students, staff and faculty working in clinical areas will have additional site-specific protocols with which to comply.
Employees should also follow the preventive measures detailed in Return to Work on Campus.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, do not come to campus (even if you are symptom-free). Follow the guidance -- What to Do If I’m Sick.
We recognize this is a stressful situation for many members of our community. We have complied a number of community resources. Additionally, ask a staff or faculty member about WellConnect (Student Assistance Program) for MATC students.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory warning of scams involving COVID-19, and the MATC Information Technology Office is aware of phishing messages being received by faculty, staff and students. If you receive a suspicious phishing email to your MATC email account, notify helpdesk@manhattantech.edu, and be aware of the following:
- Cyber actors may send emails to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes.
- Exercise caution in handling such emails – avoid clicking on links and downloading attachments.
- Be wary of social media pleas, texts or calls related to COVID-19.
- Do not reveal personal or financial information in email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information.
Follow the protocol described in Potential Exposure to Coronavirus.
ENHANCED CLEANING PRACTICES
OSHA has indicated that “It may be possible that a person can get COVID‐19 by touching a surface or object that has SARS‐CoV‐2 on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the primary way the virus spreads.” To reduce the likelihood of exposure and transmission, MATC is emphasizing custodial practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment, with more frequency in shared work areas. Additionally, MATC has hired CINTAS to come to campus weekly to apply sanitizer to contact surfaces which substantially reduces bacteria and viruses on common surfaces. This spray is safe as they currently use it in restaurants, hospitals, etc.\
SPECIFIC INFECTION PREVENTION CONTROLS
MATC has made changes on campus reflecting certain engineering controls and physical controls to protect employees, particularly in roles and offices where there are transactional activities where an employee’s role often includes working with many other students, faculty, and staff through the day. MATC has added in elements like plexiglass barriers and plastic screens in these places.
In addition to making changes on campus, MATC will be adding administrative controls and policies, where employees are asked to change behaviors to reduce transmission. These strategies include schedule changes to stagger workforces (e.g. phase in staffing and/or alternate days employees are on campus), and circulation pattern changes in buildings to establish safer pedestrian flows (for example, certain entrances may be indicated for single‐direction use absent emergency evacuation circumstances). Employees are expected to follow signage and spacing so that lines do not introduce unnecessary congestion and close physical proximity, and offices are encouraged to increase scheduled appointments over “drop‐in” hours where serendipity can add to unnecessary population densities.
The College is committed to creating an inclusive climate for all of our community members. The CDC offers guidance on countering stigma related to this virus. If you believe that you are experiencing discrimination or bias related to your national origin, race, or other protected characteristic, you may contact the resources below:
Sarah Phillips, MATC’s Title IX Coordinator, Contact Information
If you are experiencing any Coronavirus Symptoms, do not come to campus. Follow the guidance on What to Do If I’m Sick.
Written approval is required before any college community member may return to campus after self-quarantine. The timing of your return depends on whether you have exhibited Coronavirus Symptoms or not. See Completion of Self-Quarantine/Isolation for the process and considerations for determining when a return to campus is allowed.
Employee FAQs
You can anticipate that other employees may have heard about, or suspect that, someone is out sick with the COVID-19 related illness, and may be concerned about it. You should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace and acknowledge that there is an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, without identifying the individual. You may also inform employees that an assessment will be undertaken to determine if there is indication for quarantine or further notifications as a precautionary measure.
In the meantime, you should send home any potentially exposed employees (as described in Potential Exposure to Coronavirus) and instruct them to complete the COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form and to follow the Self-Quarantine protocols. Inform them that they will need to be approved before they can return to campus as detailed in Completion of Self-Quarantine/Isolation. See COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Protocols for list of steps to follow.
A suspected but unconfirmed case of COVID-19 should be treated the same as a confirmed case. You should follow the COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Protocols.
Since a fever above 100.0 degrees is a possible Coronavirus Symptom, you should advise the employee to stay home and follow the guidance in What to Do If I’m Sick. The employee should also submit the COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form and commence the Self-Quarantine/Isolation protocols. See COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Protocols for list of steps to follow.
The EEOC has confirmed that a supervisor can inquire into an employee’s symptoms, even if such questions are disability-related, as you would be considered to have a "reasonable belief based on objective evidence that the severe form of pandemic influenza poses a direct threat." Inquiries into an employee’s symptoms should attempt to distinguish the symptoms of COVID-19 from the common cold and the seasonal flu.
It is important to remember that you must maintain all information about employee illness as a confidential medical record in compliance with the ADA.
If you have been in self-quarantine or self-isolation, you will not be allowed to return to work until you receive written approval to return to campus. To be considered, at least 3 days (72 hours) must have passed since recovery (defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications) and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. See Completion of Self-Quarantine/Isolation for further information.
No, individuals with confirmed cases of COVID-19 will not be identified in order to maintain confidentiality.
If an employee believes they are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, telework should be considered and used if possible, and the employee should contact their supervisor to pursue this work arrangement. If telework is not possible, then the employee should contact their supervisor. A leave request under these conditions may be determined necessary if other work arrangements are not feasible.
You should follow the COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Protocols. Remember that the employee will appreciate hearing your support while they recover from the illness.
