The CCS community is expected to self-monitor symptoms daily. If an individual feels ill, please stay home and let your direct CCS contacts know of your absence.  Not sure? Use a symptom checker or contact your primary care doctor. The symptoms of COVID-19 are very similar to other infectious diseases, and a test is the only way to know if you are infected. If your illness is not COVID-19, you may return to campus once symptoms have resolved, and you have been 24 hours without fever.

At this time, masks and social distancing / capacity restrictions are not required. Those who feel more comfortable wearing masks indoors should continue to wear them. Mask wearing is encouraged for indoor group settings. All CCS community members should continue to monitor their symptoms and practice responsible social and health behaviors, as we have throughout the pandemic.

Isolation is the required period of separation from others during an active infection. Infected people should stay in their own room. Precautions should be taken not to share any dining utensils, toiletries, towels, bed linens, or other personal items. Please wear a mask if you need to leave your room for medical care or receiving deliveries.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you need to notify your close contacts immediately. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive.

Students must notify their instructors and/or work-study supervisors of their need to stay home. Reasonable accommodations will be made during isolation. 

Supervisors will work with employees on an individual basis based on each circumstance. For many employees, this may mean working remotely, eliminating the need for PTO usage.

Please report your infection to campus using the Reporting Form.

Returning to Campus 

In order to end home isolation due to COVID-19 you must have:

• At least five full days since symptoms started
• Improved symptoms*
• Without fever (<100.4) for at least 24 hours without aid of medication
• Negative Rapid Antigen Test result

In order to return to campus between days 6 – 10 after infection, individuals MUST wear a N95 or KN95 type mask consistently while around others.  During this time, individuals should not use campus dining or fitness facilities, and should take reasonable efforts to reduce close contact.

*The state defines symptom improvement as feeling better and able to maintain a daily routine. Lingering symptoms may include cough, congestion, headache, or fatigue. These symptoms should be mild, infrequent or intermittent, and not disrupt normal activities.

Asymptomatic Infections

If an individual tests positive for COVID-19 but does not have symptoms, they should still complete at least 5 full days of isolation from the date of test, and have a negative rapid test result before returning to campus. If symptoms develop after an asymptomatic positive test, the five-day isolation timeline should start over from the first day of symptoms.

Close contact is when a person is exposed to someone with COVID-19 less than 6 feet apart for as little as 15 minutes. This includes brief encounters totaling 15 minutes or more in a 24 hour period.

Quarantine

Quarantine is the voluntary separation from others after exposure to an infectious disease to prevent the spread. A quarantine for COVID-19 may last for 5-14 days. If you are unvaccinated, or not fully up to date in your vaccine series, you should quarantine for at least five days.

Updated quarantine recommendations for schools are focused on household / personal contacts. Households include individuals who share living spaces such as bedrooms, kitchens, or bathrooms. Personal contact includes carpools, sharing meals together, sleeping over, kissing/hugging, contact sports, etc. 

For all instances of close contact exposure, the minimum requirements are monitoring symptoms and wearing a mask in shared spaces for 10 days after exposure. If a mask cannot be worn, a 10-day quarantine is recommended. It is also recommended to test 3-7 days after exposure, even if no symptoms are present. Should symptoms develop, isolate and test. 

Classroom / Workspace Exposure

Campus interaction, such as sharing a classroom or workspace is generally lower-risk. Quarantine is not usually required if you have shared a space with an infected person. Continued prevention measures such as social distancing, masking, and using online or outdoor meetings where possible are encouraged to mitigate risk.

Campus Contact Tracing

If you need assistance contacting individuals on campus, or have any other questions about your COVID infection, please reach out to Emily VanWormer, Health Resource Manager.

The confidentiality of all medical conditions will be maintained in accordance with applicable law and to the extent practical under the circumstances. When required, the number of persons who will be informed that an unnamed student/employee has tested positive will be kept to the minimum needed to comply with reporting requirements and to limit the potential for transmission to others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CCS reserves the right to inform other students and employees that an unnamed student/employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and other individuals may have been exposed to the disease. If exposed, individuals may take measures to protect their own health.

There are two types of COVID Tests: PCR and Antigen. 

• PCR is a highly sensitive test that screens for genetic material of the COVID virus. It can detect infection before you may have symptoms, as well as past infections (up to 90 days since infection). It needs to be sent out to a lab, and results typically are shared in two days. 
• Antigen tests are also known as rapid tests. They are designed to pick up proteins from the virus. These tests are best for detecting active infections, when you are most contagious. You will receive results the same day, sometimes in as little as 10 – 15 minutes. Learn more about rapid test use.

On-Campus Testing

CCS students and faculty/staff can pick up free rapid tests from the Campus Safety Offices at the Taubman Center and Kresge Ford Building. Students may schedule an appointment with the nurse practitioner’s office to be tested. Virtual appointments are also available for symptom and/or exposure consultation. Appointments will resume in the fall semester. 

Off-Campus Testing

On January 18, 2022, the federal government started a free at-home COVID-19 testing program. Rapid COVID-19 test kits are available for free at COVIDTests.gov, with every household eligible for four free tests that will be shipped directly to their home. Health insurance plans have provided coverage for over-the-counter test purchase and reimbursement. Contact your health plan for more information.

Urgent care clinics, pharmacies, and doctor’s offices offer testing, but may require insurance or self-pay. Some free testing sites include the CCCN: Williams Recreation Center for tri-county residents, MDHHS Community Sites, pharmacies like CVS and Rite Aid, and county health departments. Please use the information from the state’s website to inform your decision. You may also call the COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136, press 1.

Detroit Vaccination Sites: City residents (5+ years old) and employees that work in the city can schedule vaccine appointments by calling 313-230-0505, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Locations include the Huntington Center with Walk-Up or Drive-Up options, the Northwest Activity Center, as well as some neighborhood sites. At this time all sites will administer two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Pharmacies, pop-up clinics, and doctors offices offer the vaccine as well. Visit vaccines.gov to find the location closest to you.

International Students and Vaccinations
If you are traveling to the USA from a country where you do not yet have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, you will be able to get your COVID-19 vaccine in the USA when you arrive in late August or early September.

Please contact the International Student Services Office for more information.

Handwashing

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after you have been in a public place, before eating, or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Use hand sanitizer and PPE when riding on public transportation. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth and wash your hands after touching your face.

CCS will provide the supplies necessary for frequent and thorough handwashing and has implemented touchless hand sanitizing stations throughout the campus including main lobbies, hallways, outside bathrooms, and at the cafeterias. Supervisors must ensure employees are provided with sufficient time for frequent and thorough handwashing.

Personal Disinfection

While custodial crews will continue to clean offices and workspaces based on CDC guidelines, additional care should be taken to wipe down commonly used surfaces.

Individuals must wipe down all work areas with EPA-registered 60% alcohol solution. Disinfectant wipes will be provided for this use. This includes any shared-space location or equipment (e.g. copiers, printers, computers, A/V, and other electrical equipment, coffee makers, desks and tables, light switches, doorknobs, etc.). Disinfect your personal workspace upon entry and exit. CCS also recommends individuals sanitize hands upon exiting all rooms, labs, studios, shops, etc.

Coughing and Sneezing

Please remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow, never into your hands. If using a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Shared Objects

Employees and students should be careful not to share objects. Where the sharing of objects cannot be avoided, the object must be disinfected prior to use by another employee or student. Types of shared objects may include tools, equipment control panels, vehicles, parts, etc.

PPE

CCS is supplying disposable face masks to the CCS community and visitors. In addition, both campuses have been equipped with hand sanitizer stations and disinfecting wipes. If you are in need of masks, disposable nitrile gloves, hand sanitizer, or disinfectant wipes, please fill out an administrative maintenance service request form.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Email connect@collegeforcreativestudies.edu to reach us with your questions or comments.

Academic Advising and Registration: 313-664-7672

Campus Safety & Security: Ford Campus: 313-664-7444

Campus Safety & Security: Taubman Center: 313-664-1444

Dean of Students: 313-664-7675

Human Resources: 313-664-7651

International Student Services: 313-664-7428

Residence Life: 313-664-7678

Wellness Center: 313-664-7830

References

City of Detroit Health Department

State of Michigan Coronavirus Information

Center for Disease Control and Prevention