COVID-19 Employee Protocols

• First determine if you are sick. If you are not feeling well, notify your supervisor immediately, and do not come to campus. Also, regardless of coming to campus you need to report your illness to your supervisor for OSHA guidelines and complete an Online COVID Reporting form, if feeling at least one COVID19 related symptom.
  Faculty and Staff Contact Information

• Allow extra time to get to your class/office.

• Complete the SWAY Medical symptom checker App, no more than two hours before coming to campus.
  
  • Employees will need a session code which can be found on the Portal.

• If you do not pass the symptom checker, you may be denied access to campus for the day. It is very important if you are not feeling well to notify your supervisor and stay home.

• If already on campus you could be asked to leave immediately and not return until cleared by a member of the COVID-19 Reporting Team.
  
  
• Individuals who need to wait for a ride can do so at the Public Safety Office until they can get picked up by someone. It is important to keep in mind that if someone is experiencing shortness of breath 911 should be called immediately.
  
  
• Notify your supervisor of the absence by email immediately and complete the COVID-19 Reporting Form within a timely manner to ensure campus safety.

• Your supervisor will email covidreporting@collegeofthedesert.edu to inform them of your absence.

• A COVID-19 Reporting Team Member will:

  • Contact you within one business day for more information and to follow-up on symptoms.
  • Request information to help the Team identify any potential exposures for contact tracing purposes.
  • Notify authorized officials that you will not be allowed on campus until cleared by a COVID-19 Reporting Team member.
  • Determine a date in which you may be allowed to return to campus.
  • Call you the day of your tentative return date or the first business day after to conduct a follow-up evaluation. If cleared, you may be allowed to return the next day.
  • Email your supervisor to notify them of your anticipated return date.

• All criteria must be met before the employee will be allowed to return to campus.

• Do not come to campus if you feel ill. Report your illness using the online form.

• Get vaccinated. This is not currently mandated by COD, but vaccination is the most effective COVID prevention/mitigation tool available to protect you, your classmates and those around you. View Riverside County Vaccination sites. The College is also an approved vaccination site.

• Wear a mask indoors in public places to minimize your exposure.

• Request an N95 Voluntary Use mask for additional protection. 

• Get tested. Refer to the College’s COVID-Prevention Plan for more information. 

• Masks must be worn indoors at all times. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided upon entering campus.

• Maintain social distancing.

• No eating or drinking inside the classroom.

• Wash or sanitize hands frequently.

• Avoid touching your face.

• Report all COVID-19 illness/exposure/contact/positive test results to your supervisor immediately. A member of the COVID-19 Reporting Team will follow-up with you over the phone with any potential next steps.

• Anyone exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 must quarantine according to CDC and Riverside County guidelines. For questions regarding quarantine requirements and leave, contact Human Resources at 760-773-2529.

• Individuals experiencing COVID-like symptoms while on campus will be immediately be sent home by their supervisor or other COD personnel. Individuals who need to wait for a ride can do so at the Public Safety Office until they can get picked up by someone. It is important to keep in mind that if someone is experiencing shortness of breath 911 should be called immediately.

• Non-compliant individuals will be reminded of and asked to follow all safety protocols. If they refuse and non-compliance continues, Public Safety will be notified and the individual will be removed from campus.

• If you feel unsafe at any time during an interaction with a non-compliant individual, contact Public Safety immediately at 760-341-2111. If it is an emergency situation, call 911 from a campus phone (where possible).

College of the Desert is required to report all COVID19 related incidents to Riverside County. We appreciate your support in helping us meet regulations and forward any reports for both online and hybrid students to the COVID Reporting Team.

If a student tells you that they are sick or tested positive to COVID19, your responsibility is to report it to covidreporting@collegeofthedesert.edu as soon as possible. This will allow a COVID19 Reporting Team member to reach out and conduct a contact tracing interview and ensure that safety protocols are in place.

Please email covidreporting@collegeofthedesert.edu with the following information:

• Student Name
• Course Number (if applicable)
• Student ID
• Student Phone Number
• Student preferred Email

As students navigate the COVID19 pandemic, we want to support our students’ overall well-being. The Student Health and Wellness Center offers support for students in crisis. They include services such as mental health appointments, community resources and student workshops.

For more concerning student cases, please complete an Incident of Concern form to report a student’s well-being or behavioral issues to COD Assessment and Care Team.