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.

• Enter the following campuses at the designated entrance:

  • Palm Desert - whether you are driving a vehicle, riding a bike, walking, etc., you must enter campus from the Fred Waring entrance to be screened. 

    • NEW Information Drop-Off Zone:
      Enter the drop-off zone from Fred Waring Drive. When heading West on Fred Waring Drive, it is the first driveway on the right into Parking Lot 6, which is located immediately after the main Fred Waring campus entrance. If you are heading East, turn left into Parking Lot 6, which is the driveway before the main Fred Waring Drive entrance. There is an electronic sign noting the point of entry. Drivers should follow the lined pathway for entry and exit. All individuals must still follow the check in process and obtain their wristband as noted above and below.
      
      
    • NEW Information for SunLine Riders:
      Those arriving at campus on the SunLine bus are required to check-in with Public Safety at the College's Fred Waring entrance. All individuals must still follow the check in process and obtain their wristband as noted above and below.

  • Indio Campus - enter the building from the breezeway.

  • Temporary Palm Springs Campus - enter the campus from the main gate; this is the only entry point.

• You will need to show proof of completing the SWAY Medical symptom checker App, and demonstrate you are wearing a mask. Masks will be provided if you forget yours.

  • Employees will need a session code which can be found on the Portal.
  • For individuals that are unable to download the SWAY app, we have an alternate paper screening option available at the check-in area for each campus location.

• For all campus locations, be sure to allow extra time to get to your classroom or office as the COVID screening process can take up to 6 minutes to complete when first using the SWAY App. Downloading the App ahead of time can help shorten wait times.

• If you pass the symptom checker, you will be given a wristband and allowed to enter campus and report to your classroom, lab or office. 

• If you go to classroom or office without a wristband, you will be re-directed back to your check-in location.

• 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.

• You could be asked to leave campus immediately and do not return until you have been 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.