After reaching a peak of 57 COVID-19 cases at the Lincoln Center campus in September, case numbers have started to decline in New York City and at both Fordham campuses. As of Oct. 10, there were 28 positive cases at Lincoln Center. 

Marco Valera, vice president of administration, announced in an email on Oct. 1 that there have been no confirmed cases of classroom transmission yet this semester.

Public Safety and University Health Services (UHS) informed vaccinated Fordham community members who have been exposed that if they are not experiencing any symptoms, they are free to resume normal activities with the exception that they wear a mask outdoors as well prior to receiving test results.

“Through contact tracing, we are able to identify close contacts and instruct them on the next steps.” Maureen Keown, Director of UHS

According to Valera, 81% of Fordham’s on-campus cases are among students, and none of the employee infections were transmitted on campus.

When a student tests positive, Fordham follows the Johns Hopkins model of contact tracing to identify students who have been exposed to COVID-19 in classrooms. This model relies first on placing the infected person in quarantine, learning whom they have been in contact with, and then contacting other exposed people. 

The John Hopkins model also instructs those who have been exposed or are at risk to monitor their health and self-isolate for two weeks. Unlike this method, Fordham only tells unvaccinated individuals to isolate, while vaccinated and asymptomatic individuals are recommended to continue attending classes.

When a student living on campus tests positive, they are placed in isolation for 10 days.

John Carroll, associate vice president of Public Safety, said Public Safety holds a short meeting with the infected individual to learn where the individual has been in the days preceding testing positive as well as whom they have been in close contact with. 

“Through contact tracing, we are able to identify close contacts and instruct them on the next steps,” Maureen Keown, director of UHS, said. “For those who are not fully vaccinated, contact tracing will discuss quarantine options.” 

Keown said UHS strongly recommends that fully vaccinated individuals get tested three to five days after exposure. Fordham does not require exposed individuals to get tested.

Fordham’s contact tracing team is in communication with the New York City Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a consulting epidemiologist, and public health experts.

According to Keown, when a student living on campus tests positive, they are placed in isolation for 10 days. At Lincoln Center, students quarantine in McMahon Hall, though students can elect to go home to complete their quarantine. While students are in isolation, UHS nurses check in daily. 

Deans are notified of COVID-19 cases on campus, and they follow up with faculty members to offer advice from an academic perspective.

Laura Auricchio, dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center, recommended that unless advised otherwise by Public Safety, professors should continue to meet in person and be flexible with quarantining students.