In compliance with Phi Sigma Sigma's updated COVID-19 protocols, all Phi Sigma Sigma residents, non-residents, guests and staff are required to wear masks in the common areas of Phi Sigma Sigma facilities. Residents are not required to wear masks when in their personal bedrooms.

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In an effort to prioritize the safety of all residents, Phi Sigma Sigma facilities are not to be used as an isolation or quarantine space. All residents are required to submit a personal isolation/quarantine plan in case they show symptoms, test positive for COVID-19 or come in close contact with someone who has tested positive. 

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DETERMINING THE LOCATION
You will need to list the location where you plan to isolate or quarantine, if needed. This might be at home or a local hotel. The CDC recommends when isolating/quarantining:

• Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.

• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.

• Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.

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TRANSPORTATION
In addition to designating a location, you will need to determine how you will get to that location. You might plan to drive yourself or be picked up by a designated person.

All household members should educate themselves about COVID-19 symptoms and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in homes. 

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All NHC facilities will be cleaned regularly. This will include increased cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, toilets, sinks). Residents are encouraged to frequently clean their personal property such as phones, tablets, computer keyboards/touch screens, keys, etc.

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The following supplies are being made available at all NHC facilities:​

• Disposable face masks

• KN95 face masks

• Face shields

• Disposable gloves

• No-contact thermometers

• Cleaning supplies/sanitizer

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Hand sanitizer stations are located at facility entrances and in high traffic areas (e.g., dining area, stairwell, etc.) throughout the house. 

 

All bathrooms have toilet seats with lids. Members are encouraged to close the lid before flushing.​

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Signage with information about COVID-19 and best practices will be placed throughout the facility.

Live-in members are expected to wear a mask anytime they are in common areas.

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Out-of-house members are expected to wear a mask while in common areas. Out-of-house members should not visit private areas (e.g., bedrooms, non-public bathrooms, etc.).

 

All members are encouraged to avoid close contact (less than six feet) with each other.

 

It is recommended that beds be placed at least six feet apart. If this is not feasible, it is recommended that members sleep in opposite directions (“head to foot”).

 

Utilize hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving the facility.

 

Wash your hands frequently.

 

Do not take phones or portable devices (i.e., anything you may need to put down) into the bathroom.

All members should educate themselves about COVID-19 symptoms and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in chapter facilities.

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If a member knows or thinks she has COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone who has tested positive, she will need to relocate to the designated location listed in her personal quarantine/isolation plan. 

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A member may discontinue quarantine/isolation practices when:

1. It has been at least 14 calendar days since symptoms first appeared or 10 calendar days after a positive COVID-19 test AND

2. At least 24 hours with no fever (<100.4 degrees F) without fever-reducing medication AND

3. Symptoms have improved

 

Note that people with conditions that weaken their immune system might need to stay home/quarantine longer than 14 calendar days. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.  Your healthcare provider may recommend testing prior to discontinuing quarantine. 

When to quarantine:

Per the current CDC guidelines, you must quarantine if you have been in close contact (within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19, unless you have been fully vaccinated.

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People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

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If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your local public health authority or healthcare provider.

 

When to isolate:

Per the current CDC guidelines, people infected with COVID-19 or those who have been exposed and are exhibiting symptoms must self-isolate. This includes those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

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The current CDC guidelines regarding quarantine and isolation can be found here.

Q: You said that anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 should quarantine. How do you define close contact?

A: The CDC had previously defined a “close contact” as someone who spent at least 15 consecutive minutes within six feet of a confirmed coronavirus case. The updated guidance, which health departments rely on to conduct contact tracing, now defines a close contact as someone who was within six feet of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

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Q: I was in close contact with someone with COVID-19. I feel ok or my COVID test is negative. Do I need to quarantine?

A: Even if you test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy, you should quarantine since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. However, if you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine unless you have symptoms. 

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The NHC (prepare@phisigmasigma.org) and the chapter’s house manager must be notified as soon as possible after a resident in an NHC facility learns that the resident is a close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19.

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Q: How can a member be tested for COVID-19?

A: Members are encouraged to follow the guidance of their primary care physician, campus health care center or local/state health department regarding testing.

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Q: What do I do if I test positive?

A: The NHC (prepare@phisigmasigma.org) and the chapter’s house manager must be notified as soon as possible after a resident in an NHC facility tests positive.

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Q: How will these rules be enforced?

Phi Sigma Sigma staff and alumnae volunteers will assist members in building the skills and authority needed to carry out accountability locally, modeling the protocols implemented by campuses. We expect to see interpersonal/peer-to-peer confrontation and informal accountability.  Protocols that have been published by campus communities include intervening and asking peers to put on their mask or stating their request directly to the person first and then working through additional steps if the person does not comply with the request.

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Q: Will I get a refund if I test positive and move home, classes move online, etc?

A: Per the 2021-2022 Room Agreement Amendment, no refunds of room and/or board will be provided if a member vacates the facility for any reason including, but not limited to, the university commences or transitions to online instruction, the university shuts down the campus for any reason directly or indirectly related to COVID-19, the member contracts COVID-19, the member withdraws from the university or the member is unsatisfied with the hygiene practices of the other collegians residing in the facility.