Coronavirus Information and Resources

If you test positive for COVID-19: Isolate

• Isolate at home for five days.
• If you have no symptoms or your symptoms have resolved after five days, you can return to campus.
• If you still have symptoms after five days, please continue to stay home and isolate until you are symptom free.
• REPORT your positive case here. 

If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19: Quarantine

• For unvaccinated individuals or those who are more than six months from their original mRNA dose or more than two months after the J&J vaccine and not yet boosted, please quarantine for five days.
• Vaccinated individuals who have received their booster do NOT need to quarantine.
• If symptoms occur after exposure, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

When in doubt, get tested on day five and as always, wear a mask when in public spaces after isolation or quarantine are completed. Also be mindful of activities, especially indoors and in crowded settings.

Everyone who attends on-campus classes, and all employees, will need to attest to full vaccination status or vaccination exemption. If you require a medical or religious vaccination exemption, you will still need to fill out a Vaccination Verification Form to choose your exemption.

VACCINATION VERIFICATION FORMS

• Employee Form: Employees need to submit proof of vaccination to HR. Please find directions and processes on the intranet (authentication required).
• Student Form:  New students must complete the student attestation prior to the first day of class to avoid being dropped from classes. 
• At this time, students do not need to submit proof of vaccination.
• Vendor/Partner Form

 Can faculty lecture without masks? 

Effective March 12, face masks are optional, but recommended.

If faculty need assistance with projecting their voice, the IT Department suggests these tools.

Are vaccination status paperwork required for contractors who spend a short time on campus?

Vaccinations are not required for contractors who are at a site for a short period of time and have a fleeting physical presence with others.

What is the difference between an exemption and an accommodation?

People can seek an exemption from vaccine requirements for medical reasons or sincerely-held religious beliefs. If the college decides to grant an exemption, the college then has to determine if they can provide a reasonable accommodation.

What is the guidance for employees working in ECEAP or Head Start programs?

According to the Governor’s Office and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), the university or college will assume the responsibility of verifying documents for their employees that are providing ECEAP/Early ECEAP or Head Start/Early Head Start services. Staff working in ECEAP/Early ECEAP or Head Start/Early Head Start programs also will need to document in DCYF’s MERIT system that they have met the vaccine mandate as verified by their university or college employer.

What is the college’s reopening plan?

• • Bates Technical College is a vaccinated college. That means that all students, staff, and faculty must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • Students: Students will need to verify that they have been fully vaccinated unless they are claiming a medical or religious exemption. We strongly encourage students who take classes 100% virtually/remotely to get vaccinated, even if they do not plan to come to campus for in-person service.

Vaccination Information

Anyone age 5 and older are eligible to get the COVID vaccine.

• • Pierce County Vaccine Locations and Information
  • King County Vaccine Locations and Information

Will the college be using a hybrid model (a mix of online and in-person instruction) for most instruction and labs?

• The vast majority of college programs are on-campus face-to-face or hybrid instruction.
• Select programs will continue to operate fully online.

Will the college require proof of vaccination to return to campus and/or enter buildings?

• All employees will need to verify that they have been fully vaccinated unless they are claiming a medical or religious exemption. See links to forms and information above.
• Students, at this time, do not need to furnish documentation of vaccination status. You can attest to your vaccination status in ctcLink.

If I already had and recovered from COVID-19. Do I still need to get a COVID-19 vaccination?

Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.

If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Experts are still learning more about how long vaccines protect against COVID-19. CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

What is the face-covering requirement on campus?

Gov. Inslee announced the end of the state-wide masking mandate effective March 12. The Department of Health, which issues the higher education re-opening plan, will provide new guidelines for our institutions in the next few weeks. We will share additional information once we have received this revised plan. Until then, effective March 12, face masks are optional, but recommended.

What is the social distancing requirement?

As a vaccinated college, there is no requirement for social/physical distancing. However, the college encourages three feet social distancing in consideration of others.

Will the college continue cleaning and disinfecting standards that were implemented for COVID-19?

The facilities and operations department will continue to perform daily sanitizing and disinfection cleaning throughout the college.

Will the college continue to require employees and students to complete SmartSheet Check-In and Check-Out forms for contact tracing?

No, students, staff, faculty, vendors and visitors will no longer need to fill out SmartSheets before coming on campus or leaving campus. Employees with religious or medical exemptions are no longer required to use the daily check-in/check-out form. (updated 4/6/22)

Will the college be fully open to the public? If so, what are the safety protocols that outside agencies, vendors and visitors need to follow?

Vendors and visitors will need to follow current masking guidelines: Face masks are optional effective March 12, except in certain classrooms and office areas where face masks are still required. 

I’m a new student, where do I go on my first day?

The majority of our programs are in person. You can check Canvas or email your instructor if you need clarification.

• Sept. 2, 2021 FAQ and Issue Brief
• On-Campus Meeting Request Form (Fillable PDF) (Must submit form to a COVID-19 Taskforce Member via your supervisor.)

Students and Employees

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please complete the following form:

Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis Form

What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (includes guidance for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals)

• COVID Exposure Control and Mitigation Plan
• FAQ (updated) 

Town Hall Archive

• Town Hall Presentation PPT July 2021
• FAQ PPT July 2021

We created this table to inform the Bates Technical College community of positive COVID-19 cases among our students and employees. This table reflects active cases over a 7-day period as reported to the college. If individuals have only interacted with the community in an online or remote environment, their test results will not be included in this count. If a student or employee fails to report a positive test to the college, we cannot communicate that case to the community. Confidentiality laws prohibit disclosure of individuals’ identities. Anyone believed to have been in close contact with an infected individual will be notified. This table is designed to promote transparent communication.

BOOKSTORE

The bookstore has moved to a virtual format. Please visit the new online bookstore here.

LIBRARY RESOURCES

Computer and Library labs are open!

If you can’t get to campus, check out online tutoring here.

FOOD SERVICES

The Cafe’ at the Downtown Campus remains closed. A self-service micro-market is open at South Campus.

VISITORS to CAMPUS

Visitors and guests are allowed in campus buildings and they must wear a mask, whether they are vaccinated or not. All visitors and vendors must check-in when they enter the building.

• Read how we tackled the COVID-19 pandemic early-on (pdf)

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED CASE OF COVID-19?

1. Contact your supervisor or instructor immediately.
2. Please follow the most recent guidance from the Department of Health.
3. If you test positive, please complete this form.

Additional Resources and Links

Visit the following websites for more COVID-19 safety information:

• New information for vaccinated people
• Gov. Inslee’s Healthy Washington Plan: https://bit.ly/3i4Koc2
• Higher education proclamation 20-12.2: https://bit.ly/2HaJ7T2
• Reopening guidance for businesses under Gov. Inslee’s Healthy Washington plan: https://bit.ly/33dP2Pp
• Gov. Inslee’s face mask requirement: https://doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19
• CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting: https://bit.ly/31k5JYX
• COVID-19 – risk assessment dashboard (shows phases and metrics by region): https://bit.ly/2BgiokK
• Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
• Washington State Department of Health
• Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet
• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Travel Health Notices

What is Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

Please consult the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department or the Center for Disease Control for the latest updates.

What are the symptoms?

For the latest symptoms, please consult the CDC.

If you have been notified by public health authorities that you might have been exposed, please follow instructions provided by the Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control.

What to do if you feel sick.

How to Prevent Illness

Please consult this CDC webpage for the most updated information.

What to Do If You Are Not Feeling Well

Stay home when you are sick. Do not report to work or attend classes if you are ill. Instructors, consider providing students with ways to complete work from home. This is good advice no matter what illness is going around. If you are concerned about your flu-like illness, call your health care provider for advice and share any travel history. Stay home, rest, and stay hydrated.

To prevent the spread of any respiratory diseases, please review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What should I do now to be prepared?

Keep some basic supplies at home. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that people should keep some basic supplies at home in case they get sick or in case it is difficult to get supplies at a store. Here is what they are recommending:

• Store a two-week supply of food. Select foods that do not require refrigeration, preparation or cooking. Ensure that formula for infants and any child’s or older person’s special nutritional needs are a part of your planning. Plan for your pets as well.
• Store a supply of nonprescription drugs, such as pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, stomach remedies and anti-diarrheal medication, as well as vitamins and fluids with electrolytes (such as sports drinks).
• Store health and cleaning supplies, such as bleach, tissues, a thermometer, disposable gloves, soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
• Get copies and maintain electronic versions of health records from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other sources and store them, for personal reference.
• Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.

Make a Plan for Yourself and Your Household

Make a plan now for how you, your household and your neighbors might need to adapt, rely on each other if there is a significant outbreak. Here are some things that could occur:

• Major events, church and community services and many businesses may be temporarily closed.
• Public transportation might be reduced or suspended.
• Childcare centers and schools may be closed.
• It could be difficult to buy basic supplies.