Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Yes.  CDC guidance indicates that fully vaccinated individuals must continue to wear face coverings, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when in public, as well as continue to follow employer guidelines.  NC remains under a public mask mandate and masks remain a College requirement when on campus.

For more information on current CDC recommendations visit their page: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

It depends on which manufacturer’s shot you received.

Individuals are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks has passed since the last required dose of the vaccine.  As of March 2021, there are only three approved manufacturers for vaccine on an emergency use in the United State: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.  You can find the name of your manufacturer on your vaccination card given to you by your vaccinator.  If you received a shot from Pfizer or Moderna, you will be required to take two shots before you are fully vaccinated.  The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one dose shot.

For more information on current CDC recommendations visit their page: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

If you are willing to share your vaccination record with the College, you can be added to a list of individuals who will not need to quarantine for up to 90 days once fully vaccinated, unless you develop COVID-like symptoms.  Employees should contact HR (bryanta@carteret.edu or 252-222-6225) to share the card.  Students should contact the Dean of Student Services (merckd@carteret.edu or 252-222-6021).  All vaccination records become a part of confidential medical records stored separately from other personnel or student records.

Important Note: While the vaccine makes it less likely for an individual to contract COVID-19, it is still possible.  If symptoms develop you should remain off-campus, seek medical attention to be evaluated for possible illness and self-report to the College.

For more information on current CDC recommendations visit their page: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

For matters related to employees and COVID-19, contact Amanda Bryant, Director of Human Resources bryanta@carteret.edu (x6225). For matters related to students and COVID-19, contact Dana Merck, Dean of Student Services  merckd@carteret.edu (x6021).  For matters related to Facilities, contact Steve Sparks, VP of Operations and Facilities  sparkss@carteret.edu (x6087).  If you are not sure whom to call, first reach out to Amanda Bryant in Human Resources.

Carteret Community College has implemented numerous COVID-19 safeguards and protocol to ensure that students can continue their education and achieve their educational and career goals. The following list will be updated regularly to include the latest guidance from state and local health authorities:

• Requiring face coverings/masks on campus
• Scheduling classes and meetings to accommodate six-foot social distancing
• Keeping an updated COVID-19 web page
• Following Health Department protocols for quarantines when required
• Added additional wipe-downs to cleanse classrooms and restrooms between class sessions, particularly doorknobs, keyboards, and surfaces. Sanitization of hallway door handles, surfaces frequently touched in common areas, and bathrooms will occur multiple times a day.
• Use of Ryobi spray sanitizer backpacks to clean surfaces
• Expecting Temperature Verification Kiosks for self-checking temperatures in building lobbies
• Making accommodations for individuals with documented health conditions or special circumstances
• Checking temperatures with touchless thermometers in classes where close contact is required
• Positioning hand-sanitizer stations strategically across campus
• Hanging plexiglass shields over help desks and reception areas with high public contact

Additionally, Carteret CC has developed a plan which will offer in-person, online, hybrid, web-supported, and synchronous classes. Below is a list of class modality definitions:

1. In-person- These classes are offered 100% face-to-face in a seated classroom.
2. Online- These classes are offered 100% online with flexible schedules
3. Hybrid- These classes are conducted 51% or more online with some face-to-face set meetings.
4. Web-supported- These classes are conducted 51% or more through face-to-face set meetings with some work and resources online.
5. Synchronous- These classes are 100% online. Students will log in to meet with their instructor virtually at scheduled times and days each week.

We urge students to speak with an academic advisor to select classes and modalities that best fit their comfort level.

Per the CDC guidelines, institutes of higher education (IHE) vary considerably in geographic location, size, and structure. As such, university officials should determine, in collaboration with state and local health officials, whether to implement any testing strategy, and if so, how to best do so.

When testing might be needed:

The CDC describes these scenarios when colleges may need to conduct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing for students, faculty, or staff, though ultimate determinations for such a test rest with IHEs in consultation with local health officials:

• Testing individuals with signs or symptoms consistent with COVID-19
• Testing asymptomatic individuals with recent known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to control transmission

Testing individuals with signs or symptoms consistent with COVID-19

Consistent with CDC’s recommendations, individuals with COVID-19 signs or symptoms should be referred to a healthcare provider for evaluation on whether testing is needed. In some locations, individuals can also visit their state or local health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.

One strategy to identify individuals with COVID-19 signs or symptoms is to conduct daily symptom screening such as temperature screening and/or symptom checking for students, faculty, and staff. However, because symptom screenings are not helpful for identification of individuals with COVID-19 who may be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, symptom screening alone will not prevent all individuals with COVID-19 from entering the IHE.

IHE administrators and healthcare providers should immediately separate students, faculty, or staff with COVID-19 symptoms by providing distance learning options, isolation rooms in dormitories or other housing facilities, and providing alternative food service arrangements for those who live on campus. As part of symptom screenings, IHEs should be prepared to refer symptomatic individuals to an appropriate health care provider who will determine when viral testing for SARS-CoV-2 is appropriate.

IHEs can encourage individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to go to their place of residence, a designated isolation housing location (if living on-campus), or a healthcare facility depending on how severe their symptoms are, and follow CDC guidance for caring for oneself. IHEs can also encourage individuals to watch for emergency symptoms and seek emergency medical care if these symptoms occur.

Testing asymptomatic individuals with recent known or suspected exposure to a person with COVID-19

Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons diagnosed with COVID-19:

• Because of the potential for asymptomatic and/or pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 be quickly identified and tested. Feasibility of identifying and testing close contacts will likely vary by IHE and their local context.
• Additionally, in accordance with state and local laws and regulations, IHEs should work with local health officials to inform those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to wear cloth face coverings if they are able, quarantine in their living quarters or a designated housing location, and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days.

In some settings, broader testing, beyond close contacts, is recommended as a part of a strategy to control transmission of SARS-CoV-2:

• In IHEs, residence halls, laboratory facilities, and lecture rooms may be settings with the potential for rapid and pervasive spread of the virus.
• Expanded testing might include testing of all people who were in proximity of an individual confirmed to have COVID-19 (e.g., those who shared communal spaces or bathrooms), or testing all individuals within a shared setting (e.g., testing all residents on a floor or an entire residence hall). Testing in these situations can be helpful because in high density settings it can be particularly challenging to accurately identify everyone who had close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID-19. For example, students who do not know each other could potentially be close contacts if they are both in a shared communal space.
• IHEs might want to consider that some people are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus, but some people are more likely than others to become severely ill, which means that they may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die.
• Decisions about the level of risk and the scope of testing should be made in coordination with state, territorial, Tribal, and local health officials.

Testing asymptomatic individuals without known exposure to a person with COVID-19

Testing of all students, faculty and staff for COVID-19 before allowing campus entry (entry testing) has not been systematically studied. It is unknown if entry testing in IHEs provides any additional reduction in person-to-person transmission of the virus beyond what would be expected with implementation of other infection preventive measures (e.g., social distancing, cloth face covering, hand washing, enhanced cleaning and disinfection). Therefore, CDC does not recommend entry testing of all returning students, faculty, and staff.

Carteret CC students and employees can be tested for COVID-19 by their physician, at local pharmacies, or at county health departments.

Carteret County Health Department (252)728-8550

Onslow County Health Department (910)347-2154

Craven County Health Department (252)636-4920

Employees who participate in the State Health Plan (BCBS) clan can be tested by their primary physician at no charge, if it is medically necessary.

*Carteret Community College requires LAB COVID-19 test because rapid tests have a higher degree of false negatives.

Carteret CC has created a process for students, faculty, and staff to self-report COVID-19 cases. If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for COVID-19 (or a health care provider tells you that you are presumed positive), or if someone in your immediate household tests positive, please notify the College by filling out the self-report form at Carteret.edu/covid19. This procedure is voluntary, and the information submitted will be shared only with limited College officials to make a determination if additional cleaning and other response actions need to be taken on campus. Employees should also notify their supervisor and contact Human Resources regarding eligibility for COVID-19 leave provisions that are currently in effect. Please note that completing the form does not serve as notification to your supervisor that you are not available for work.  

If you do not have internet access at the time which you need to report your case, Students should call 252-222-6021 and Employees should call 252-222-6225 to complete the report.

Contact tracing is the systematic identification and monitoring of all persons who are a close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 during their infectious period. In instances where a Carteret CC student or employee reports testing positive or feeling ill, the College will take preliminary steps to understand whether other members of the Carteret CC community may have been exposed through close contact (e.g., will ask about roommates, close co-workers) and may ask that they be tested and/or self quarantine as a precaution.  The formal process of contact tracing is conducted by the county health department and starts once someone tests positive for COVID-19. The College will assist with this process by providing information regarding schedules, living/working locations, and known activities on campus.  If the county health department determines you to be a close contact of someone who has tested positive, you will receive a phone call from NC OUTREACH (844-628-7223) or the local health department. It is important that you answer or return this call. To see how the contact tracing process works, review this sample contact tracing case.

Yes. Because COVID-19 is spread through droplets when an infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes, one of the most important tools we have in this fight are face coverings. Following CDC guidance, and per the newly issued statement by the NC Community College System, we have modified our expectations for faculty, staff, and students and will make face coverings mandatory at Carteret CC, effective immediately.

Every faculty, staff member, and student must wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth while indoors – including in classrooms, libraries, auditoriums, and meeting spaces. These may be cloth/reusable or disposable. Employees may remove their face coverings when alone in their individual offices. Face coverings are also required outdoors in situations where appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained. Students, faculty, and staff are required to have a face covering with them whenever they are on campus. We are also requiring visitors and guests to honor our efforts to keep our campus community safe; as such, these policies apply to all visitors, vendors, and independent contractors.

Face coverings will be provided to faculty and staff; employees who have questions about how to obtain face coverings should speak with their department head/chair or supervisor. Carteret CC students are required to bring their own face coverings provided they meet CDC guidelines. If students do not have one they can pick one up at Student Services located in the McGee Building. Carteret CC employees will be provided with a face mask. Employees may also use their own face coverings, provided they meet CDC guidelines and, are appropriate for the workplace.

This novel virus has forced all of us to adopt new patterns of behavior that are sometimes awkward and uncomfortable. We need to work together to reinforce the importance of engaging in all of the behaviors we know prevent the spread of the virus – hand washing, staying home when ill, social distancing, wearing face coverings, and showing we care about each other by doing what is right to help fight COVID-19. We are relying on members of our community to adhere to these standards, but when necessary, we also will enforce these behaviors. This will include asking students who do not have a face covering to leave the classroom, campus building, or other venue and only return when they have a face covering. Students who continue to violate this policy may be subject to further action per the Student Code of Conduct. Similarly, employees who do not wear a face covering may be subject to disciplinary action based on our policies regarding employee performance and behaviors in the workplace.

Students who seek an exception to this policy because they are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition should contact Counseling Services at (252) 222-6237; employees with a similar request should contact Human Resources at (252) 222-6225.  Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis to facilitate teaching and learning in specific environments.

In addition to requiring face coverings, we have many other protocols in place to address the health of our students and employees, including:

• All students and employees are to monitor themselves for symptoms prior to coming to work or the classroom.
• Testing is available for students and employees through their health care provider, community-based clinics, and local health departments. Students and employees are asked to use a self-reporting tool if they are ill and/or have been tested.

Yes, paper face coverings may be used for days to weeks, depending on the level of use.

• Do not attempt to wash or use disinfectant chemicals on a paper face coverings.
• Store face coverings in a clean, dry location between uses.
• Replace face coverings when they become dirty, worn, or restrictive to air flow.

The health and safety of our community comes first in our decision-making.

Academic Calendar
We have adjusted our academic calendar to minimize mass student travel during the semester and reduce spread of the virus.

Course Delivery
In order to maximize schedule flexibility, practice social distancing in our learning spaces, and ensure in-person access as much as possible, we will deliver classes using a variety of methods: in-person, online, hybrid, web-supported, and Synchronous.

Class modality definitions:

• In-person- These classes are offered 100% face-to-face in a seated classroom.
• Online- These classes are offered 100% online with flexible schedules
• Hybrid- These classes are conducted 51% or more online with some face-to-face set meetings.
• Web-supported- These classes are conducted 51% or more through face-to-face set meetings with some work and resources online.
• Synchronous- These classes are 100% online. Students will log in to meet with their instructor virtually at scheduled times and days each week.

We want students and families to have choices based on their needs and preferences. We urge students to speak with an academic advisor to select classes and modalities that best fit their comfort level. Fall registration is open and classes begin August 17.

Classroom Changes
We are making a range of physical adjustments to classroom settings, including:

• All in-person classes will be socially distanced, with all participants wearing face coverings.
• Classrooms and hallways will be cleaned intensively and frequently.
• Students will be able to maintain distancing in our shuttles on the way to and from classes.
• Managing traffic in hallways and staggering the way people enter and leave classrooms.
• Providing other physical protections and barriers where appropriate, adding hand sanitizer stations, etc.

Required Face Coverings
As previously announced and consistent with state, local, and NC Community College System requirements, we have modified our expectations for students, faculty, and staff – face coverings are mandatory at Carteret CC, effective immediately.

• Every student, faculty, and staff member must wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth while indoors on campus – including in classrooms, libraries, auditoriums, and meeting spaces.
• Face coverings are also required outdoors in situations where appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Face coverings are available to students and employees.
• Students who seek an exception to this policy because they are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition should contact Counseling Services at (252) 222-6237.

Additional Health and Safety Guidance
In addition to requiring face coverings, we have many other protocols in place to address the health of our students and employees, including:

• All students and employees are to monitor themselves for symptoms per CDC guidelines prior to coming to work or the classroom.
• Testing is available for students and employees through their health care provider, community-based clinics, and county health departments. Students and employees are asked to use a self-reporting tool if they are ill and/or have been tested.

Quarantine and Isolation Facilities
Following guidelines from Carteret County Health Department and recommendations from the CDC, students who are exposed to a known case of COVID-19 or who become ill will be asked to return home. If a student is unable to travel or has other extenuating circumstances, a limited number of quarantine and isolation spaces are available on campus, and a protocol is in place to support them.

Enhanced Cleaning Protocols across Campus
Carteret CC is implementing a wide range of new cleaning protocols across our campus to help limit the spread of COVID-19. This will include more frequent cleaning of all spaces with a focus on common areas, frequently touched surfaces, and locations where the virus may be more likely to spread.

Campus Events
To support the community safety standards we are putting in place, events will be extremely limited and subject to statewide limitations around crowd size.

• A number of traditional campus events will be redesigned to facilitate social distancing and take advantage of technology to connect people
• Conference and meeting facilities will have extremely limited access.
• If you have planned an event or have an expectation for a traditional campus event, please be sure to check with your campus contact for updates.

Protect Our Students
It will take all of us together to keep our community safe and healthy. The primary way COVID-19 spreads is through person-to-person contact, so our best hope of preventing its spread is by changing the way we behave. We will expect students to show care for their friends, peers, colleagues, and neighbors. This means students are required to wear face coverings when close to others, wash their hands often and properly, and practice social distancing.

Carteret CC is in frequent contact with Carteret County Health Department, the NC Community College System, state and federal officials, and other experts as we move forward. If the situation, our knowledge, or the guidance changes, we will be ready to adapt and flexible in making decisions that keep the health of our students and employees – especially those most at risk – and our community at the forefront of our decision making.

Classes will continue as planned according to the Academic Calendar.

Course Delivery

In order to maximize schedule flexibility, practice social distancing in our learning spaces, and ensure in-person access as much as possible, we will deliver classes using a variety of methods: in-person, online, hybrid, web-supported, and Synchronous.

Class modality definitions:

• In-person- These classes are offered 100% face-to-face in a seated classroom.
• Online- These classes are offered 100% online with flexible schedules
• Hybrid- These classes are conducted 51% or more online with some face-to-face set meetings.
• Web-supported- These classes are conducted 51% or more through face-to-face set meetings with some work and resources online.
• Synchronous- These classes are 100% online. Students will log in to meet with their instructor virtually at scheduled times and days each week.

We want students and families to have choices based on their needs and preferences. We urge students to speak with an academic advisor to select classes and modalities that best fit their comfort level. Fall registration is open and classes begin August 17.

Classroom Changes
We are making a range of physical adjustments to classroom settings, including:

• All in-person classes will be socially distanced, with all participants wearing face coverings.
• Classrooms and hallways will be cleaned intensively and frequently.
• Managing traffic in hallways and staggering the way people enter and leave classrooms.

Providing other physical protections and barriers where appropriate, adding hand sanitizer stations, etc.

Following guidelines from Carteret County Health Department and recommendations from the CDC, students who are exposed to a known case of COVID-19 or who become ill will be asked to return home. Furthermore, students exposed to a known case of COVID-19 or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should complete the COVID-19 Self Reporting Form. Students may also contact the Dean of Student Services at merkd@carteret.edu or by calling (252) 222-6021.

Students who engage in overnight travel away from home should contact each course instructor to arrange for continuation of coursework during the required quarantine period.  Instructors who are working with student’s post-travel should consult with departmental chairs and deans for assistance, as well as with the Dean of Student Services to determine what measure to take post-travel to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus on our campus.

The following actions are part of Carteret CC’s COVID-19 Cleaning Plan to help fight the spread of COVID-19:

• Disinfect high-touch surfaces multiple times per day in public areas including door knobs/handles, elevator call buttons, door push-plates, stairway railings, etc.
• Increase classroom surface cleaning and disinfection from daily to multiple times a day as allowed by class schedule.
• Restroom disinfection will occur multiple times per day by adding disinfecting to normal bathroom checks.
• Increase use of machine-aided cleaning systems in heavily used restrooms.
• Disinfecting wipes will also be available for faculty and staff to wipe down their office areas.
• Housekeeping will clean and disinfect offices on a weekly basis and could increase cleaning and disinfection of offices in cooperation with occupants and building contacts.

To support the community safety standards, events will be extremely limited and subject to statewide limitations around crowd size.

• A number of traditional campus events will be redesigned to facilitate social distancing and take advantage of technology to connect people.
• Conference and meeting facilities will have extremely limited access.
• If you want to plan an event or have an expectation for a traditional campus event, please be sure to check with your campus contact for updates.

Yes. If you are experiencing symptoms, or notice someone that is, isolate as much as possible and contact Amanda Bryant, Director of Human Resources bryanta@carteret.edu (x6225) for employees.

For the safety of everyone on campus, as well as the greater community, an employee who is displaying COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home with CDC guidance regarding self-isolation, directions to seek guidance from a medical care provider, possible testing for COVID-19, and instructions on when it will be safe to return to campus.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/end-home-isolation.html

If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for COVID-19 (or a health care provider tells you that you are presumed positive), or if someone in your immediate household tests positive, please notify the College by filling out the COVID-19 Self Reporting Form. This procedure is voluntary, and the information submitted will be shared only with limited College officials to make a determination if additional cleaning and other response actions need to be taken on campus. Employees should also notify their supervisor and contact Human Resources regarding eligibility for COVID-19 leave provisions that are currently in effect. Please note that completing the form does not serve as notification to your supervisor that you are not available for work.  

If you do not have internet access at the time which you need to report your case, employees should call 252-222-6225 to complete the report.

Calmly ask the student to step into the hall, or another location where you can have the conversation privately and in a confidential manner. Ask about their symptoms (type, duration of symptoms, and if they have contacted a healthcare provider). If they are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19, ask the student to leave campus immediately and contact Dana Merck, Dean of Student Services  merckd@carteret.edu (x6021) for further instructions.

Reach out to Dana Merck, Dean of Student Services  merckd@carteret.edu (x6021) for instruction on how to handle this situation. If you know the date the student was last on campus and the building(s) attended, please be prepared to share this information with Dana Merck.  Advise the student not to return to campus until further instructed to do so and let them know a plan will be developed for how best to continue with their studies while they are out.

Every day, before coming to work, you should screen yourself for COVID-19 symptoms per CDC guidelines and check your temperature. If you experience COVID-19 symptoms or do not feel well for any reason, you should not report to work. Instead, you should call your primary care provider and notify your supervisor. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should complete the COVID-19 Self Reporting Form.

To proactively minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread, you are strongly encouraged to follow the “Three W’s”:  wear a cloth face covering, wait six feet apart, and wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.  Please utilize the disinfectant wipes that have been placed around campus and clean your work environment, classrooms, and frequently touched surfaces as needed.

If an employee needs to be away from campus, and is unable to telework, there are several leave provisions that may apply. These include Federal Emergency Sick Leave (under the FFCRA), FMLA, Sick Leave and Annual Leave. Please contact Human Resources to discuss your specific leave scenario.

The ability to telework is based on many factors. Please reach out to Human Resources to see if you qualify for high risk category accommodations.

When physical distance of six feet or more can be maintained, in-person meetings may occur at the discretion of your supervisor.  Please discuss telephone and Zoom options with your supervisor if there are mandatory meetings that you cannot attend in person.

The College is committed to providing reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of employees, students and other visitors to our campus.  Leadership and other partners are routinely reviewing information provided by local, state, and federal health officials and using that information to inform the College’s response to the virus.  The more proactive and intentional we are in controlling exposure on the front end, the better our chances of completing the semester without a significant outbreak that puts additional stress on academic success.  In that spirit, the College has revised and adopted a protocol as it relates to overnight travel.

According to the CDC, “travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.  Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.”  While travel for College business is generally still suspended, we recognize that many of you may travel for personal reasons.  Following is the College’s requirements for those who choose or need to travel overnight away from home.

Employees should report overnight travel away from home to their immediate supervisor and to Human Resources, prior to leaving for the trip when plans are foreseeable.  If the trip is emergent in nature, employees should contact their supervisor and Human Resources prior to returning to campus after the trip. Human Resources, guided by the most current guidance from the CDC, and other health officials will ask a series of questions to better understand your planned travel and assess potential risk of increased transmission or exposure of the virus to our campus upon your return.  This information will be used to help in discussions regarding decisions for possible post-trip quarantine from campus, or other measures that might need to be in place to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus on our campus.

Travel for work and conferences will be limited to mission critical activities only and approved by Dr. Tracy Mancini.  Your Supervisor must approve local travel.

Carteret CC supervisors should report positive COVID-19 cases to Amanda Bryant in Human Resources at (252) 222-6225. In addition to a supervisor reporting a positive case to Human Resources, employees that have COVID-19 symptoms, has tested positive for COVID-19, or someone in their immediate household has tested positive, are to report that information by filling out the COVID-19 Self Reporting Form.

Information submitted will be shared only with limited College officials to make a determination if additional cleaning and other response actions need to be taken on campus. Supervisors should also refer employees to the Human Resources Department to determine eligibility for COVID-19 leave provisions.

Employees are required to wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth whenever they are inside, or outside and unable to maintain a minimum of six feet of physical distancing, and when interacting with or near others such as in hallways, stairwells, elevators, restrooms, kitchens and when sharing a vehicle.

Students who seek an exception to this policy because they are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition should contact Counseling Services at (252) 222-6237; employees with a similar request should contact Human Resources at (252) 222-6225.  Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis to facilitate teaching and learning in specific environments.

Yes, departments will be supplied with face coverings for their employees, upon request.

Public health officials have identified people as “high-risk” for contracting COVID-19 and experiencing greater complications as those who meet any of the following criteria or who may care for someone with any of the following criteria:

• are over 65 years of age,
• have underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or diabetes,
• are pregnant, and/or
• have weakened immune systems.

Employees meeting the above criteria who have concerns about their work arrangements should contact Amanda Bryant at (252) 222-6225 in Human Resources to discuss responsible accommodations.

Research as of April 16, 2020 from the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the virus can survive up to 72 hours on some surfaces, including plastic and cardboard, but in most instances, the risk of infection resulting from contact with a contaminated surface is unlikely after a few days.

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.  Use good hand hygiene and avoid touching your face to reduce the risk.