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| Policy 302.8 | | Policy 302.8 (Retired) |
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| == Introduction ==
| | Authority rests with the Director of Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Management Office to manage the Appalachian State University response to COVID-19, as provided in Policy 302.1. (https://policy.appstate.edu/Emergency_Management_Program). For more information regarding Appalachian State University COVID-19 response, rules and regulations please see: https://www.appstate.edu/go/coronavirus. |
| 1.1 The purpose of this policy is to provide instruction and direction to the Appalachian State
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| University (“Appalachian”) community on wearing face coverings to assist in preventing the | |
| spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”).
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| == Scope ==
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| 2.1 This policy applies to all university faculty, staff, students and visitors while on University property,
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| including but not limited to academic buildings, administrative buildings, support buildings,
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| entertainment venues, and other University grounds.
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| 2.2 This policy does not apply to private living spaces within residential halls, but does apply to
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| common areas such as lobbies.
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| == Definitions ==
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| === Face Covering ===
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| A surgical mask or other non-reusable mask approved by the U.S. Food and
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| Drug Administration, as well as any other cloth face coverings or other reusable Universityapproved substitute that covers the nose and mouth of an individual wearing the covering. The
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| purpose of a face covering is to reduce the spread of the user’s germs and may not offer
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| protection to the user from exposure to environmental hazards, including but not limited to
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| COVID-19.
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| === Social Distancing ===
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| Maintaining a physical distance of six (6) feet or greater from another
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| individual and avoiding direct contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize
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| exposure and reduce transmission of the disease.
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| === Employee ===
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| For the purposes of this policy, the term employee includes all employment positions, including but not limited to faculty, staff, part-time, and temporary positions, that are receiving financial compensation from Appalachian.
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| == Policy and Procedure Statements ==
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| === Face Covering Requirements ===
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| 4.1.1 Face Coverings shall be worn at all times that Social Distancing cannot be maintained and guaranteed, subject to
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| Section 4.1.2. Face Coverings are not a replacement for Social Distancing. Social Distancing
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| must be practiced whenever possible.
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| 4.1.2 Regardless of whether Social Distancing can be maintained and guaranteed, Face Coverings shall be worn at all
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| times in classrooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms, elevators, research laboratory spaces,
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| and any other instructional areas. For exceptions to this requirement, please see Section 4.2 –
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| Face Covering Exceptions.
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| 4.1.3 All individuals subject to this policy may wear self-supplied Face Coverings. In instances where an individual
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| does not have a self-supplied Face Covering the University will supply the
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| individual with a Face Covering.
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| 4.1.4 Face Coverings that cover the entire face, including the eyes, shall not be worn, unless
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| otherwise permitted in Section 4.2.3.
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| === Face Covering Exceptions ===
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| 4.2.1 Employees requesting a modification under this policy because of a high-risk health factor
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| or other related circumstance must complete the [https://node-prd-risk.appstate.edu High-Risk Consideration form].
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| 4.2.2 Students requesting a modification under this policy because of a high-risk health factor or
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| other related circumstance should contact the Office of Disability Resources for assistance.
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| 4.2.3 Face Coverings are not required to be worn in situations where the Face Covering presents
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| a safety hazard or other specialized personal protective equipment that covers the nose and
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| mouth is required. Furthermore, Face Coverings are not a substitute for respiratory protection. In
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| situations where a respiratory device is required, then personal protective equipment must be
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| worn as determined by the Office of Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management (“EHS&EM”) in collaboration with a supervisor and other University officials.
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| 4.2.4 Face Coverings are not required to be worn in instances: (a) where a student-athlete is
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| engaging in practice or competition for their designated sport, or (b) where any individual is engaging in other recreational
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| indoor or outdoor activities (e.g., running, jogging, rock climbing, or other related physical activities)
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| on University property.
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| Notwithstanding, upon the completion of participation in the sport or other recreational activity, all individuals covered
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| under this policy must as promptly as possible adhere to the requirements of Section 4.1 – Face
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| Covering Requirements. Furthermore, Social Distancing should be practiced whenever feasible
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| while engaging in these activities.
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| 4.2.5 Face Coverings are not required to be worn by a speaker in a large group gathering (e.g.,
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| speaker at convocation or the Chancellor speaking at an engagement), if there is a barrier
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| between the speaker and the group of individuals they are addressing (i.e., a transparent shield or
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| other transparent partition designed to prevent the transmission of respiratory droplets between a
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| speaker and the audience).
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| 4.2.6 Anyone conducting a classroom lecture or presentation is permitted to not wear a Face Covering
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| during their lecture or presentation, as long as: (a) the individual maintains a physical distance of ten (10) feet or
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| greater from another individual, or (b) there is a barrier between the speaker and the group of individuals they are addressing (i.e., a transparent shield or other transparent partition designed to prevent the transmission of respiratory droplets between a speaker and the audience).
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| === Administration ===
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| 4.3.1 The Director of EHS&EM is responsible for the creation and implementation of guidelines and
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| minimal requirements for this policy. Questions pertaining to this policy may be directed to
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| EHS&EM.
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| === Enforcement ===
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| 4.4.1 Appalachian will enforce violations of this policy in accordance with applicable federal and
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| state law, UNC System policies, and institutional policies. Violations of this policy, including
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| but not limited to not adhering to Social Distancing Practices or Face Covering requirements,
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| may result in grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion.
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| == Additional References ==
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| [[https://www.appstate.edu/recovery/return-to-work/ Appalachian’s Returning to Work Safely Guidelines]]
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| [[https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html CDC Guidance: How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings]]
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| [[https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html CDC Guidance: How to Wash Cloth Face Coverings]]
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| == Authority ==
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| N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-12.8
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| UNC System Policy 300.2.15
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| == Contact Information ==
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| :Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management [https://ehsem.appstate.edu/] (828.262.4008)
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| :Office of Disability Resources [https://odr.appstate.edu/] (828-262-3056)
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| == Original Effective Date ==
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| June 19, 2020
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| == Revision Dates ==
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| September 9, 2020
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