General Questions

Please see https://covid19.moph.gov.qa/EN/Pages/default.aspx for up to date guidelines and information

Common signs of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing. A temporary loss of taste and smell for 5-7 days is less common but is indicative of COVID-19 infection. As the viral illness becomes more severe, the infection can cause progressive pneumonia, leading to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), requiring ventilation, followed by kidney failure, before general organ failure, and death.

For more information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) visit www.moph.gov.qa or call 16000.

The Ministry of Public Health advises people to do the following to protect themselves from COVID-19:

1. Stay in the safety of your home as much as possible. Do not go out unless it is absolutely necessary, say to purchase food and groceries, use an ATM, or attend class when directed.
2. Practice social and physical distancing by maintaininga distance of at least TWO (2) meters from others, at all times.  
3. Wear a mask at all times when outside your home, and in any public place, such as a supermarket, a bank, or a mall.
4. Wash your hands regularly (preferably every two hours, even at home) with soap and water for at least TWENTY (20) seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can also be used, for at least 20 seconds, as a substitute cleanser.
5. Avoid touching your face or mask, particularly your eye, nose and mouth areas. Be careful not to touch or adjust your glasses as your eyes are a portal of entry. Wash your glasses in soap and water to minimize misting up from your breath.

For more information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) visit www.moph.gov.qa or call 16000

Please access the link below for WCM-Q COVID-19 Guidelines for Student Testing and Monitoring, Infection Control, PPE Usage, and Patient Care:

 https://wcmq.box.com/s/lzo85y6ifn5c89zjoiwzxicn46ch57cu

The above link is a living document and will be updated on an ongoing basis.

1. Stay at your home or EC residence except for obligatory attendance for studies, or to shop for food, and do not go out unlessnecessary.
2. Practice physical distancing by maintaining at least TWO (2) meters from others at all times.
3. Wear a mask when you need to enter a public place, such as the supermarket, to access an ATM, or a mall.
4. Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer for at least TWENTY (20) seconds.
5. Avoid touching your face when wearing a mask, especially around your eyes, nose and mouth.
6. Cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Any tissues used should be discarded directly into a nearby rubbish bin.
7. If you access WCM-Q, do not congregate or socialize outside the entrances.
8. After labs or other teaching sessions are over, leave the building promptly if you have no other activities. Avoid any socialization on the premises.

Check this website periodically for COVID-19 protection guidelines.

https://wcmq.sharepoint.com/Pages/WhileOnCampus.aspx 

Dr. Matthew Nelson is the Housing Director for Educational City housing. Both male and female residences have clear protocols which must be strictly followed. There should be no socializing, visiting, or gatherings in corridors. The dining rooms have guidelines for social distancing when eating meals. Wear a mask at all other times when dining is complete and as soon as you leave your table.

Here are Guidelines for accessing the College:

It is important to note that access to the WCM-Q building is strictly controlled and restricted to authorized students, staff, and faculty only. Congregating in groups is not permitted at any time. We realize that you have not seen your friends and classmates in person for many months. However, we strongly encourage you to abide by the specified social distancing guidelines.

For your own safety:

• Show your ID to the guard at the reception desk who will note down your details - this prevents physical contact with the reception desk/sign-in book. Your temperature will also be taken on a no-touch monitor. Stand in the right position as security personnel request.
• Have your mobile phone ready and show the Ehteraz app to security to confirm your green status.The app is dynamic in real time.
• Use the hand sanitizer at the reception prior to entering the building.
• Always wear a mask, as directed by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), when entering and exiting the building.
• Practice social and physical distancing, minimizing interactions with others as much as possible. Avoid moving around the College, as security cameras will be monitoring all the movement.  
• Once you have completed your activity, please leave the building immediately. There should be no gathering in groups before or after your visit for academic studies.

Refer to the WCM-Q COVID-19 Guidelines for Student Testing and Monitoring, Infection Control, PPE Usage, and Patient Care living document for up-to-date and comprehensive guidelines on PPE usage.

You will need to wear scrubs, gloves, face mask and a face shield.

The Foundational Science courses (EPOM and HID II), for first and second years, will be delivered using a hybrid model. Students will be requested to participate in selected face-to-face activities.

Students involved in clerkships will be participating in in-person clinical activities in the mornings, while lectures and didactic sessions will be delivered online.

Students who are in the middle of getting their covid vaccine, should delay travel to New York until they complete COVID vaccination. If the student is receiving a two-dose product, they should not travel having received only one as they will not be able to get the second dose while they are here.

Currently, New York State’s approach to those arriving from international locations is as follows (current as of 8am 16/3/2021):

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/03/update-interim-travel-advisory-march-10-2021_0.pdf

1. Individuals must demonstrate a negative test no more than 3 days prior to travel before boarding a flight to NY. (Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days can present documentation of having recovered from COVID – typically a letter from a treating clinician along with a copy of the positive covid test)
2. All travelers must fill out NYS’s travel form/survey.
3. After arrival in US, travelers must either quarantine for 7 days with a test 3-5 days after travel OR quarantine for 10 days without a test.
   1. This applies to all travelers, whether they were tested before boarding, recovered from prior COVID infection, or are fully vaccinated.
4. Currently, New York State essential worker exemptions do not apply to international travel.
5. Students can report to onsite activities at WCM after satisfactorily completing quarantine (Dr. Figueroa would need a copy of the result for the 3-5day test, for those that get tested). You should not step foot in any WCM buildings prior to that and will need to plan accordingly.

Testing may be obtained through one of the public testing sites (usually the lowest cost) or private testing site. Insurance information must be collected for all tests.

You are encouraged to take steps to bring an adequate supply of your personal medications to cover yourselves during the entire time you are in the U.S. This past year, there were several instances of students not having maintenance meds, and not having U.S. based insurance. It was a struggle to access care or get medication supplies. This is especially important if they are again going to be on the Qatar based health insurance plan and not one of the U.S. commercial products.

Please reach out to the Division of Student Affairs, should you have additional questions or concerns.

Please ensure that you have a scanned copy of your Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate, and your vaccination card, after the second vaccination is administered. Keep a hard copy of the Vaccination Certificate and carry your original Qatar Vaccination Card with you as well on your return to Qatar. You may be asked to produce either at HIA on arrival. On departure from Doha, you have a maximum of 14 days (from 2nd vaccination) + Six months to return and qualify for unrestricted re-entry (quarantine free) to Qatar. Do not exceed this period otherwise you will have to stay in quarantine in a hotel at your own cost according to current guidelines.

WCM has implemented a new COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Program and a new policy that will take effect immediately and will apply to all WCM-Q students rotating in the NY campus.

Background

The COVID-19 Surveillance Testing program is an important initiative designed to keep you, your classmates, and the faculty, staff, and patients you encounter, safe. We are certain that you understand the importance of such a program and are very grateful to all of you for complying with the policy by either testing on time or for arranging in advance for an exemption or exception.

This policy is in addition the COVID bi-weekly screener and the increasing levels of campus wide vaccination. We are most grateful for your continued adherence to social distancing, wearing of face masks and handwashing. All important ways to keep everyone safe.

NEW Compliance Policy (to Take Effect Immediately)

You are expected to get your COVID-19 screening test on schedule UNLESS you have specifically requested and received either an "Exemption" or "Exception." If you are uncertain about how to request an exemption or exception, please go to the COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Program website on WCM Central---FAQs section "Travel, Exceptions, Exemptions" section.  Student Surveillance Testing Program 

1. If you forget to schedule a test on your assigned day OR miss a test on your assigned day, you should log in to Daily Check and follow the prompts to schedule a make-up test as soon as possible. 
2. Please note that if you miss your test, you ALSO will receive an automated email message the day after the test was expected to remind you to make up the missed test. Tests should be completed within 3 days of the missed appointment. 
3. If you get an automated reminder message that you believe is in error because you have a received a Bonafide exemption or exception, you may contact the program team at cv19testing@med.cornell.edu to verify that your exemption has been processed accordingly.  If you used the link provided in the blue banner of Daily Check to schedule your test and have completed your test, and still receive an automated reminder, do not worry. It may take a few hours for the systems to recognize your completed test.
4. If you do NOT make up the missed test within the three-day period, you will be placed on a "Noncompliance List," which is then forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs in NY and the office of Student Affairs in Qatar 
5. Students who are on the Noncompliance List will receive ONE email warning about their noncompliance.
6. Students who are placed on the noncompliance list a second time, at any time in the future, will receive a Professionalism Assessment Form (PAF) , which will become part of their official academic record.
7. Subsequent listings on the noncompliance list will result in automatic PAFS without additional warnings.
8. Please note : PAFs, once issued, cannot be "undone" by citing exemptions or exceptions "after the fact."