Broward College executive leadership identified the need to assemble a team of professionals in various areas of the College with the goal to develop a response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The Broward College COVID-19 Cross-Functional Team evaluated and reacted to the crisis with interim steps to be taken for the current students to complete the semester and serve as a recommending body for the response to the pandemic. Eight task forces were created to review and advice on a plan for the different areas of the College:

• Safety, Security and Environmental Health
• Talent and Culture
• Facilities
• Information Technology
• Academic Affairs
• Academic and Accessibility Resources
• Student Services
• Events

Broward College continues to work closely with public health officials at all levels to support the health and safety of the campus community. The Broward College COVID-19 Cross-Functional Team aligned its preparation and efforts with guidance from the United States Center for Disease Control, Florida Department of Health and local authority.

COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN AND GUIDELINES

COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN AND GUIDELINES SUMMARY 

Stay Up to Date with the Latest Changes

Communications to students and staff are sent through various methods, including BC Alerts (the College's emergency response system, which includes email, phone, and text messaging). Please review your contact information and update it as needed.

Social Distancing Measures

Social distancing is a public health practice that aims to lessen interactions with people and add distance when we must interact in person. Additionally, if you do get infected, practicing social distance lowers your chance of spreading the virus to someone else.

Here are a few tips:

• No hugs or handshakes. 
• Take a step back if you are standing close enough to extend your arms and touch fingertips. 
• Experts recommend maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.
• Avoid large gatherings.
• The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks if you must go outside.  CDC DIY cloth face coverings options.
• Read more about prevention.

Personal Precautions

We recommend that you follow the practices provided by the CDC to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Avoid handshaking and close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks if you must go outside. CDC DIY cloth face coverings options.
• New: Pets - CDC guidelines recommend people restrict their pets from interacting with other animals when outside their house and urge people to keep cats indoors when possible and to walk dogs on a leash while maintaining at least six feet from other people and animals. The CDC also calls for people to avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather. 

Broward College's Response Team

The Broward College COVID-19 Cross-Functional Team will continue to monitor developments and make decisions to maintain a healthy and safe environment for our students and employees. College officials are in contact with local and state authorities leading the response on COVID-19.

Prevention:

The College has in place measures to limit the spread of infections. These steps include a thorough cleaning of restrooms, classrooms, common areas, and floors. There is also daily disinfecting of doorknobs, push bars, and railings and monitoring and refilling of hand sanitizer stations. Posters on how to stop the spread of germs have been installed in restrooms, and a COVID-19 factsheet has been installed in common areas.

Resources:

• CDC COVID-19 Fact Sheet
• CDC BH COVID-19 Fact Sheet - Spanish
• CDC BH COVID-19 Fact Sheet - Haitian Creole

• CDC BH Prevent the Spread - English
• CDC BH Prevent the Spread - Spanish
• CDC BH Prevent the Spread - Haitian Creole

• CDC Use of Cloth Face Coverings & Instructions
• Florida Health Department
• Centers for Disease Control

You can also subscribe to email updates from the CDC.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or had direct physical or close contact with someone who has tested positive let us know per the instructions outlined below. If you are unsure whether you have had close contact, or are uncertain whether you should get tested, or would like to find testing locations or information, please visit the CDC Self-Checker.

Students - Report positive COVID-19 tests, self-isolation, or quarantine situations using the Student COVID-19 Report Online Form. The College closely monitors and follows CDC guidelines. Once you submit your report using the link above, a team member will review your submitted form. You will then be contacted and provided additional information and resources that are available to students. 
Students report here: STUDENT COVID-19 REPORT ONLINE FORM.

Employees - To report positive COVID-19 tests, self-isolation, or quarantine situations, employees should send an email to employee.covid19@broward.edu and also inform their supervisor. This mailbox is monitored by Talent and Culture, who will respond and provide information about the resources available to employees.

Vendors - BC staff who manage vendors onsite must communicate with their vendor partners that you want to know if any of their employees, who work onsite at any of our locations, test positive for COVID-19. When BC staff learn about a vendor with a positive COVID-19 test, then that staff member shall notify either the individual your department has designated for tracking their vendors or to Risk Management for further instruction.

Protocol After Reporting

After reporting your positive COVID-19 test or exposure to BC, you may be asked to self-isolate or quarantine, based on your circumstances. The College follows CDC guidelines on when it is safe to be around others.

• Generally, close contacts will be asked to quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of the potential exposure and not return to campus. 
• If you are tested and found to be positive for COVID-19 then you will be asked to self-isolate for a period of 10 days from the day you began feeling ill or experienced symptoms. 
• Employees should obtain clearance from the Talent and Culture department before reporting to their onsite work location. Students must obtain clearance from their Student Dean before reporting to any onsite location. These are general guidelines and you will receive more detailed instructions based on your case.
• If you are working or learning remotely and are unable to continue working or learning remotely due to caring for yourself or another person due to COVID-19, please notify your supervisor or instructor. Employees can find resources on the Talent and Culture COVID-19 Resource page. There are many resources available to assist you through this difficult time.

The Florida Department of Health is conducting broad test tracking and contact tracing. For the latest information on where positive cases are detected please refer to the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 website. On their site, you can find a dashboard informing the spread of the virus in the state, county, zip code, and by demographics. On this website, you can also find the latest information on local testing sites. 

Broward College Self-Reported On-Campus Positive Case Statistics:

These numbers include self-reported positive cases for on-campus students and faculty/staff.  Reported cases are investigated and anyone believed to be at risk of exposure, based on CDC guidelines, will be notified.  Confidentiality laws prevent us from identifying individuals.

Feeding South Florida

Feeding South Florida provides direct-service programs to individuals in need of assistance. This includes benefits application assistance, access to our choice pantry, referrals for longer-term food assistance at a partner agency, and home delivery for qualified individuals.

Axis South Florida

Axis South Florida provides information on Farm Share food distributions in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Broward Schools Free and Reduced Meals

Starting April 27, the Broward district is offering meals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at 51 school locations. Families are able to receive grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for multiple days.

Summer Break Spot – Free Meals for Kids

With Florida schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Nikki Fried, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness encourage families to take advantage of alternative school meals that may be offered at these locations. Find contact information for your local school district.

Enter your zip code to find the closest location and check the opening dates and hours to confirm the site is participating. You can also call 211 or text FLKIDSMEALS to 211-211 to find the closest participating Summer BreakSpot location.

Christian Life Center

FREE LUNCHES For Kids Under 18

Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Thanks to their partnership with FLIPANY, bagged lunches are available at the Fort Lauderdale Campus (2699 W Commercial Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL). Volunteers will be outside the building as meals are handed out through vehicle windows. The limit is one per student.

The Broward County Feeding Initiative offers a location map and application, which provides locations of food distribution sites.

Additional Food and Nutrition Services for Students and Families.

Testing Locations in Broward

Walk-Up and Mobile Testing Locations can be found on the Broward County Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

For those who need assistance, the Florida Department of Health has a dedicated 24/7 call center for COVID-19 866-779-6121, or email covid-19@flhealth.gov.

CIGNA offers a 24/7 helpline at 866-912-1687. This resource is open to all, whether or not you are covered by CIGNA medical insurance.

Local Resources

• Hope for Healing- Florida
• Florida Health COVID-19 Resource Kit
• 2-1-1 Broward Healthcare Programs
• Broward Health
• Memorial Healthcare System

National Organizations

• CDC Stress and Coping
• The Role of Nutrition in Supporting the Immune System
• Science Daily – the Immune System Can Fight Back
• World Health Organization Resources (scroll for health-related downloads)

The College provides counseling services for its students and employees.

Students can receive free support through Henderson Student Counseling Services at 954-424-6916. 

To help manage stress and anxiety, full-time CIGNA-insured employees, and their households, have access to free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which can be found in the myCigna app or website, under the Coverage tab, or call 877-622-4327, and for anyone not having health benefits or employee assistance program benefits through CIGNA, you may call the 24/7 helpline at 866-912-1687.

Coping With the Fear of Coronavirus

Additional resources:

• Center for Disease Control - Managing Stress & Anxiety
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• 211 Broward - Behavioral Health
• NAMI Broward County (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Based on the current spread of COVID-19 across the U.S., all college-related travel is canceled until further notice. This restriction applies to international and domestic air travel, as well as travel by motor vehicles such as a car, van, and bus. The cancellation includes, but is not limited to, academic competitions, athletic events, conferences, seminars, and study abroad programs.

College-sponsored travel by motor vehicle will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the trip coordinator and their supervisor.

Students, who are scheduled to participate in a college-sponsored trip, should contact the College coordinator (i.e., club advisor) for more information. This includes, but is not limited to, academic competitions, conferences, and study abroad programs for the summer term. For additional information on the status of other Broward College Study Abroad programs.

Students and employees are highly encouraged to avoid personal air travel.

COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and are now becoming available to those age 65 and older, and for certain health care staff and first responders. Below are informative resources about the vaccines that are available:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - COVID-19 Vaccines

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - COVID-19 Vaccines

Finding Vaccine Distribution Sites: The State of Florida is in charge of administering vaccines. This includes determining where vaccine sites will be located and who is eligible to receive a vaccine. You can find detailed information about where to find vaccines, how to make appointments, and who is eligible using the Florida Department of Health Website’s Vaccine Locator. 

In addition to the website, seniors ages 65 and older, and frontline healthcare workers, can call (866) 201-6313 to request an appointment. For those requiring TTY access, the phone number is (833) 476-1526

We would also like to address some of the questions you may have about how the vaccines will impact operations at Broward College.

• Am I required to get the vaccine? Broward College is not requiring our students or employees get the vaccine. That is a personal choice you should make in consultation with your health care provider. In addition, the availability of the vaccine is limited at this point.
• Will Broward College administer the vaccine? There are no plans for Broward College to administer the vaccines at this time.
• Do I have to pay for the vaccine? The vaccine itself is free, however, certain administrative fees are allowed to be charged by providers to recoup their operational cost in distributing the vaccine. Broward College employees have full coverage through their health insurance, which will cover any such fees. Students who have their own health insurance should check with their private health insurer. Uninsured individuals can find information about how to cover the cost at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
• If I do receive the vaccine, do I still need to follow the social distancing, facemask, and other safety guidelines established to reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus? Yes. The CDC advises it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, and staying at least 6 feet away from others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations for how to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19.