COVID-19 Policies and Safety Guidelines
Before registering for any on-campus workshops, please familiarize yourself with Pocosin Arts’ COVID-19 policies.
Pocosin Arts will endeavor to follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education. Pocosin Arts will stay current with CDC guidance and update our policies if we become aware of the need for modification.
I know we all appreciate the challenges and value in the reopening of in-person group programs. Our hope it that that we will all work together to make this succeed. Our goal is that everyone participating in any Pocosin Arts program remains healthy and safe. If a student has concerns with the policy or practices described below, please address them with staff before registering.
If you registered for a class and then tested positive for COVID-19 or experienced symptoms, please contact the registrar immediately at (252) 796-2787. If there is insufficient quarantine/isolation time between your last positive test and the workshop start date, we offer a credit for all fees, which can be used towards future online or on-campus workshops. Credit must be used by December 31, 2022.
COVID-19 Vaccination Status: Pocosin Arts requires that all students prove they are “up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations” before arriving at Pocosin Arts. As of April 2, 2022, the CDC defines persons as “up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations” if they have received all recommended doses in the primary series and one booster when eligible. This definition requires that everyone over the age of 18 have received one booster. All participants must email their COVID-19 vaccine card to registrar@pocosinarts.org before arrival on campus. Anyone who has not provided proof they are up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination will not be allowed to participate or remain on campus.
Screening for COVID-19: Pocosin Arts requires that all students test negative for COVID-19 not more than 96 hours before they arrive at Pocosin Arts. We will adopt an honor system and ask students to affirm that they tested negative within 96 hours of arrival. Students who will not affirm will not be allowed to participate or remain on campus.
Masking: Current CDC Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education recommends that persons who are “up to date” wear a mask indoors in public in areas of substantial or high community transmission. As of April 21, 2022, the CDC currently identifies Tyrrell County, North Carolina, as an area of low transmission. Masking for “up to date” participants is not required at this time. Whether masks will be required indoors in public spaces will depend on the CDC’s characterization of the transmission rate in Tyrrell County at the time of participation.
Physical/Social Distancing: The CDC recommends that people who are not up to date continue to practice physical distancing if they are at higher risk of getting very sick with COVID-19. Participants who are “up to date” will not be required to practice physical distancing on Pocosin Arts’ campus unless the CDC’s recommendations change. Consistent with the CDC recommendations, participants staying in a shared room are considered a “household” and do not need to use masks or physically distance themselves unless someone in the room is ill. If a student in a shared room is or becomes uncomfortable with the medical condition of their roommate, they should notify a staff member.
HEALTHY PRACTICES
Pre-Travel Screening: Students are encouraged to determine the need for further evaluation by using the CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker. PLEASE NOTE: Students must be able to affirm that they tested negative for COVID-19 before arrival, even if the Coronavirus Self-Checker suggests testing is unnecessary. If a student experiences symptoms of an infectious illness, including COVID-19, or believes they have been exposed to someone with an infectious illness, including COVID-19, they should consult their medical care provider to identify proper precautions. Pocosin Arts asks that any student with concerns or symptoms stay home until it is safe to travel.
On-Site Screening: Pocosin Arts encourages students to perform daily health screenings for infectious illnesses, including COVID-19. If a student feels that they have contracted COVID-19 or any other infectious illness, they should inform staff by phone (252-796-2787) and follow current CDC guidelines for testing, quarantine, and isolation. Pocosin currently has a supply of COVID-19 Antigen self-tests available on-site. Tests may also be purchased at a local pharmacy.
Hygiene: Pocosin Arts encourages all students to engage in health-promoting behaviors such as handwashing and respiratory etiquette to reduce the spread of infectious illnesses. Hand soap, disinfecting lotions, and disposable towels will be provided for student use.
Addressing Student Concerns: If a student informs Pocosin Arts they may have contracted COVID-19, Pocosin Arts will assist in obtaining medical evaluation and testing and relocate them to an isolation/quarantine space if available or help with their return home. Pocosin Arts may disallow students’ further participation in Pocosin Arts’ programs. If a student is disallowed from further participation, Pocosin Arts will help with their return home or relocation to a medical facility and provide a pro-rata refund of prepaid fees.”
All of us at Pocosin Arts believe that if we follow these practices, we can make the return to in-person creative experiences and make them a reality once again.