Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs

The College initiated the Healthy Building Program, which includes the following four steps:

1. Environmental Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Building Health Checks
2. Identify and Remediate IAQ Deficiencies
3. Provide Supplemental In-Room HEPA Filtration
4. Provide IAQ Guard Web-Based Building Monitoring

Additionally, all face-to-face classrooms are equipped with cleaning stations including disinfectant wipes (or spray bottles with paper towels), hand sanitizer and extra masks.  All classrooms are cleaned and disinfected each evening. The Custodial Team has increased the number of Day Porters to disinfect hi-touch points in restrooms and common areas a minimum of three times per day. 

Palm Beach State College STRONGLY ENCOURAGES all students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated. The College will continue to work with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County and others to bring vaccination mobile sites onto our campuses.

PBSC has partnered with Nomi Health Inc. to provide testing on all five campuses for students, faculty, staff, and adjuncts. Both the antigen (rapid) and PCR tests are offered. Testing is available five days per week at the following locations:

COVID Testing Sites/Hours

Belle Glade

• Technical Education Center  (Room TEC126 Wellness/Fitness Center)
• Monday – Thursday: 9AM – 6PM
• Friday: 9AM – 1PM

Boca Raton

• BocaTech Building  (Room BT146 Wellness Center)
• Monday – Friday: 9AM – 6PM

Lake Worth

• Public Safety Training Center  (Room PSW105 Wellness Center)
• Monday – Friday: 9AM – 6PM

Loxahatchee Groves

• Lecture Hall   (Room 140)
• Monday – Friday: 9AM – 6PM

Palm Beach Gardens

• BioScience Technology Complex  (Room SC118 Wellness Center)
• Monday – Friday: 9AM – 6PM

• Stay home: Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas. Contact your doctor or medical professional.
• Use the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s symptom checker.  

 
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Note: This list does not include all possible symptoms.

Follow the PBSC protocol for those persons testing positive.

• If you are an employee, contact your immediate supervisor per the PBSC response protocol.
• If you are a student, contact the Dean of Student Services on your respective campus per the PBSC response protocol.

• The PBSC response protocol will be activated.
• Classrooms and/or affected areas will be immediately closed until disinfected
• Disinfection procedures will be conducted via the Facilities Department
• The infected employee will be advised to follow CDC guidelines for those persons testing positive for COVID-19
• The Security and Health and Safety Department will investigate and document in a report.
• Initial contact tracing procedures will begin and those who have had close contact with the infected person will be notified and advised to quarantine pursuant to CDC guidelines. 

PBSC will require that you follow CDC guidelines for quarantine for unvaccinated persons:

• Self-quarantine for 14 days after last exposure to the infected person
• This period may be shortened to 10 days if you show no symptoms of COVID-19 disease.
• The quarantine period may be shortened to 7 days if you are tested (not earlier than five days after exposure) and receive a negative test result.

You do not have to quarantine if you are:

• Someone who has had COVID-19 disease within the previous 3 (three) months and
• Has recovered and remains without COVID-19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath)

The Healthy Building Program (outlined previously) includes enhanced building filtration, increased outside air, and increased mechanical system run times. In-Room HEPA Filtration (AeraMax) Units are being installed in high density spaces such as classrooms, student learning centers, testing centers, student engagement areas and open office areas. 

24/7 Live Support via Chat and Phone

• Access via the 'Help' button inside Canvas
• Call:  877-376-9392

Canvas Login/Password Assistance via Student IT Service Desk

• Website
• Email: ServiceDesk@palmbeachstate.edu
• Voicemail: 561-868-4000

Canvas Administrator (Anne Guiler)

LMS Operation & Online Course Availability:

• Email: CanvasAdmin@palmbeachstate.edu
• Voicemail: 352-978-888

Student Support/Assistance:  

• Website
• Email: elearningsuccess@palmbeachstate.edu
• Voicemail: 561-868-3303

Faculty Support/Assistance:

• Website
• Email: elearning@palmbeachstate.edu
• Voicemail: 561-868-3762

If a student tests positive, they are required to contact the Dean of Student Services on their respective campus as listed below:

Workplace accommodations are intended to assist employees in performing the tasks associated with their job. While there is not a prescribed list of workplace accommodations, some that may be considered are:

• Installation of plexiglass/protective transparent barriers between the employee and other individuals.
• Temporary relocation of office to a remote and more isolated area on campus.
• If available relocation of classroom to larger space to conduct classes.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), face shields, podium shields. 

• PBSC will provide two weeks of paid leave for employees who have tested positive for Covid-19 and cannot work from home. To be eligible, you must be fully vaccinated as outlined in the CDC guidelines.
• The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for PBSC faculty, staff, and family members has COVID-19 resources. More information about the EAP is available on the Human Resources webpage.

There are several online resources for tracking the number of reported cases of COVID-19 globally, in the United States, the state of Florida, and Palm Beach County. Palm Beach State College provides a weekly update of the positive cases campus by campus which is available on the Intranet and in the weekly Intranet Digest.

Nomi Health Inc., a healthcare provider with whom PBSC has partnered with to provide free COVID 19 testing will produce a dashboard report weekly on the number of tests and positive cases for each college campus.