COVID Testing and Monitoring

Our goal is to ensure that all community members—students, faculty, and staff—are tested prior to returning to campus. Prompt identification and isolation of positive individuals and their contacts is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the Pratt community, and constant monitoring of symptoms using a variety of validated scientific methods is important. Additionally, those who become symptomatic on campus will be assisted in obtaining an appropriate evaluation and diagnostic testing. Pratt has partnered with local health care providers in both Brooklyn and Manhattan to assist community members who need assistance in obtaining a COVID-19 diagnostic test.

How to get a test

• Students, faculty and staff in need of diagnostic COVID-19 testing in NYC may visit a free testing site. Free testing is also available in New Jersey and other states. 

  • Please note: Pratt does not accept rapid COVID-19 tests, antibody tests, or self-administered PCR tests that are done without a medical provider supervising.

  • A diagnostic test is used to determine if an individual is currently infected, whereas the antibody test is used to detect antibodies to COVID-19 from prior infection. So please be sure to request a diagnostic test. Terminology can get confusing. If you are unsure, please consult with the provider before getting the test.

• Students, faculty and staff may also contact MedRite to schedule an appointment. MedRite has locations near our Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses. Important: When visiting a MedRite please show your Pratt ID and insurance card so that the results will be processed by Aegis Laboratories.

• You may also visit your personal healthcare provider for a test.

  Please note: A diagnostic test is used to determine if an individual is currently infected, whereas the antibody test is used to detect antibodies to COVID-19 from prior infection. So please be sure to request a diagnostic test.

When to get a test

• Diagnostic COVID-19 testing must have been completed within 7 days prior to your return date to campus to ensure results are accurate and timely. 

  • This return date will be unique to each student, faculty or staff member’s needs. You should work backwards from the day you intend to be on campus to ensure you schedule your COVID-19 testing date appropriately.

  • Please be aware that your first time on campus cannot be more than seven days after the day you were tested for COVID.

• The date of your test (not the results) must be no earlier than seven days prior to the first day you will be on campus. 

How to submit your results

• Your submitted results must meet the following criteria: Results should clearly indicate the testing date, the type of test taken, your name, and the result.

  • Please note: This is not an automated process. A staff member reviews and approves each submission. It can take up to 48 hours to process.

• Students, faculty, and staff should submit test results using the online COVID-19 Test Results form. Student results are processed by Health Services. Staff and faculty results are processed by Human Resources.

• Students who test positive for COVID-19 should contact Pratt Health Services. Faculty and staff who test positive should contact Human Resources, via telephone or email. Necessary guidance for safely returning to campus and determining the potential need for contact tracing will be provided.

• Please note that this process may change. Check this page for updates before submitting your results.

As all data is considered privileged healthcare data, all precautions have been taken to ensure HIPAA compliance.

The CDC has determined that in some individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, there may be continuously low levels of detectable virus in subsequent tests for up to ninety days. Current guidance does not advise repeated testing unless determined by a medical provider. Therefore many testing sites may no longer provide a COVID-19 test to anyone who has tested positive for a minimum of ninety (90) days after receiving a positive test result. Affected individuals are expected to follow recommendations from health officials regarding their symptom management and isolation periods. Individuals with severe symptoms may need to isolate for an extended period of time. It is recommended that those individuals discuss their return to work/school with their healthcare provider.

For resident students participating in weekly pool testing with a positive test result: after completing a period of isolation, on campus, for 10 days, as well as being symptom-free* for 72 hrs, the student will return to their assigned room at Willoughby Residence Hall. The student is then removed from participating in the weekly pool testing for a period of no less than 90 days from the date testing positive. Daily health screening will reconvene after isolation is completed.

For employees participating in weekly pool testing with a positive test result: after completing a period of Isolation for 10 days, as well as being symptom-free* for 72 hrs, the employee returns to work and is then removed from participating in pool testing for a period of no less than 90 days from the date testing positive. Daily health screening will reconvene after isolation is completed.

For non-resident students, faculty or staff who otherwise test positive for COVID-19 must provide a dated proof of a positive COVID-19 test to Pratt Health Services for students or Pratt HR for staff or faculty. After completing a period of isolation for 10 days, as well as being symptom-free* for 72 hrs, the student, staff or faculty returns to work. Daily health screening will reconvene upon return to campus.

*Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.  Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay this exemption.

Community members at Pratt will be asked to screen themselves daily before coming to campus. As part of the social contract, all students, faculty, and staff will be required to abide by the following protocol: 

• Do not come to campus if you are ill. 

• Before returning to campus, students, faculty, and staff must complete the electronic health screening questionnaire daily, using the PrattSafe app. Be sure to follow the guidance provided.

How to complete the Pratt Safe questionnaire:

• On the PrattSafe app, select “Returning to Campus During COVID” in the banner at the top of the home screen.

  • 

• Select the appropriate COVID-19 self-assessments for either faculty and staff or for students.

• In the self-assessment, you will be asked to provide your name, telephone number, email address, and consent. There will then be a series of questions that require a  “Yes” or “No” response.

• After completing these questions, review and confirm your responses and submit the questionnaire.

• Based upon your responses, you will receive a self-assessment status badge, within the app:

  • ​ 

    Digital Self-Assessment Badge

• You will either be approved to come to campus or advised that you are not authorized to come to campus and must follow up with a healthcare provider.  

• Student responses will be sent directly to Pratt Health Services, and faculty and staff responses will be sent to Human Resources. As all data is considered privileged healthcare data, all precautions have been taken to ensure HIPAA compliance.

• The PrattSafe daily health screening questionnaire can be completed as early as 4 hours prior to arrival on campus.

• Students, faculty, and staff must be free of ANY symptoms potentially related to COVID-19 or have had evaluation and clearance by their personal healthcare provider, Pratt Health Services for students, and Human Resources for faculty and staff to be eligible to report to class or work.

• Symptom screening questions reflect current CDC guidelines and are updated accordingly.

• Report to class or work only if you are without symptoms and the PrattSafe app indicates you are approved to come to campus.

• Remember to follow all social contract requirements both on and off campus.

In the event you are symptomatic, believe you have been exposed to covid or otherwise ill, please do not come to campus, but rather take the following actions:

• Stay home. Students should contact Pratt Health Services and notify their instructors

• Faculty and staff should notify their immediate supervisor, along with Human Resources.

• Faculty and staff should contact their local health provider or urgent care. 

• Students should contact Pratt Health Service during office hours. After hours and on weekends, students should seek care with a local urgent care or healthcare provider. Students will be required to follow up with Pratt Health Services during regular office hours.  

• Continue to wear a cloth facial covering, wash hands frequently, cover your coughs and sneezes, and self-isolate safely to avoid possible virus transmission to others.

• Students should keep Pratt Health Services informed as to their situation and prognosis.

• Students should discuss any absence with their instructors in accordance with our attendance policy

• Employees should keep their supervisor and Human Resources informed of their situation.

• Return to class or work only after you have been medically cleared to do so.

Temperature screenings will take place for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors upon entering campus. Temperature screenings have been embedded into Pratt’s health and wellness check protocol, which has been implemented to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Community members and visitors may experience a line or queue at the main entrance of either campus, where signage indicates a required temperature screening using an infrared thermometer. Medical assistants, along with Pratt Public Safety members, will be available at the temperature screening stations. Visit the campus access page to find the entry locations with temperature screening stations.

Individuals screened with a temperature at or above 100.4º F will not be admitted onto campus. Students with a temperature at or above 100.4º will be referred to Pratt Health Services. Faculty and staff will be referred to their primary healthcare provider. Pratt’s temperature screening protocol will help identify and prevent potential illness from COVID-19, keeping students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe from contracting the virus.  

Please note temperature screening data is not stored or maintained by Pratt Institute. Once the screening process has been completed, it is automatically deleted and not retained in any system or database to ensure HIPAA compliance.