Main content
Professional Staff Council

COVID-19: Contact Tracing, Risk Factors, and The Flu

We’ve asked resident expert Adrienne Belluscio, RN, BC, Administrative Director of Health Services, some of our most pressing questions about COVID-19 and how it impacts all us of this this Fall/Winter season.

How is one able to dispel rumors and fake information about COVID and find the most legitimate information?

CDC and NYSDOH websites are excellent resources for all COVID-19 information.


How does contact tracing work and how does it occur at Purchase College?

Contact tracing is done by the NYS DOH contact tracing program. An investigator will contact the person in quarantine initially and then arrange for the daily contact through text/call. The NYSDOH issues a release form when quarantine is over for the person. At Purchase, we have internal contact tracers to get on the case quickly and advise students/staff regarding the need to quarantine/isolate. The follow-up will then be picked up by the NYSDOH


What constitutes being at risk?

Everyone is at risk.

Certain people are more at risk of getting COVID-19. These include:

  • People in communities where ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported;
  • Travelers returning from any communities where ongoing community spread is occurring;
  • Healthcare workers, including first responders, and those working within nursing homes and caring for patients with COVID-19; and
  • Close contacts of persons with COVID-19


How severe is COVID-19?

Symptoms range from none, to mild (like a common cold), to even severe symptoms that require hospitalization and can result in death. So far, deaths have been reported mainly in older adults and those with other serious medical conditions (most commonly diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and chronic lung conditions), but deaths have also been reported among younger adults with no known serious medical conditions.


Who is at highest risk for getting very sick from COVID-19?

According to limited research, older adults, people who have chronic medical conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease), and people who are immunosuppressed, are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19. Research also shows that there are racial and ethnic disparities in both COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths.

Mitigation strategies should be employed by all (social distancing, masking, handwashing and disinfecting, avoiding large gatherings) to help stop the spread of the virus.


How can we tell the difference between the Flu and COVID?

The symptoms may be very similar (fever, cough, headache, body aches, fatigue, weakness, congestion). If experiencing these symptoms, one should stay at home and monitor the course of the illness, seeking medical attention when appropriate.

Although flu vaccination is not 100% effective, it is still our best preventive measure to protect against influenza.

An annual flu vaccine is recommended for almost everyone 6 months and older. It is one of the best ways to reduce flu illnesses, hospitalizations and death from flu. This fall and winter, the flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 may both be spreading. For that reason, getting a flu shot will be more important than ever to help people stay healthy and to ease the burden on our health care system. Getting a flu shot now is more important than ever because doctors don’t know what the risk is of having both flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) collects, compiles, and analyzes information on flu activity year-round in New York State (NYS), and produces a weekly report during the flu season (October through the following May). Weekly reports are posted on our website at: Flu Activity, Surveillance, and Reports.