Important Update to Students Living On Campus
Dear Students Living on Campus,
As you are all well aware, the number of COVID-19 cases on campus has increased dramatically over the last three days. Because your health and well-being, as well as that of the community, are foremost in our minds, we have important information to share with you.
We now have over 100 active cases today and an additional 100 students in quarantine both on and off campus. Given this rapid and significantly increased risk of transmission within our community, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to return to arrival quarantine phase two, effective immediately and until further notice.
Just as you did upon arrival in January, please begin to do the following:
1) Remain in your room by yourself as much as possible during this period to reduce the risk of transmission. During this period, refrain from visiting one another in person in your rooms or gathering in hallways. Common spaces and kitchens will remain closed until further notice.
2) Continue to pick up your meals at 53 Commons. After doing so, please return to your room to eat by yourself with the door closed. Eating and drinking with others is not permissible, because it increases the likelihood of disease transmission.
3) You may go outside for walks or outdoor exercise, but please remain on campus wearing your face covering and observing physical distancing and other requirements. You may walk or go out with one other person, provided that you're both following face covering, physical distancing and other guidelines. Please avoid going into downtown Hanover and avoid local residents.
4) For anyone in assigned isolation and quarantine rooms, continue to follow all Health Service and college guidelines, and all college policies.
One final note of caution, please refrain from traveling if you are in assigned quarantine or isolation, if you have any temperature or symptoms of illness, if you have been contacted as part of the contact tracing process, or if you have any reason to think that you may have had contact with someone who is positive. If none of those conditions apply, we ask that you not travel unless you have been tested within 48 hours of your departure, and have received a negative test result within 24 hours of your departure.
We cannot stress enough the importance of these measures which are being taken for your safety, for the safety of College employees, and for everyone in our campus and local community. It is important to be mindful of the very real risk that someone, including you, could become seriously ill, should you fail to comply with College guidelines and behavioral standards.
We know this will be difficult and we ask that everyone pull together to get through this. And as always, please call the Health Service 24/7 at 646-9440 to consult confidentially if you have health or counseling needs. Thank you for your continued cooperation.
All my best,
Dean Lively