fbpx

09-20-22: Campus Community Message

Covid-19 Community Message, Sept 20 2022

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

We write today with an update to campus and community health conditions and campus safety protocols.

On Monday, September 19, Wayne County’s COVID-19 Community Level moved to MEDIUM. Campus’ current daily positivity rate remains below our threshold at 1.5%. The weekly rolling average positivity rate for campus from 9/11-9/17 was 2.7%, under our 3 percent threshold.

As a result of the improvement in campus and community levels, the College will move immediately to a mask optional policy for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors, with the following exceptions:

  • Masks will be required in the Longbrake Student Wellness Center.
  • Masks will be required when using all College of Wooster transportation.
  • Masks absolutely must be worn by anyone who is COVID-19 positive or has symptoms of COVID-19, until the required isolation protocol has been completed. Masks should be worn until symptoms have passed, as we are also quickly approaching flu season.
  • Faculty and staff may continue to require masks in their classrooms and personal offices.

Masks must be worn over the nose. Click here to make sure you are wearing your mask properly.

We will continue to conduct surveillance testing of residence halls, teams, performing arts, and other groups based on evidence of potential clusters as defined by the Wayne County Health Department.

As a reminder, overnight guests are not allowed in any of the campus residential spaces.

These updated guidelines are subject to change as conditions on campus and in the local community change. We will continue to monitor rates of infection and hospitalization locally and at the state and national levels and will update our campus Community Health Dashboard weekly on Monday afternoons with the latest data. As we’ve done since the beginning of the pandemic, we will rely on masks and testing as levels fluctuate. We will adjust community guidelines as needed on our 2022-2023 Community Health Guide.

Updated Isolation Protocols

The College has updated its isolation protocols on the advice of the Wayne County Health Department, Cleveland Clinic health professionals, and other public health experts and in accordance with CDC recommendations.

  • Upon receiving a positive test, students should contact Longbrake Student Wellness Center either through their individual health portal or call 330-263-2319.
  • Upon the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and/or testing positive, students must wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask and self-isolate in their assigned campus housing immediately until contacted by a College official.
  • Positive students should notify their close contacts. Follow these steps if you believe you were exposed to COVID-19.
  • All positive students will be instructed to isolate in place.
  • While isolating, students must stay in their assigned rooms unless they are using the restrooms/showers, getting food to-go and promptly returning, or taking a walk or going outside. Students exiting their room are required to always wear a KN95 mask (provided by the College) and are not allowed to eat with others or be in a room other than their own.
  • During this period of strict masking, students must ensure a high-quality, well-fitted mask is worn when leaving their room or interacting with others; this means no dining with others and no other mask-free activities.
  • In all isolation cases, it is the positive student’s responsibility to connect with their faculty on arrangements for completing coursework while they are out.
  • Per our practice, we will continue to alert faculty usually by the next business day if students in their class will be out.
  • Students who test positive and are in isolation will continue to be assigned a support person through the duration of their isolation period.
  • If a roommate of a positive student is immunocompromised and needs temporary accommodations, they should contact communityhealth@wooster.edu.
  • Students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate, avoiding close contact with others for a period of five (5) full days. Students may resume normal activities as long as they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication and symptoms are improving, and they have been cleared by a nurse in Wellness. Students who resume normal activities on day 6 or later, must wear a KN95 or N95 mask for the balance of 11 full days around others, regardless of current mask requirement.
  • Students who are found in violation of the Isolation policy will be referred to the Campus Conduct Process.

Click here for more information on isolation protocols.

Mask and Test Pickup Locations

The College is providing high-quality, well-fitted masks, self-administered rapid COVID-19 tests, and “masks required” door hangs to anyone who needs them. Follow these steps if you believe you were exposed to COVID-19. Students, staff, and faculty who are experiencing symptoms or would like to monitor their health will be able to pick up masks or a self-administered rapid test at the following campus locations:

  • Lowry Center Information Desk
  • Andrews Library Circulation Desk
  • Wellness Center Door A and Door D
  • Ruth Williams Hall Stockroom

These items also may be requested in advance through communityhealth@wooster.edu and someone will be in touch with pickup instructions.

Upcoming Vaccine Clinics

Throughout October, we will host free vaccine clinics of the Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent Booster for students and employees. Please stay tuned for an opportunity to book your appointments in the coming week. Free flu shots will also be available through Longbrake Student Wellness Center.

Thank you for all you do to keep campus safe and healthy!

Community Health Taskforce

Posted in Community Message on September 20, 2022.