Fall 2022 COVID-19 Procedures
By Nate Hoffert, Contributing Writer
Health Services at Gettysburg College (Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)
Despite decreases in COVID-19 cases, the virus is still present in a small amount of the population on campus. Because of this reality, there are still isolation procedures in place for students who test positive for COVID-19.
Associate Dean of Co-Curricular Education Jim Duffy said, “As in previous years, we have consulted both a medical expert and the American College Health Association to prepare for this semester’s COVID planning.”
Duffy continued to explain what happens when a student contracts COVID-19.
“Once a student tests positive, they can either notify [Assistant Director of Residential Education] Andy Hileman or the Health Center,” he said. “In either case, Andy will communicate with the positive student to identify the first day of symptoms.”
He shared that the College requires students to isolate themselves for five days from the beginning of their symptoms.
Duffy said Hileman will be in communication with the positive student about protocols after the student tests positive.
Duffy states that while in isolation, “Students are permitted to isolate in place this fall even if they have a roommate. We are holding isolation spaces on campus if the positive student or their roommate would prefer that the positive student go to a separate location. Most students have isolated in place.”
Duffy continued his explanation by providing the college’s logistical plan for students who need meals while in isolation. Duffy noted, “Students…enrolled in a meal plan…obtain grab and go food from the Bullet Hole during their isolation period. There is a specific location for positive students to access their food and they may obtain more than one meal per trip to reduce the amount of time they are out of isolation.”
Duffy emphasized that students receive all the information that he discussed when they notify the College of their COVID-19 positive status.
When asked about his current experiences with the COVID-19 procedures so far in the semester, Duffy remarked, “Positive students have overall been great to work with this fall. They are providing the information we need and we are responding accordingly. In addition to gathering the first day of symptoms and sharing food and isolation logistics, we also let the student know when and where they should be masking and for how long.”
However, Michael Tropp ’25 had a different experience when he tested positive for COVID-19 at the beginning of the academic year.
Tropp said, “I called the Health Center when I tested positive, and I felt that they basically just told me to go home because I live within 200 miles. I was confused at first, mostly because I felt that they didn’t give me enough information. They said I’d get a call from ResEd but I never did; I felt that I was left in the dark.”
Replying to Tropp’s experiences, Duffy said, “Students are not required to go home to isolate themselves. Some students choose to isolate themselves at home, but they are not required to do so.”
“Our goal, as always, is the safety of our students and the greater campus community. The best way to achieve this goal is to follow best practices and the advice of experts within the medical field,” concluded Duffy.
