By Sophie Lange, Assistant News Editor
On Wednesday, Dean of Students Jeff Foster sent a campus-wide email regarding the resurgence of COVID-19 cases. The email explained that approximately forty cases of positive COVID-19 test results from students have been reported over the weekend and throughout the week.
“As we have experienced in prior years, this early rise in cases is to be expected given the many members of our community traveling to campus as we start the new academic year,” Foster said.
The email gave the following guidance for those who think they could have COVID-19:
- Students with symptoms who would like to be tested or seen by the Health Center should call to schedule an appointment. The Health Center can be reached at (717) 337-4105.
- If a student tests positive using a kit other than those administered by the Health Center, they should call Residence Education at (717) 337-6901 during the week or Campus Safety at (717) 337-6911 during evenings or on weekends.
- Students who test positive are instructed to:
- Remain in their residential space, and do not attend classes.
- Email faculty to inform them of their inability to be in class, working with them to establish how coursework will be completed until their return.
- Wear a mask when necessary to leave their residential space for any reason.
- Resume normal activity on the sixth day after the onset of symptoms or testing positive.
- Continue wearing a mask for ten days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test and.
- Call the Health Center or Wellspan if symptoms worsen or continue for ten or more days.
Faculty were advised to consider how they can accommodate students who are required to isolate and cannot attend classes or office hours and to ensure students are aware of how they can contact their instructors and continue with courses in the event they are required to be in isolation.
Faculty were also told remote instruction is an option when they or a significant percentage of students need to remain isolated due to COVID-19. Faculty should provide students with the necessary links for remote learning as well as expectations for these virtual meetings as soon as possible. When a faculty member is well enough to return according to the guidelines, remote instruction should cease, and normal, in-person learning should continue.
“We will continue to monitor the status of COVID on campus and will send additional information in the event our COVID management protocol requires any adjustments or changes,” Foster said.
