COVID-19 testing update; facility reopening

To the campus community:

The 15 recent positive COVID-19 cases have been linked to social activity at off-campus locations. All students registered as learning on campus, whether they live on campus or in the community, were tested this week, and additional testing for students in quarantine is ongoing. 

Our COVID-19 dashboard shows that 76 students are quarantined and 15 are in isolation. As we have seen few additional cases, the following campus facilities and activities will reopen this weekend:

• Dining services – Dining will return to indoor seating beginning with breakfast tomorrow. Students will have the option to eat in or take meals to go. When students are not dining, masks must be worn and six feet of physical distance maintained. Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations are available. 
• Library services – Normal hours for Skillman Library will resume tomorrow.
• Study areas – Keefe Commons and Soles basement study lounges will reopen tomorrow.
• Music practice rooms – Williams Center for the Arts will reopen practice rooms tomorrow (Monday through Friday 5-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday  11 a.m. – 3 p.m.).
• Athletics – Activity will resume as per the guidance of the sports medicine staff.
• Recreation center – The center and its programs will reopen on Sunday. Online registration will be available 7 a.m. on Saturday. Sports clubs activity will resume Monday.

Getting immediate control over last week’s outbreak shows that rapid and complete contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine for close contacts is essential to keep small outbreaks from becoming major events. We appreciate your cooperation with these processes.

Again, mask wearing, physical distancing, frequent hand washing, and limiting close contacts are important tools to help us avoid even small outbreaks. It is critical that you follow these protocols and expect others around you to do the same.

Thanks for doing your part to keep our community safe. 

Annette Diorio
Vice President for Campus Life