Potsdam Campus Students,
Last night we notified the Potsdam Campus Community that we had eight positive cases of COVID-19 from the routine end-of-semester testing. (See message below.)
With the exception of the students who have been moved to isolation/quarantine quarters, if you have a final exam scheduled for today, please proceed as planned. Your instructor will be in touch with you if there is a change in format or venue.
Exercise diligence and caution in all health and safety protocols, including wearing a mask, practicing good hygiene, and keeping more than six-feet apart. We are returning to Stage 1 with no campus activities or social/group gatherings.
We will keep the campus posted with further updates.
James Pittman
Dean of Students
deanofstudents@clarkson.edu
Kelly Chezum, VP for External Relations
Restart Communications Lead
kchezum@clarkson.edu
November 18 2020
TO: All Potsdam Employees and Students
Subject: COVID-ACT: Cease all group activities. Positive Cases Coming in Tonight from Testing – update in the morning
Potsdam Campus Community,
We are still getting results from our large-scale end of semester testing plan and have 8 positive cases to report with a few more results coming in from the Broad Labs who are processing the tests.
We are moving confirmed positive students to isolation rooms and contact tracing has already begun as noted below. We will be updating the campus more in the early morning when we have more details.
We recognize this news at the end of the semester is frustrating and unsettling. Please take added precautions while this work takes place. Please cease all non-class group gatherings and limit contact to only your family unit. Exercise diligence and caution in all health and safety protocols, including wearing a mask, practicing good hygiene, and keeping more than six-feet apart.
Please check your email in the morning for updates from your faculty and options for exams that may be changing their format.
If you have any questions about this communication, please contact clarksonhr@clarkson.edu and/or me. We care about all of you and complete transparency in our communications. Please stick to the game plan, maintain your diligence and keep looking out for your community.
Kelly Chezum, VP for External Relations
Restart Communications Lead
kchezum@clarkson.edu
For the positive test result that came back today, our Health Center and other administrators are actively working with St. Lawrence County Public Health representatives.
- To respect the privacy of the individual, they will remain anonymous. We send them our well wishes.
- They will remain quarantined by the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department until officials have cleared them.
- As part of the NYS protocols in any positive test case, a representative of the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department will notify directly any community members, students, faculty, and staff who may have been exposed and will give further guidance. These contacts will remain confidential.
- Public Health may ask the University for information to support their review and your assistance, if asked to help, is appreciated.
- All members of the community should remain diligent towards the safety protocols put in place to stop the spread: wear your mask, practice good hygiene, abide by social distancing and take other preventative measures. Wearing a mask is the #1 way we can stop the spread. The health and well-being of our community is Clarkson’s top priority.
*These are the daily screening questions to keep using and to act up on if you answer yes to any of these:
- Do you currently have a fever (temperature of 100.4 F or greater) without having taken any fever-reducing medications?
- Have you experienced any of the following COVID-19 related symptoms in the past 14 days: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days, or have you been instructed by a health care professional/public health official/contact tracing app to self-isolate or quarantine?
- Have you knowingly been in close (within 6 feet) or proximate (same enclosed environment, such as an office, but greater than 6 feet) contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days?
