“To lose patience is to lose the battle.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Golden Knights,
We were notified today that 13 members of our campus community have tested positive for COVID-19.
First, we want to acknowledge everyone who is supporting the University’s quarantine and precautionary quarantine measures, everyone who is wearing a mask in all settings beyond their family unit, everyone who is coming to Cheel for random testing and everyone seeking COVID-19 testing when they exhibit symptoms. And especially, we want to acknowledge everyone who is learning, showing and living patience while caring for one another. We want good health for every Golden Knight.
Thank you also for coming together to move to remote learning while the contact tracing is implemented to stop the spread and so we can assess the next steps. Under Clarkson’s own color-coded alert system outlined on http://www.clarkson.edu/spring-2021, the University red-level alert moves social activities online and limits gatherings/class activities. Clarkson is below the NYS mandates for higher education and is taking these proactive measures now to stop the spread of COVID-19 in order to ensure we can maintain in person activities through May. How we each respond to these measures and the protocols to stop the spread will determine how long this will need to take.
Golden Knights, we are currently in “Red Alert” Level 1. Per the guidelines for all alert levels, visitors are not allowed on campus, including previously approved visitors. That includes parents (yep, they can bring COVID-19 to campus, too) and friends, including those from other campuses (please wait for the vaccine to universally gain ground before doing this!). An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists where people outside our family unit are present. In November, St. Lawrence County Public Health said that residents should assume if they are out anywhere around other people a COVID-19 exposure is likely.
Of the recent positive cases, we know some are inclusive of people already in quarantine from previous exposure. Through contact tracing with Public Health representatives and wastewater surveillance, we are now in the mode of limiting further positive cases. We will likely have a few more days of positive case loads like today based on those in quarantine with exposures to positive cases and reported engagements with them that occurred outside of class and structured activities.
We are taking all precautions to reduce more quarantines and exposures. And we very much want to help people who are in quarantine/isolation. We are welcoming people who want to come forward to engage online with people in quarantine and send them care packages. Please respond to community@clarkson.edu if you want to support these activities.
PLEASE Everyone: Wear a mask at all times when around others and in public; Practice good hand washing hygiene; and Follow appropriate social distancing measures. If you are not feeling well or need to act on the daily screening tool, seek medical attention via the Student Health Center, shac@clarkson.edu, 315-268-6633 or your own medical provider.
If you have any questions about this communication, please contact clarksonhr@clarkson.edu and/or me.
Kelly Chezum, VP for External Relations
Restart /Rebuild Communications Lead
kchezum@clarkson.edu