In this communication:
- Positive Case Update (+10 Overnight and 91 Active Cases Total)
- More on Why are We Asking Students to Precautionary Self-Quarantine, including telling your mom/guardian that there are no visitors
- Instacart and Curbside Pick Up
- On Demand Testing
Potsdam Campus Community,
Positive Case Update: We shared last night that we had seven positive cases reported to us yesterday and we have had 10 more come in overnight to report today. All of these have been reported to DOH. With these cases, our University Care Team is supporting 91 active cases among our campus community and 257 in a DOH mandated quarantine both on and off campus. The positive cases are inclusive of individuals who have symptoms ranging from varying degrees of sore throats, runny noses, fatigue, loss of taste and smell, and breathing congestion to some who have tested positive with no symptoms. We have had no hospitalizations. We wish them all good health.
Precautionary Self-Quarantine: We recognize the magnitude of our expectation for the entire student body — both and off campus members — to self-quarantine for ten days based on the counsel of Public Health and medical professionals This expectation is inclusive of students who may have returned home to quarantine. Golden Knights, we need everyone to eliminate their community exposure based on positive cases in our greater community and among your peers who may not be exhibiting symptoms. We know we have to contend with the COVID-19 fatigue – it’s real and hard. We need your collective diligence and commitment to each other and we will resume in person classes.
- There are no visitors to campus — this was in place since last fall and reiterated for the start of the Spring Semester. This includes no parents on campus – even those with good intentions; and no individuals who are not part of the campus community and our testing routine. We have had COVID-19 exposures through these channels.
- To clarify from yesterday’s information – we do not want students to enter community businesses as the objective is stop all exposure, but contactless pick up of items ordered online is allowed. These services are available at the local Walmart, Instacart at Price Chopper and other local vendors as shown on their e-commerce sites.
- Medical appointments are also okay to make. Students with symptoms identified on the daily screening tool should reach out to SHAC@clarkson.edu or 315-268-6633. Outside of business hours or for asymptomatic individuals, as well as anyone in St. Lawrence County who wants to be tested for COVID-19, may schedule a test through St. Lawrence County Public Health or with St. Lawrence Health System, which manages Canton-Potsdam Hospital less than 1 mile from campus and has a unit specifically established for this purpose. There is no charge for testing in NYS if you go through one of these sites which are set up for this usage. If students do not have a car to get to Canton Potsdam Hospital for testing, any student with a driver’s license may access a University fleet vehicle through Campus Safety & Security. Please make your appointment first to get a time from the hospital’s testing site. Then contact Campus Safety at 315-268-6666 to reserve a vehicle to drive directly to /from the appointment only. They will provide further instructions for how to return the car. We will be cleaning/disinfecting the vehicles in between reservations.
- If you have questions or concerns, we have multiple staff responding to StudentAffairs@Clarkson.Edu and will use these to prioritize what goes in these communications.
Thank you for reading this all the way to the end. Hang in there and keep being Golden Knights that look out for each other.
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. –Thomas Edison (1874-1931)
Kelly Chezum ‘04
VP for External Relations
Restart/Rebuild Communications Lead
