Here's what you need to know for the week of Dec. 14:
- During the week of Dec. 7, the college sent a notification about one off-campus student who had been working on campus and received a positive test result. All positive test result notifications are available here. All known CC cases, regardless of whether exposure occurred at CC, appear on the CC COVID-19 dashboard.
- Here’s how to get tested before leaving for Winter Break.
- As of today, El Paso County remains at Level Red: Severe Risk.
- This is the final edition of the COVID Weekly Report for 2020; the report will resume on Monday, Jan. 4. The college will send any significant updates via email if needed during Winter Break.
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Students: Get Tested Before Winter Break
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If you’re leaving campus for Winter Break, please plan in advance to get a COVID-19 test and receive your results before departure. Because turnaround time for test results can take up to 48 hours, you should plan to be tested two to three days before leaving in order to have results in time. Testing will take place at the Student Health Center (not the Hybl Community Center) this week:
Monday and Tuesday 8 a.m.-noon
Wednesday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m.
Please sign up in advance for a timeslot that works for you. View additional information about making a testing appointment this week. Note: Faculty and staff, please avoid making appointments early in the week so students can get tested before leaving campus. Remember: Students should also quarantine for 14 days after arriving at their destination.
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Staying on Campus During Winter Break?
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While much of campus will be closed from Friday, Dec. 18-Sunday, Jan. 3, there are resources available if you’re on campus over break. Regardless of your plans, take care of yourself, maintain healthy habits, and follow campus risk mitigation protocols and CDC Guidelines. Check here for adjusted hours, on-campus programming, and additional supports.
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Curious About the COVID Vaccine?
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El Paso County Public Health has compiled important information from local, state, and national health experts to help answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Check out the resources below to learn more about the vaccine, including its benefits, how the vaccine was developed and tested, how and when you can get a vaccine, and more:
El Paso County Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Information
CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information
FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Information
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Update on CC’s Wastewater Testing Program
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As you know, CC has been piloting a wastewater testing program throughout the fall as part of our broader COVID-19 prevention efforts. Wastewater testing helps to identify possible Coronavirus infections early in residence halls and other campus buildings. After testing revealed an elevated concentration of viral particles in wastewater from Mathias Hall last month, residents participated in additional COVID-19 testing, which identified positive test results in two individuals. Participation in the wastewater testing program and subsequent follow-up testing helped prevent a potential COVID-19 outbreak. Similar preventive measures were taken following wastewater testing at South Hall earlier this fall. Our students’ continued efforts are important for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The wastewater testing program and the participation by members of our campus community enable early detection and prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks on campus, limiting the exposure of students and employees to the virus and reducing the need for quarantines.
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Submit Stories for ‘How They Did That’ Podcast
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Sofia Infante ’22 recently started the “How They Did That” podcast through her work with the Office of Sustainability. The podcast highlights the inspiring actions, businesses, and sustainable ideas that CC students have come up with this year. Submissions might include: Fostering mental health during the pandemic by starting a new hobby or activity; bringing people together via a virtual platform; or helping community or family during the challenges of 2020. If you have created something new through a business (no matter how large or small), activism, community work, etc., please submit your story through the form located here.
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Last Chance to Enter Mask Design Contest
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Support CC’s COVID-resilient campus efforts and help provide students with more masks by entering the Mask Design Contest sponsored by Student Life, the Residential Experience, and CC Arts and Crafts. Submit your designs by Dec. 16 to mhayden@coloradocollege.edu. Winning designs will be produced on masks and shared with all CC students.
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Can You Help with Our Testing Program?
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We are looking for a consistent group of volunteers to help with CC’s COVID-19 random testing program. Volunteers are needed to sign up for three-hour shifts and help to greet and register those randomly selected for weekly COVID-19 testing at the Hybl Community Center. If you are interested and able to help, please contact Andy Obringer at aobringer@coloradocollege.edu for more information.
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Want to evaluate your risk? What is the probability of encountering at least one person with COVID-19 at a gathering of 10 people? What about 25 people? This tool shows the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location. You can reduce the risk of one case becoming many by wearing a mask, social distancing, and gathering outdoors in smaller groups.
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Plan Ahead for PPE Orders
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Faculty and staff: PPE distribution over Winter Break will be limited to emergencies only. If you need to replenish supplies for Winter Break operations, please submit the PPE Request Form no later than Wednesday, Dec. 16. If you need emergency supplies during Winter Break, please email Lucie Tennis: ltennis@coloradocollege.edu.
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Bluegrass Ensembles have been practicing outdoors this semester and posed for an outdoor photo earlier this block. Photo by Jennifer Coombes.
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The CC COVID-19 dashboard shows all known CC community cases, including our local off-campus students and employees. It provides quick access to COVID-19 metrics on campus and in the El Paso County community, including COVID-19 exposure, testing, and positive test results. For questions regarding this data, please contact Ben Moffitt in the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness. We send a notification when an individual who receives a positive COVID-19 test result has been on campus within their contagious timeframe and may have been in contact with others on campus.
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Resources for You
- Make sure to download the CC app, where you can access the required daily health check, along with campus maps, dining menus, and social media channels.
- Have you downloaded the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment statewide COVID-19 exposure notification system? CO Exposure Notifications complements existing statewide health safety protocols without compromising privacy. When users enable the service, their smartphones share anonymous tokens with other users through the phones’ Bluetooth technology. If another user tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period and chooses to upload their results, users at risk of infection will receive an alert of potential exposure. Learn more about CO Exposure Notifications and download the app at addyourphone.com.
- Employees: Check out this page of employee-specific resources and information. Remember, please submit requests to the PPE Request Form no later than Wednesday, Dec. 16.
- You can access all of CC’s COVID-19 graphics and posters.
- The New York Times is tracking Coronavirus cases at colleges and universities across the country: Currently, the tally from more than 1,700 schools is upwards of 321,000 cases.
- CC’s UCHealth Optum Triage Line
- International Student COVID-19 FAQs
- COVID-19 Emergency Fund
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- El Paso County Public Health Dashboard
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CC’s Coronavirus Updates & Resources page has the latest information and answers to frequently asked questions, as well as a listing of all campus messages. If you have additional concerns about COVID-19 or our campus response, direct them to: covid19@coloradocollege.edu; please leave your phone number if you prefer a personal call back. Remember, there are numerous resources on campus for support and assistance, including the Counseling Center, the Chaplain’s Office, Employee Assistance Plan, the Butler Center, the Advising Hub, and the Wellness Resource Center.
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