By Zoe Finholm//
Hood College has been placed in a lockdown from until Thursday, Sept. 10, pending the COVID-19 test results of 13 students.
Vice President for Marketing and Communications Laurie Ward said that there has been one new positive case on campus. The student has been moved to isolation. Through contact tracing, it was discovered that 13 others have been in contact with the student and are in quarantine until their test results come back.
The positive test result brings the campus total to five confirmed cases, adding to the four students who tested positive on Aug. 3 upon their arrival to campus.
President Andrea Chapdelaine said in an email Sunday night that several of the 13 quarantined students “are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.” Hood College has moved to a 72-hour shelter-in-place.
“The shelter-in-place will stay in effect until at least 7 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10,” Chapdelaine said. “We will communicate our next steps no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday.”
All classes have shifted to online instruction. Employees are working remotely, however faculty are permitted to use labs, offices or classrooms to deliver their courses. Commuter and graduate students should stay home.
Residential students should stay in their rooms as much as possible, Chapdelaine said.
“There will be no in-person dining in Coblentz, the tents, or in or outside Whitaker,” Chapdelaine said. All meals from Coblentz Dining Hall will be available to go and students should eat in their rooms. Food delivery from off-campus is also not allowed.
The fitness center, Whitaker Campus Center and The Blazer are closed until further notice.
Students that have jobs or other commitments off-campus should cancel. If this isn’t possible, students should inform their R.A. Students who must leave campus should expect to be tested for COVID-19 on Sept. 8.
Chapdelaine reiterates that “it is very important that students do not leave campus. National health officials have urged colleges to not shut down completely – thus spreading possible cases to other communities and households. Leaving Hood to go home for these shelter-in-place days would be highly irresponsible and could result in removal from campus housing for the remainder of the semester.”
Students should continue to social distance, wear masks, sanitize their hands and high-touch surfaces and monitor their symptoms using the Campus Clear app.
If students continue to adhere to the Heart, Mind and Hands pledge, Chapdelaine said she will be able to lift the shelter-in-place, but she said if students do not, she would “have no choice but to close campus.”
“I still believe we can be here together until Thanksgiving and I know that is what we all want, but I need each of you to stand with me, please,” Chapdelaine said.
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