Important COVID-19 Update

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Dear Albion Community,

Today, we learned that one new member of our community has tested positive for COVID-19. This means there is currently one active case on campus. They remain in our thoughts as they focus on recovery. For more information on how, when and to whom the college reports this data, and the actions we take in all positive cases, please see our Positive Test Response Protocol.

At the same time, we are happy to share that we have received another negative wastewater test as of yesterday evening. I have been proud of the many ways that you have stepped up to take care of each other and our community. Brits are showing the way forward, Together Safely. Because of the high level of compliance with our public health guidelines, the Albion COVID-19 team is working on a new dashboard which will be shared later this week. This new dashboard will begin publicly sharing the rates of compliance with each specific public health guideline we have asked you to follow on campus. As rates of compliance continue to increase, the team will be able to consider reduced rates of testing and potentially more relaxed public health guidelines.

Albion College has now completed and received more than 5700 test results, and identified a total of ten positive cases from our first date of testing. To date, our overall positive testing rate is 0.17%, and our population positive rate is 0.50%. This is significantly lower than the national rate (5.1%) and the rate for the state of Michigan (3.61%).

With regard to the positive case, contact tracing efforts are currently underway in collaboration with the Calhoun County Health Department. All close contacts with the individual will remain in quarantine for the next 14 days.

Following our public health protocols significantly limits the spread of COVID-19. Your leadership, your care for one another, and your hard work to follow the public health guidelines is paying off.

All of us must live the commitment we made, the Albion Community Commitment, in order to be successful. I am confident Brits can do this — and I look forward to a productive, fun, healthy and safe fall semester.

 Office of the President

Note:
Testing percentage = % of total tests resulting in a positive.
Population percentage = % of population testing positive.