Important COVID-19 Update
Tuesday, September 22, 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 7500 test results, and identified a total of 11 positive cases from our first date of testing. To date, our overall positive testing rate is 0.14%, and our population positive rate is 0.55%. This is significantly lower than the national rate (4.8%) and the rate for the state of Michigan (3.39%).
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.
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.
Important COVID-19 Update
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Dear Albion Community,
Today, we learned that another member of our community has tested positive for COVID-19. This means there are now two active cases in isolation 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.
Separate from our monitoring of the Albion College population, we also learned today that there are two cases recently identified in the Marshall public high school indicating there is now evidence of local community spread. We continue to see cases rise significantly across Michigan campuses. Maintaining our safe zone bubble is now more important than ever.
Albion College has now completed and received more than 5500 test results, and identified a total of nine positive cases from our first date of testing. To date, our overall positive testing rate is 0.16%, and our population positive rate is 0.45%. This is significantly lower than the national rate (5.5%) and the rate for the state of Michigan (3.92%).
Contact tracing efforts are currently underway. 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. 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. Your leadership, your care for one another, and your hard work to follow the public health guidelines is paying off. It is truly impressive.
Still, I’m asking that we all continue to do our part — we will make it through this because of your leadership and commitment to one another. As a reminder:
- Wear your masks whenever outside your room. Your masks need to cover both your nose and mouth.
- Maintain at least six feet of physical distance between yourself and others. Note, every time you are within six feet of another person for more than 15 minutes, you are considered a close contact, and, should that person test positive for the virus, you will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
- Monitor your health and practice good personal hygiene, including regularly washing your hands.
- If you are feeling sick, stay in your room.
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.
Important COVID-19 Update
Saturday, September 5, 2020
Dear Albion Community,
Today, we were able to identify that one member of our community has tested positive for COVID-19 following our wastewater testing results earlier this week. They are in isolation and 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 test cases, please see our Positive Test Response Protocol.
Albion College has now completed and received more than 5000 test results, and identified a total of eight positive cases from our first date of testing. To date, our overall positive testing rate is 0.16%, and our population positive rate is 0.40%. This is significantly lower than the national rate (5.5%) and the rate for the state of Michigan (3.5%).
The Calhoun County Health Department is leading the contact tracing efforts which are currently underway. All close contacts with the individual will remain in quarantine for the next 14 days. During the contact tracing process over the next few days, the Calhoun County Health Department is requiring other members of the individual's fraternity to remain in quarantine until further guidance is provided. All residents of other fraternities have now been released from quarantine.
Following our public health protocols significantly limits the spread of COVID-19. We continue to see colleges and universities forced to move online every day because they were unable to control the spread of the virus on campus. Only YOU can keep Albion College and the City of Albion safe and protect our ability to offer in-person instruction.
We must remain vigilant and continue to take responsibility for ourselves, for each other, and for our community. As a reminder:
- Wear your masks whenever outside your room. Your masks need to cover both your nose and mouth.
- Maintain at least six feet of physical distance between yourself and others. Note, every time you are within six feet of another person for more than 15 minutes, you are considered a close contact, and, should that person test positive for the virus, you will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
- Monitor your health and practice good personal hygiene, including regularly washing your hands.
- If you are feeling sick, stay in your room.
We look forward to continuing to come together safely as a learning community in the weeks ahead. 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.
