Here’s what you need to know for the week of May 9:
- Students: Continue screening testing through Block 8
- Mental health resources
- Test before attending large gatherings
- Use the CC COVID-19 dashboard to inform your masking choices
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Students: Screening Testing Continues
Thank you for continuing to participate in screening testing. Fully vaccinated students continue to test once a week throughout Block 8. Students who are not fully vaccinated continue testing twice weekly. As always, if you have symptoms, even if they are mild, please get tested (see below).
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Mental Health Resources
A variety of mental health services are available to students, staff, and faculty. Students may access confidential support through the Counseling Center by emailing counselingcenter@coloradocollege.edu or calling (719) 389-6093. Crisis and support services are available to students after hours and on the weekends from the Counseling Center. Call (719) 389-6093 and press 2; Campus Safety, (719) 389-6707, can check in on students who may be in need of support. Please also see the Wellness Resource Center’s website for additional resources. Staff and faculty may contact the Employee Assistance Program by calling 800-272-7255. The Chaplain’s Office is also available for confidential support at (719) 389-7986 and chaplainsoffice@coloradocollege.edu.
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Test Before Attending Parties and Other Gatherings in Block 8
CDC recommends testing prior to attending indoor gatherings. Test immediately before the gathering, or as close to the time of the event as possible. COVID-19 is airborne and tends to spread rapidly during indoor gatherings in poorly ventilated spaces, including private homes. Students may pick up a test kit at the distribution sites to test prior to attending parties. The more attendees test, the lower the likelihood of transmission at the event. In addition to testing, masking and improved ventilation, e.g., by opening or cracking windows and doors, or using HEPA filters or Corsi-Rosenthal air cleaners help to reduce spread.
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Feeling Sick? Get Tested
Testing is important to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Because new variants are spreading extremely quickly, it’s critical to get tested for COVID if you’re experiencing even mild symptoms. Students, if you’re feeling sick, stay home and contact the Student Health Center at (719) 389-6384 to make an appointment. Employees should contact their healthcare provider and their supervisor.
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Stay Healthy During Graduation Season
This time of year is associated with celebrating and honoring all of the hard work put in throughout the academic year — especially for graduating seniors. El Paso County Public Health recommends taking precautions in the two weeks leading up to graduation weekend to prevent getting sick and missing out on year-end celebrations. El Paso County Public Health advises: Avoid large gatherings indoors. Get tested if you’re not feeling well. Wear a mask in public settings. You can check the COVID community levels wherever you are to make decisions about interactions. People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
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FAQ: I’ve had COVID. Can I get reinfected?
Yes. New Omicron strains called “sublineages” are quite good at evading our immune responses. As population immunity from previous waves wanes, public health experts think that we will see more re-infections. To protect yourself from reinfection, CDC recommends staying up to date with vaccination, wearing a well-fitting mask, and making sure that indoor spaces are well ventilated.
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Check the Updated CC COVID Data Dashboard
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Masks remain an important tool for mitigation, and we encourage you to wear a mask indoors when case numbers are high and you are more likely to encounter the virus. Check the CC dashboard to find out about local conditions and county COVID community levels to inform your masking choices. It provides quick access to COVID-19 metrics on campus, including daily and weekly COVID-19 testing numbers and positive test results. Please note that we were informed by the county health department that the data on their website regarding the number of new infections is not reliable because most infections are now detected through at-home testing, which is not included in the data. For questions regarding this dashboard, please contact Ben Moffitt in the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
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To easily access all things COVID, details of our COVID-19 response are broken down into categories here: Health; Mitigation and Campus Protocols; Testing and Quarantine; and When Off Campus. You will also find 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. 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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14 E. Cache La Poudre St. | Colorado Springs, CO 80903 US
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