COVID-19 Tests for Faculty and Staff

Screening testing can help to detect COVID-19 infections early so that people can benefit from treatments such as antivirals and monoclonal antibodies. 


Screening testing also interrupts chains of infection and prevent further spread, helping us to keep the number of cases manageable during the Omicron wave. We invite and encourage all faculty and staff members to participate in twice weekly screening testing during the Omicron wave. To this end, please enroll in the State of Colorado’s free COVID-19 rapid at-home testing program. You are also encouraged to visit one of the many free and convenient community testing sites located throughout El Paso County. Test kits may also be purchased at local pharmacies.

Employees may obtain up to two tests (one BinaxNow test kit containing two tests or two FlowFlex tests) from the Worner Desk each week during the Omicron wave. To help us keep track of inventory, please fill out this test kit request form

Please keep in mind that CC cannot provide additional test kits for friends and family. All positive test results must be self-reported via Qualtrics. Test kits will be available while supplies last.  

Please don’t use the PPE form on the website for requesting/ordering masks or tests. 

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Mask Distribution for Staff and Faculty

Because COVID-19 is airborne and the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, we have updated the campus masking policy



High quality masks act as filters and remove aerosols from the air that we breathe. As was shared prior to Winter Break, 
KN95 masks or similar must be worn at all times in public indoor spaces.  If you have your own KN95 masks (or similar high-filtration masks, such as N95, KF94, or FFP2), you may wear them. 

Due to a delivery delay, KN95 masks will be distributed to faculty and staff on Wednesday, Jan. 5.  A distribution plan by department/division is being finalized and details will be communicated soon. 

Each employee will be issued three KN95 masks/week.  Any additional masks will be distributed to employees as needed.  If you wish, you may purchase your own masks via local and online suppliers. 

Review this detailed information about using and reusing N95/KN95 masks.  

Please do NOT use the online PPE form to order/request masks or tests.  

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Welcome Back Students!

Welcome to 2022 and the start of our Spring Semester!

Please check out this brief video message as we start this new year together. I look forward to sharing in the many CC memories you’ll make throughout 2022! 
Rochelle T. Dickey
Dean of Students/Vice President for Student Life

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Let’s Do This Together

Dear CC Community,


As we start 2022, I’m sharing this brief video message asking for your help so we can remain in-person this academic year. Thank you for supporting one another and our CC community.

L. Song Richardson

President

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Post-Winter Break Reminders

Dear Students,


Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed your Winter Break.

As we shared over the weekend, we have updated our COVID-19 protocols for the duration of the Omicron wave. We have worked hard to prepare the campus for you to have an in-person J-Block. Now we need your help.

If you have symptoms   

  • If you aren’t feeling well, please do NOT go to class this morning. Stay home and away from others.
  • Schedule a COVID-19 test at the Student Health Center if you are feeling ill or experiencing COVID or flu-like symptoms.
  • Call the Student Health Center  8 a.m.-6 p.m. for same-day symptomatic testing. No appointment with a provider is required.
  • If you receive a positive test result, the COVID-19 Coordinator, (719) 413-9588, will contact you.
 COVID-19 Screening Testing  
  • All students must take a COVID-19 test before J-Block, Half Block, or Block 5, based on their   
  • All students, regardless of vaccination status, must test twice weekly via eMed through Block 5. This also includes those who have previously received positive COVID-19 test results.
  • All students will receive test kits, three KN95 masks, and an isolation kit. The isolation kit includes one N95 mask (to be used only during isolation), and isolation instructions to keep with your isolation bag. We will follow up with details on isolation protocols, based on recommendations from El Paso County Public Health, as soon as they become available.
  • Residents of Loomis, Mathias, and South halls may pick up their test kits, masks, and isolation kit at their residence hall front desks.
  • All other studentsmay pick up their test kits, masks, and isolation kit at the Worner Desk or Tutt Library. 
  • Please bring and swipe your Gold Card to pick up your test kits, masks, and isolation kit.  
COVID-19 Booster
  • As of Jan. 3, a COVID-19 booster dose is required for all students who are eligible.
    • If you’ve received your booster, load your vaccination documentation to this portal today by following these portal instructions.
    • If not yet eligible, you don’t have to do anything at this time. You MUST receive your booster as soon as you’re eligible and upload your documentation then.
    • We will share information about an on-campus booster clinic soon.
Please take a moment to review the COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols that all CC community members are expected to follow. If you have questions, please contact covid19@coloradocollege.edu.

We look forward to seeing you on campus!

Sincerely, 


Andrea Bruder
Chief Public Health Advisor to the President

Mateo Muñoz
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee

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Detailed Post-Winter Break Guidance

Please read this email in its entirety.
  • Booster shots are required; upload your documentation by Jan. 3
  • KN95 or similar filtration masks must always be worn in indoor public spaces
  • Twice weekly testing is encouraged for all staff and faculty
  • Limit indoor social interactions
  • No food or drink in classes, meetings, or at events
  • Public events will continue, with no food/drink, and KN95 masks required
Dear Staff and Faculty,
As we prepare to welcome you back to campus, we also are prepared for the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which is affecting communities across the world.
Our priority is to continue in-person, on-campus living, teaching, learning, and working at CC, because we know that’s so important to our students’ learning and well-being. Thanks to you and those serving on our COVID policy and implementation team, we’ve been successful doing that this year, even as county transmission rates remained at an all-time high. We’ve always known there will be challenging times with the pandemic, and this is one of them. With your help, we expect we can preserve in-person experiences and activities through the academic year.
Omicron is likely to be prevalent during January and February. Fortunately, reports show that most people who are fully vaccinated and boosted will not experience severe illness or hospitalization. That’s good news for our highly vaccinated CC campus community.
Please refer to the comprehensive email sent to students, families, staff, and faculty on Tuesday, Dec. 28, for many of the details of our plan. Key points and new additions:
Booster Shots
Booster shots are required for all fully vaccinated faculty, staff, and students who are eligible. There are no exemptions for booster shots. We urge all unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Masks
KN95 masks, which will be provided by CC, must be worn at all times in public spaces indoors. If you have your own KN95 masks (or similar high-filtration masks, such as N95, KF94, or FFP2), you may wear them.
  • Staff and faculty may pick up masks at the Worner Desk next week. Availability information will be posted to the Today at CC digest.
Testing
Twice weekly testing is strongly encouraged for all faculty and staff during the Omicron wave. Faculty and staff should register for the CDPHE at-home testing program and order test kits periodically.
  • Additional BinaxNow or FlowFlex at-home test kits (two tests per week per employee) will be available to faculty and staff from the Worner Desk. We will share information on a Qualtrics form for tracking test inventory early next week.
  • We will share quarantine and isolation guidance for employees, based on recommendations from El Paso County Public Health, early next week.
Reduce your risk
  • COVID-19 is an airborne virus. We can get sick if we inhale air that contains viral particles. Mitigate accordingly, including at home when non-household members are present, by: indoor masking (use masks that act as a filter such as KN95 masks or similar); increasing ventilation of indoor spaces by opening windows and doors; and filtration using portable filters. The key idea is to avoid sharing unfiltered indoor air with non-household members. You can also create your own filtration with these DIY plans.
  • We encourage all members of the campus community to limit indoor social interactions during the Omicron wave. Case numbers in El Paso County are now growing exponentially, and the positivity rate is 20%.
Food at Campus Events/Meetings
  • No food or drink is allowed indoors in classes, meetings, and at campus events. All dining will be takeout only through J Block and Half Block (Jan. 21), when we will revisit this policy. It is OK to take sips of water, but there should be no prolonged unmasking.
Public Events and Visitors
Public events may continue, and visitors are allowed on campus with these stipulations:
  • No food or drink is allowed at events. Concessions will be suspended at Ed Robson Arena and the Fine Arts Center until further notice.
  • KN95 masks or similar must always be worn in indoor public spaces including at events.
Take Action Now
We shared guidance with all students and families today, too. You can view the student-specific information here.
Words cannot express our gratitude to the many members of our campus community who have been working during Winter Break to develop policy and procedures, implement plans, and prepare the campus for being in-person in the coming weeks. Please help us honor their work by participating in public health practices in the coming weeks. Thank you for your partnership as we navigate this phase of the pandemic.
Sincerely,
Andrea Bruder
Chief Public Health Advisor to the President

Mateo Muñoz
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee

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Detailed Post-Winter Break Guidance (students)

Please read this email in its entirety.
  • Booster shots are required; upload your documentation by Jan. 3
  • KN95 or similar filtration masks must always be worn in indoor public spaces
  • Twice weekly testing is required on Mondays and Thursdays; use eMed
  • Limit indoor social interactions
  • No food or drink in classes, meetings, or at events
Dear Students,
As we prepare to welcome you back to campus, we also are prepared for the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which is affecting communities across the world.
Our priority is to continue in-person, on-campus living, teaching, learning, and working at CC, because we know that’s so important to our students’ learning and well-being. Thanks to you and those serving on our COVID policy and implementation team, we’ve been successful doing that this year, even as county transmission rates remained at an all-time high. We’ve always known there will be challenging times with the pandemic, and this is one of them. With your help, we expect we can preserve in-person experiences and activities through the academic year.
Omicron is likely to be prevalent during January and February. Fortunately, reports show that most people who are fully vaccinated and boosted will not experience severe illness or hospitalization. That’s good news for our highly vaccinated CC campus community.
Please refer to the comprehensive email sent to students, families, staff, and faculty on Tuesday, Dec. 28, for many of the details of our plan. Key points and new additions:
Booster Shots
  • Booster shots are required for all fully vaccinated faculty, staff, and students who are eligible. There are no exemptions for booster shots. We urge all unvaccinated students to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
  • Booster documentation should be uploaded into the portal by Monday, Jan. 3.
    • Follow the instructions on Immunization and Health Documentation. If you don’t upload your documentation, and you are eligible for a booster, your Gold Card access will be restricted.
Masks
  • KN95 masks, which will be provided to students by CC, must be worn at all times in indoor public spaces. If you have your own KN95 masks (or similar high-filtration masks, such as N95, KF94, or FFP2), you may wear them. You also will be issued an “isolation kit,” which contains isolation instructions and an N95 mask.
Get Your Tests, Masks, and Isolation Kit
All students will receive test kits, three KN95 masks, and an isolation kit. The isolation kit includes one N95 mask (to be used only during isolation), and isolation instructions to keep with your isolation bag. Isolation guidance, based on recommendations from El Paso County Public Health, will be provided early next week.
  • Residents of Loomis, Mathias, and South halls may pick up their test kits, masks, and isolation kit at their residence hall front desks starting Jan. 2.
  • All other students may pick up their test kits, masks, and isolation kit at the Worner Desk starting Jan. 2, or Tutt Library starting Jan. 3.
    Worner Desk hours:

    • Jan 2: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    • Jan 3: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Twice weekly screening testing via eMed is required for all students, vaccinated and unvaccinated, with and without prior infections. Students will obtain their tests starting Sunday, Jan. 2. Students must participate in testing to maintain Gold Card access.
    • Students, if you haven’t already done so, create a Navica account and connect your account to CC, using the connect code in the email you received from noreply@navica.abbott. Do not skip this step, or we will not be able to receive your test results and follow up with you in case of a positive result.
  • Testing Protocol
    • Self-administer your first test on Jan. 2 with eMed (or Jan. 3 if arriving after 4 p.m. on Jan. 2) and take the second test with eMed on Thursday, Jan. 6.
    • Instructions for testing have been sent to you via email; you may pick up written instructions with your test kits.
    • Be sure to test with eMed, as eMed will automatically report your results, and key card access to campus buildings will be based on participation.
Limit Indoor Social Gatherings
  • Students should have no unmasked interactions indoors with non-household members; no parties; and should pick a small “pod” of up to five friends to spend time with during coming weeks. Choose outdoor activities, as they are much lower risk. These temporary changes are necessary for us to continue having in-person experiences and activities through the academic year.

    COVID-19 is an airborne virus. We can get sick if we inhale air that contains viral particles. Mitigate accordingly, including at home when non-household members are present, by: Indoor masking (use masks that act as a filter such as KN95 masks or similar); increasing ventilation of indoor spaces by opening windows and doors; and filtration using portable filters. The key idea is to avoid sharing unfiltered indoor air with non-household members. You can also create your own filtration with these DIY plans.

Food at Campus Events/Meetings
  • No food or drink is allowed indoors in classes, meetings, and at campus events. All dining will be takeout only through J Block and Half Block (Jan. 21), when we will revisit this policy. It is OK to take sips of water, but there should be no prolonged unmasking.
Public Events and Visitors
  • Public events may continue, and visitors are allowed on campus with these stipulations:
    • No food or drink are allowed at events. Concessions will be suspended at Ed Robson Arena and the Fine Arts Center until further notice.
    • KN95 masks or similar must always be worn in indoor public spaces including at events.
Words cannot express our gratitude to the many members of our campus community who have been working during Winter Break to develop policy and procedures, implement plans, and prepare the campus for being in-person in the coming weeks. Please help us honor their work by participating in public health practices in the coming weeks. Thank you for your partnership as we navigate this phase of the pandemic.
Sincerely,
Andrea Bruder
Chief Public Health Advisor to the President

Mateo Muñoz
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee

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2021 at CC: A Year in Photos

To the entire CC community, near and far, Happy New Year!

The year 2021 was an extraordinary one that gave us moments of joy and hope, strength and resilience. There were still challenges, but in-person learning, campus events, and a full student experience finally returned. In this selection of images from the past 12 months, we revisit what made this a remarkable year for our community.

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Preparing for J-Block, Half Block, & Block 5

Read the following email in its entirety before deciding to return for J-Block, Half Block, or Block 5. 

 
  • Upload your required booster documentation.
  • Testing is required twice weekly for all students.
  • Pick up your test kits and masks.
  • KN95 masks, provided by the college, are required in all indoor public spaces.
  • All on-campus dining will be take-out through J-Block and Half Block.
  • Pack a bag in case you need to isolate.
 
Dear Students,

When we wrote to you prior to the fall semester, we anticipated that there would be setbacks this year due to COVID, and the emergence of the Omicron variant is one. Student leaders have conveyed that your preference is to be in person on campus in the coming weeks, and we heard you. We welcome you back in person, and now we need your help to make J-Block and Half Block happen in person. We are writing to help you understand what to expect during the Omicron-variant wave that we anticipate will peak in January/February.

If you are planning to return to campus for J-Block, Half Block, or Block 5, you are more likely to contract COVID-19 than you were in the fall, even if you recently recovered from infection. If you decide to return to campus for any of these blocks, there are risks during the anticipated surge. You may drop J-Block, Half Block, and/or Block 5. If you have questions about your account, see the tuition policy, or contact studentaccounts@coloradocollege.edu. If you decide not to return for J-Block, Half Block, and/or Block 5 and need help rearranging your schedule, please contact your Advising Hub advisor.

If you receive financial aid and dropping these blocks means you will be enrolled in fewer than three blocks from Block J through Block 8, contact Financial Aid, 
financialaid@coloradocollege.edu, to ensure you know how your aid will be adjusted. 

International students, if you are studying at CC on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you can drop J-Block without impacting your immigration status. However, you need to receive approval from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) before dropping Block 5. Please contact the ISSS team at isss@coloradocollege.edu to inquire about dropping your class for Block 5 as there could be implications for your immigration status.

Student athletes, for students participating in NCAA practice and competition, as well as athletic event management, the college will continue to monitor and adhere to NCAA and conference protocols with risk mitigation being a top priority.

Because Omicron is far more contagious, it may be impossible to immediately identify and contain it. We are taking the following steps to slow the spread of the Omicron variant at CC to be able to support students in isolation and maintain in-person instruction and campus life.

Booster shots are required
Because booster doses offer protection from severe illness and death, a booster dose is required of all students who are eligible. Students should obtain the booster as soon as possible, because it takes two weeks to build peak immunity. We hope to offer another booster clinic on campus; details will be shared soon. Upload your documentation by Jan. 3. See immunization and health documentation instructions. Students with recent positive test results are eligible for booster doses upon completion of their isolation period.

Masks – KN95 or similar
Because Omicron is highly contagious, all students and employees are required to wear a well-fitting high filtration mask, KN95 or similar (e.g., N95, KF94, FFP2; no valves) during J-Block, Half Block, and Block 5. The college will provide KN95 masks. Students may obtain up to three masks per week: Mathias, Loomis, and South Hall residents should get them from their front desks; other students should get theirs from Worner Desk and Tutt Library. A distribution plan for employees is being planned. If you have your own KN95, KF94, N95, or FFP2 masks, you can continue to wear your own. Please beware of counterfeit masks. The FDA gave Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to certain KN95 masks in 2020, and while the EUA has expired, the CDC maintains a list of masks that have undergone filtration testing. Choose KN95 masks from this list with a minimum filtration efficiency of 95%, and KF94 masks with at least 94%.

Masks work best when they fit snugly against your face on all sides and air goes through the mask and does not leak around the edges of it. When worn properly, these types of masks act as an air filter and protect from exposure to aerosols contaminated with the virus. It is OK to re-use masks a few times, so long as they still fit snugly. Keep masks in a clean, dry place in between uses.

If you are unsure whether your mask is equivalent to the KN95 standard, please contact us at covid19@coloradocollege.edu.

Test kits and masks to be picked up on arrival
  • If you haven’t already done so, you must create a Navica account and connect your account to CC, using the connect code in the email you received from noreply@navica.abbott. Do not skip this step, or we will not be able to receive your test results and follow up with you in case of a positive result.
  • Pick up two test kits and your masks. Starting Jan. 2, Loomis, Mathias, and South Hall residents should obtain their supplies at their front desks. Other students should go to the Worner Desk (see hours below); and starting Jan. 3, Tutt Library.
  • Take one test immediately with eMed and self-administer the second test on Thursday.
  • Pick up three KN95 masks.
  • Pick up one N95 mask (to be used only during isolation), and isolation instructions to keep with your isolation bag, please see below.
  • Worner Desk hours:
    • Dec. 28-30: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    • Jan. 2: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (test kit distribution for students participating in J-Block)
    • Jan. 3: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Pack an isolation bag
If you don’t live in a single and can’t isolate in place, keep a bag packed with everything you will need, including:
  • Clothing (isolation housing does not have laundry service)
  • Materials for remote learning
  • Any prescription medications you take
  • Non-prescription cold-fighting medications and pain killers/fever reducers
  • Personal care items such as tissues, cough drops, contact lens fluid, favorite snacks
  • Your N95 mask and isolation instructions.

Screening testing twice weekly
During the Omicron wave (J-Block, Half Block, and likely Block 5) all students, vaccinated or unvaccinated and with or without prior COVID-19 infections, are required to participate in screening testing with eMed twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays. We will send out email reminders about screening testing on Sundays and Wednesdays. You will receive your test results from eMed through the Navica app and via email.

Because Omicron spreads very rapidly, we need to make sure that everyone participates in twice weekly testing. Students who miss testing on Monday will be notified via email on Tuesday, and their key card access will be turned off. Students who miss testing on Thursday will be notified via email on Friday, and their key card access will be turned off.

All test results (negative, positive, invalid) count toward the testing requirement. Students with invalid test results are encouraged to re-test but we understand when this is not feasible.

It is not yet known whether people can be re-infected after infection with Omicron and how soon. Students in isolation are exempt from testing and must resume testing 30 days after their positive test result. We will revisit this question when more data is available.

Antigen tests do not detect prior infections. If an antigen test is positive in the weeks following recovery, then it is very likely a re-infection.

If you get tested off-campus or with an at-home test not administered through eMed you must report any positive test results to CC. Please contact the COVID-19 coordinator, (719) 413-9558, to report a positive test result from the past 10 days. If more than 10 days have passed since your positive test result, please use this form.

Symptomatic testing at the Student Health Center
Students with symptoms should not go to class, should stay away from others, and should call the Student Health Center to schedule a COVID test. No appointment with a provider is required. Symptomatic students who get tested at the Student Health Center will be notified of their test result over the phone if it is positive, and otherwise via the FollowMyHealth app, which you can download.

Isolation protocol
Isolation lasts 10 days. We are aware that CDC has updated isolation protocols and are waiting to hear back from El Paso County Public Health regarding guidance for institutions of higher education.

Students in isolation may only leave their room with an N95 mask on, to:

  • Pick up meals, once per day. Tentative location is Coburn Gallery next to Rastall Café in Worner Campus Center.
  • Use the bathroom (there is a designated bathroom in each residence hall)
  • Go outside alone (no contact with others)
Students in isolation may only remove their mask while using the bathroom to shower, wash their face, or brush teeth.

After a positive test result
Put on your mask and return to your room. The COVID-19 coordinator will call you. If not, call (719) 413-7588.

Students who live in a single room on campus will isolate in place.

Students who live on campus and have a roommate will be offered isolation housing. If the remaining roommate(s) also receive(s) a positive test result – highly likely because the Omicron variant is highly contagious – the student will move back to their room and roommates will complete isolation together. This will help us preserve isolation beds for others. Tests can detect Omicron infections about 3-4 days after exposure. Please be aware that if negative-testing roommates of a student with a positive result move in with a friend, they may pass the virus on to them.

Students whose families live within driving distance may be asked to complete isolation at home.

Students who live off-campus will isolate in place when feasible, depending on their housing situation.

Take-out meals will be available for students to pick up. Tentative location is Coburn Gallery, next to Rastall Café in the Worner Center. Students in isolation must wear their N95 (not KN95) mask when picking up meals. Meals will only be delivered to students who are too ill to pick up meals themselves.

Contact tracing will be aided by an electronic intake form. The contact tracing team will send students with positive test results a link to the form. Students are expected to fill in the form with as detailed information as possible. Students should contact their professor to discuss need for adjustments and support.

Student requirements to reduce risk
Please limit your social interactions during the Omicron wave in J-Block, Half Block, and Block 5. 
Because Omicron spreads much more easily and rapidly than previous variants, it is important that we all limit our social interactions. This means, on AND off campus: no unmasked interactions indoors with non-household members; no parties; pick a small number of friends, e.g., up to five, as your Omicron pod to hang out with during the coming weeks. By doing so, you are helping us to keep the number of infections manageable so that students in isolation can be adequately supported.

Dining

Rastall, Benji’s, etc. will offer take-out only for the duration of J-Block and Half Block, to be re-evaluated prior to Block 5 and adjusted as the Omicron situation allows.

While this is not how any of us expected J-Block, Half Block, and Block 5 would be, our COVID Policy Implementation Committee and COVID response team have been busy planning so we can continue in-person classes while also managing the challenges of the Omicron variant. We are prepared, and we are encouraged by initial reports that those who are fully vaccinated and boosted experience milder symptoms and are much less likely to become seriously ill.

We expect these protocols will be temporary during a likely surge. By working together to slow transmission and detect infections early through screening testing, we can keep the number of infections manageable and provide limited resources to those who need them most. Thanks for your continued partnership in caring for our community.


Sincerely,
Andrea Bruder
Chief Public Health Advisor to the President

Mateo Muñoz
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee
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Preparing for J-Block, Half Block, & Block 5

We are sharing this information today with all students and families, so they may make decisions about J-Block, Half Block, and Block 5. We want you to be informed of the plans we have in place to manage a likely surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 during January/February, while still offering in-person classes. We will provide additional information for faculty and staff as needed in January. Supervisors may determine whether employees in their areas may work remotely. If you have questions, contact covid19@coloradocollege.edu“>covid19@coloradocollege.edu.

Read the following email in its entirety before deciding to return for J-Block, Half Block, or Block 5. 


  • Upload your required booster documentation.
  • Testing is required twice weekly for all students.
  • Pick up your test kits and masks.
  • KN95 masks, provided by the college, are required in all indoor public spaces.
  • All on-campus dining will be take-out through J-Block and Half Block.
  • Pack a bag in case you need to isolate.

Dear Students,

When we wrote to you prior to the fall semester, we anticipated that there would be setbacks this year due to COVID, and the emergence of the Omicron variant is one. Student leaders have conveyed that your preference is to be in person on campus in the coming weeks, and we heard you. We welcome you back in person, and now we need your help to make J-Block and Half Block happen in person. We are writing to help you understand what to expect during the Omicron-variant wave that we anticipate will peak in January/February.

If you are planning to return to campus for J-Block, Half Block, or Block 5, you are more likely to contract COVID-19 than you were in the fall, even if you recently recovered from infection. If you decide to return to campus for any of these blocks, there are risks during the anticipated surge. You may drop J-Block, Half Block, and/or Block 5. If you have questions about your account, see the tuition policy, or contact studentaccounts@coloradocollege.edu. If you decide not to return for J-Block, Half Block, and/or Block 5 and need help rearranging your schedule, please contact your Advising Hub advisor. 

If you receive financial aid and dropping these blocks means you will be enrolled in fewer than three blocks from Block J through Block 8, contact Financial Aid, financialaid@coloradocollege.edu” style=”font-weight: normal;font-weight: normal;color: #7a6646;text-decoration: underline;color: #7a6646;text-decoration: underline”>financialaid@coloradocollege.edu, to ensure you know how your aid will be adjusted.

International students, if you are studying at CC on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you can drop J-Block without impacting your immigration status. However, you need to receive approval from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) before dropping Block 5. Please contact the ISSS team at isss@coloradocollege.edu to inquire about dropping your class for Block 5 as there could be implications for your immigration status.

Student athletes, for students participating in NCAA practice and competition, as well as athletic event management, the college will continue to monitor and adhere to NCAA and conference protocols with risk mitigation being a top priority.

Because Omicron is far more contagious, it may be impossible to immediately identify and contain it. We are taking the following steps to slow the spread of the Omicron variant at CC to be able to support students in isolation and maintain in-person instruction and campus life.

Booster shots are required
Because booster doses offer protection from severe illness and death, a booster dose is required of all students who are eligible. Students should obtain the booster as soon as possible, because it takes two weeks to build peak immunity. We hope to offer another booster clinic on campus; details will be shared soon. Upload your documentation by Jan. 3. See immunization and health documentation instructions. Students with recent positive test results are eligible for booster doses upon completion of their isolation period.

Masks – KN95 or similar
Because Omicron is highly contagious, all students and employees are required to wear a well-fitting high filtration mask, KN95 or similar (e.g., N95, KF94, FFP2; no valves) during J-Block, Half Block, and Block 5. The college will provide KN95 masks. Students may obtain up to three masks per week: Mathias, Loomis, and South Hall residents should get them from their front desks; other students should get theirs from Worner Desk and Tutt Library. A distribution plan for employees is being planned. If you have your own KN95, KF94, N95, or FFP2 masks, you can continue to wear your own. Please beware of counterfeit masks. The FDA gave Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to certain KN95 masks in 2020, and while the EUA has expired, the CDC maintains a list of masks that have undergone filtration testing. Choose KN95 masks from this list with a minimum filtration efficiency of 95%, and KF94 masks with at least 94%.

Masks work best when they fit snugly against your face on all sides and air goes through the mask and does not leak around the edges of it. When worn properly, these types of masks act as an air filter and protect from exposure to aerosols contaminated with the virus. It is OK to re-use masks a few times, so long as they still fit snugly. Keep masks in a clean, dry place in between uses.

If you are unsure whether your mask is equivalent to the KN95 standard, please contact us at covid19@coloradocollege.edu.

Test kits and masks to be picked up on arrival
  • If you haven’t already done so, you must create a Navica account and connect your account to CC, using the connect code in the email you received from noreply@navica.abbott. Do not skip this step, or we will not be able to receive your test results and follow up with you in case of a positive result.
  • Pick up two test kits and your masks. Starting Jan. 2, Loomis, Mathias, and South Hall residents should obtain their supplies at their front desks. Other students should go to the Worner Desk (see hours below); and starting Jan. 3, Tutt Library.
  • Take one test immediately with eMed and self-administer the second test on Thursday.
  • Pick up three KN95 masks.
  • Pick up one N95 mask (to be used only during isolation), and isolation instructions to keep with your isolation bag, please see below.
  • Worner Desk hours:
    • Dec. 28-30: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    • Jan. 2: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (test kit distribution for students participating in J-Block)
    • Jan. 3: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Pack an isolation bag
If you don’t live in a single and can’t isolate in place, keep a bag packed with everything you will need, including:
  • Clothing (isolation housing does not have laundry service)
  • Materials for remote learning
  • Any prescription medications you take
  • Non-prescription cold-fighting medications and pain killers/fever reducers
  • Personal care items such as tissues, cough drops, contact lens fluid, favorite snacks
  • Your N95 mask and isolation instructions.

Screening testing twice weekly
During the Omicron wave (J-Block, Half Block, and likely Block 5) all students, vaccinated or unvaccinated and with or without prior COVID-19 infections, are required to participate in screening testing with eMed twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays. We will send out email reminders about screening testing on Sundays and Wednesdays. You will receive your test results from eMed through the Navica app and via email.

Because Omicron spreads very rapidly, we need to make sure that everyone participates in twice weekly testing. Students who miss testing on Monday will be notified via email on Tuesday, and their key card access will be turned off. Students who miss testing on Thursday will be notified via email on Friday, and their key card access will be turned off.

All test results (negative, positive, invalid) count toward the testing requirement. Students with invalid test results are encouraged to re-test but we understand when this is not feasible.

It is not yet known whether people can be re-infected after infection with Omicron and how soon. Students in isolation are exempt from testing and must resume testing 30 days after their positive test result. We will revisit this question when more data is available.

Antigen tests do not detect prior infections. If an antigen test is positive in the weeks following recovery, then it is very likely a re-infection.

If you get tested off-campus or with an at-home test not administered through eMed you must report any positive test results to CC. Please contact the COVID-19 coordinator, (719) 413-7588, to report a positive test result from the past 10 days. If more than 10 days have passed since your positive test result, please use this form.

Symptomatic testing at the Student Health Center
Students with symptoms should not go to class, should stay away from others, and should call the Student Health Center to schedule a COVID test. No appointment with a provider is required. Symptomatic students who get tested at the Student Health Center will be notified of their test result over the phone if it is positive, and otherwise via the FollowMyHealth app, which you can download.

Isolation protocol
Isolation lasts 10 days. We are aware that CDC has updated isolation protocols and are waiting to hear back from El Paso County Public Health regarding guidance for institutions of higher education.

Students in isolation may only leave their room with an N95 mask on, to:

  • Pick up meals, once per day. Tentative location is Coburn Gallery next to Rastall Café in Worner Campus Center.
  • Use the bathroom (there is a designated bathroom in each residence hall)
  • Go outside alone (no contact with others)
Students in isolation may only remove their mask while using the bathroom to shower, wash their face, or brush teeth.

After a positive test result
Put on your mask and return to your room. The COVID-19 coordinator will call you. If not, call (719) 413-7588.

Students who live in a single room on campus will isolate in place.

Students who live on campus and have a roommate will be offered isolation housing. If the remaining roommate(s) also receive(s) a positive test result – highly likely because the Omicron variant is highly contagious – the student will move back to their room and roommates will complete isolation together. This will help us preserve isolation beds for others. Tests can detect Omicron infections about 3-4 days after exposure. Please be aware that if negative-testing roommates of a student with a positive result move in with a friend, they may pass the virus on to them.

Students whose families live within driving distance may be asked to complete isolation at home.

Students who live off-campus will isolate in place when feasible, depending on their housing situation.

Take-out meals will be available for students to pick up. Tentative location is Coburn Gallery, next to Rastall Café in the Worner Center. Students in isolation must wear their N95 (not KN95) mask when picking up meals. Meals will only be delivered to students who are too ill to pick up meals themselves.

Contact tracing will be aided by an electronic intake form. The contact tracing team will send students with positive test results a link to the form. Students are expected to fill in the form with as detailed information as possible. Students should contact their professor to discuss need for adjustments and support.

Student requirements to reduce risk
Please limit your social interactions during the Omicron wave in J-Block, Half Block, and Block 5. 
Because Omicron spreads much more easily and rapidly than previous variants, it is important that we all limit our social interactions. This means, on AND off campus: no unmasked interactions indoors with non-household members; no parties; pick a small number of friends, e.g., up to five, as your Omicron pod to hang out with during the coming weeks. By doing so, you are helping us to keep the number of infections manageable so that students in isolation can be adequately supported.

Dining

Rastall, Benji’s, etc. will offer take-out only for the duration of J-Block and Half Block, to be re-evaluated prior to Block 5 and adjusted as the Omicron situation allows.

While this is not how any of us expected J-Block, Half Block, and Block 5 would be, our COVID Policy Implementation Committee and COVID response team have been busy planning so we can continue in-person classes while also managing the challenges of the Omicron variant. We are prepared, and we are encouraged by initial reports that those who are fully vaccinated and boosted experience milder symptoms and are much less likely to become seriously ill.

We expect these protocols will be temporary during a likely surge. By working together to slow transmission and detect infections early through screening testing, we can keep the number of infections manageable and provide limited resources to those who need them most. Thanks for your continued partnership in caring for our community.


Sincerely,
Andrea Bruder
Chief Public Health Advisor to the President 

Mateo Muñoz
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee

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