On Feb. 4, the Washington College Contingency Planning Group released a campus-wide email in response to the growing number of positive COVID-19 cases on campus.
As of Feb. 3, a total of 32 positive cases were confirmed. Of that total, 16 individuals were isolating in Corsica Hall. Three other students were quarantined in Reid Hall, according to the email.
In response, the College updated their guidance regarding students isolating in their suites and dorm rooms “in response to concerns that have been voiced from some members of the campus community,” according to the email.
Effective immediately, if a student tests positive for COVID-19 and is not able to travel and isolate at home, or currently lives five hours or more away from campus, they must move themselves into the required designated housing.
“We understand that in many situations, roommates and suitemates are not comfortable with having a COVID-positive student — even when that student is vaccinated, boosted, and asymptomatic — remain in their suite or room,” the email said. “On a case-by-case basis, we will consider exceptions based on individual living situations, but again, the expectation for anyone who tests positive is that they will be required to relocate temporarily from their current housing situation on campus.”
According to the email, while the College will “consider exceptions based on individual living situations,” the CPG said that “expectation[s] for anyone who tests positive is that they will be required to relocate temporarily from their current housing situation on campus.”
As the spring semester continues, the College will continue stressing to the campus community that they should keep wearing masks and practicing social distancing. WC will also update the campus community of other changes throughout the remainder of the semester, according to the email.
“We continue to closely monitor our occupancy rate of our isolation and quarantine spaces and continue to utilize the options of having students quarantine or isolate at home or in their current residence to help manage that occupancy rate,” the email said.