COVID: Important Notice to the NVU Community, 1 February 2021
A Message from President Elaine C. Collins
Dear NVU Students, Faculty, and Staff,
I am writing to inform you that we received our first positive COVID-19 test result of the semester as part of our Day 0 testing of students. The case involves a residential student on the Lyndon campus. The student is in isolation. Our own internal contact tracing is well underway and we are working with the Vermont Department of Health.
At this time, I want to reassure you that this is one positive case out of 979 conducted since January 7. We know as we move through the semester that we will likely have more cases. We prepared for this and we have protocols in place. All students who interact with our campuses will have their Day 7 test on February 5 or 6.
Students, if you need to be on campus for classes, work, athletics, tutoring, meals, campus mail, or any other reason, then you must participate in the testing program. You may not engage with the physical campuses in any way without first receiving a negative test result and filling out the daily symptom check form every day.
I ask you again, to:
- Re-commit to the NVU Health Pledge. It is required by the state of Vermont. Please review and complete the pledge if you haven’t done so.
- Wear your masks. They, too, are required at NVU.
- Submit your daily symptom check. NorthernVermont.edu/Screening.
- If you are living, teaching, working, or learning on campus, please test every week during the semester. View the schedule here at COVID-19 Spring Testing Schedule (scroll to the bottom).
- Students, no cross-household visitation of any kind is allowed. Follow the NVU and state guidelines.
- Visit NorthernVermont.edu/ReturnToCampus to stay up-to-date on notices and health and safety information.
Once the Vermont Department of Health employees begin their work, they will be in touch with anyone who needs to be notified. If you are called by their contact tracing team, please answer the call—this is to protect your health and to contain spread of the virus. You can find Vermont COVID-19 information at healthvermont.gov/covid19.
Please join me in keeping our NVU student’s health in mind.
Thank you. #MASKUPNVU
Elaine