Campus Communication: COVID-19 campus update

 

Dear BW students and families,

 

We've been together on campus now for nearly 11 weeks, thank you for everything you are doing to help keep our community safe and healthy. With only a few weeks to go until Thanksgiving break it is important that we continue to follow COVID-19 protocols and return home healthy.

 

Over the last week, BW has experienced an uptick in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 among members of the BW community. As of today, Friday, November 6, there are an additional 20 new active cases among our students, faculty and staff. The majority of those individuals will be isolating off campus. BW's COVID-19 dashboard, which is updated each Monday, will provide information on active cases on campus.

 

BW continues to diligently test for COVID-19 cases. The role that we each play to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 is of great importance. BW is well equipped to respond to COVID-19 and is focused on the well-being of each student:

• The Health Center staff is testing every student who qualifies as a close contact in addition to all students who present symptoms and regular surveillance testing.
• The Residence Life staff is moving all positive cases and their close contacts into campus isolation or quarantine spaces and arranging for meals.
• The Dining Services staff and students are delivering boxed, heat-able meals to every student in isolation or quarantine.
• The BW contact tracers are interviewing every positive case and then calling ALL of their close contacts, issuing quarantine orders as needed.
• The BW Health Task Force is tracking and communicating with each student in isolation or quarantine.
• The BW faculty are making accommodations to provide remote instruction and support for students in isolation or quarantine.

It is important to remember that the campus protocols for testing, quarantine and isolation continue to be followed and that every student is cared for while we work to protect the campus. Please be compassionate toward each other, continue to follow all health and safety protocols, and let's complete this semester strong and healthy.

 

Take care of yourself and each other and have a safe weekend,

 

Dale Grubb
Interim VP for Student Affairs
Director of BW’s Health Task Force