Dear Bereans,

This is the update for Monday, September 26, 2022.

Quarantine update

Currently, we have 8 quarantining cases among students.  Cases continue to be relatively uncomplicated.  Improved from last week, we have only two on-campus employees quarantining with positive tests.  The on-campus Bereans who have tested positive work in College Square and Jelkyl.

COVID-19 Community Level

As of last Friday Madison County’s COVID community level has improved greatly and we are now in the “Green” designation.  Of our neighboring counties Jackson and Rockcastle have gone “Green,” too, as have about half the counties in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky update

The number of new reported cases in the Commonwealth has improved a bit to 7402

in the past week.  The test positivity rate has continued to decrease and is now at about 9%. The number of deaths per week in the state is holding pretty steady, 67 this past week, vs.  80 last week.

Given that significant numbers of cases are continuing on campus, the College will continue its current masking policy:

• Masking will be required in all classroom settings and indoor mass gatherings (>50 attendees)
• Masking will be required in all residence hall settings, except in a student’s individual room
• Masking will be required in all music ensemble practices, but not for performers in performances
• Masking will be recommended for all Bereans in any indoor congregate settings
• Masking will be required for all visitors at any campus events.

Lyle Roelofs, President
Berea College