Dear Bereans,

This is the update for Tuesday, November 22, 2022.  I hope everyone has an enjoyable Thanksgiving Break.  We are looking forward to the arrival of some family, including the grandchildren who supply some of the jokes for the updates (see below).

I did not send an update last week, as there was not much to report.  This week there is an important policy change to report.  See below.

Actually, last week, although I was not sure whether to trust the data, Madison County and some adjacent counties were moved to the “Yellow” COVID community level designation, but that seems to have been an anomaly, as most of Kentucky is reported to be back in the “Green” as of last Friday.  (See below)

Quarantine update

The on-campus mini-surge seems to have peaked last week and is receding a bit now.  As of Monday morning we had only two students in quarantine, one on campus and the other off.

Among on-campus employees, and we now have only one staff member quarantining with a positive test.  That individual works in Hafer-Gibson.

Employees who are using some vacation this week may not have reported in to HR, so this could be an undercount.  Still, the numbers seem very positive.  Fingers crossed that Thanksgiving celebrations will not result in new cases.

COVID-19 Community Level

Most of the Commonwealth, including Madison is in the “Green” for COVID community level as are all our neighboring counties, too.  There are no counties in “Red” in the Commonwealth as of last Friday, which is favorable for the upcoming holiday celebrations.  (See graphic below.)

Kentucky update

The situation in the Commonwealth is remaining pretty stable.  Over the last two weeks about 10,000 new cases were reported last week which is very close to the number for the preceding two weeks.  The test positivity rate is at 6.7%, again a little down from last week, and the number of deaths in the state over the last two week, thankfully stayed pretty low at 96 or about seven per day.

Kentucky also monitors the flu situation.  If you’re interested check the following site.

As of the end of the first week of November, there had been about 6000 confirmed cases of and four deaths from flu in the Commonwealth.  So, COVID is still by far the greater threat to life, although much of the attention has shifted to flu and RSV.

Building Access Policy change:

Given the improvements in COVID community levels and the stabilization of campus quarantine rates, the AC has decided to open visitor access by visitors to administrative and academic buildings during business hours as of Monday, November 28, the first day following our Thanksgiving holiday.  You will no longer need to use your ID badge to access these buildings.  Residence halls and Seabury Athletic Center will remain closed to visitors for now, although the latter will likely be opening soon, too.

Don’t delay in getting the updated booster and a flu shot would be a good idea, too, while you’re at it,
Lyle Roelofs, President
Berea College