Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Wednesday, March 1, 2023. (It’s the first COVID update since November 22, 2022, exactly 99 days ago. At COVID-19 day 1088, we are just 13 days from completing COVID-19 YEAR 3.)
I’ve chosen to send this update, because today I have an important policy decision to report.
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)
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, November 7, 2022. Don’t forget to vote tomorrow if you haven’t already done so!
The on-campus mini-surge has resumed. As of this morning we had 11 students in quarantine, three at home and eight on campus, up from five last week. Worth celebrating, we had a time last Monday when all of our students cleared quarantine and we had no new cases, the first ZERO for the semester, I think. Some of the current cases will clear today, and there have also been some new reports.
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, October 31, 2022. Happy Halloween everyone. I am wearing pirate garb for our costumes, so my joke, a repeat from before, reflects that.
The on-campus mini-surge has continued to lessen. As of this morning we had five students in quarantine, one at home and four on campus, down from eight last week. Among on-campus employees, and we now have only one staff member quarantining with a positive test, down from five last week. That individual works in Facilities. I have not heard that any of the cases represent serious health concerns at this point.
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, October 24, 2022.
The on-campus mini-surge reported last week has lessened at least a little. As of this morning we had eight students in quarantine, three at home and five on campus, down by one from last week. Among on-campus employees, and we now have five faculty and staff quarantiningwith positive tests, down from nine last week. Those Bereans work in Hafer Gibson, IS&S and Woods-Penn. I have not heard that any of the cases represent serious health concerns at this point.
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, October 17, 2022. Welcome to the second half of the fall term!
Two profound quotes for Mountain Day (this Wednesday):
The mountains are calling and I must go.
John Muir 1873
Think like a mountain.
Aldo Leopold 1949
(Both these amazing American heroes of ecology are worthy of further study.)
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, October 10, 2022. I hope that everyone is enjoying Reading Period and best wishes to all students on mid-terms.
Currently, we have just one student in quarantine, and that person is quarantining at home. Also, this week, we have only one on-campus employee quarantining with positive tests. That Berean works in Facilities.
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, October 3, 2022.
Currently, we have 3 students in quarantine. Cases continue to be relatively uncomplicated. Similar to last week, we have only two on-campus employees quarantining with positive tests. The on-campus Bereans who have tested positive work in Rogers-Traylor and Danforth Technology.
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, September 26, 2022.
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.
Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Tuesday, September 20, 2022. (I had this ready to send on Tuesday evening, but somehow managed to leave it in my Drafts folder until this morning.)
I have good news. The surge we were experiencing last week has slowed down significantly. Last week’s report noted a surge among students with 18 students in quarantine. As of yesterday, we have only 5 quarantining cases among students, three are off campus and two are on campus. Unchanged from last week, we have four on-campus employees quarantining with positive tests, but no positive cases among employees who work remotely. The on-campus Bereans who have tested positive work in Fairchild Hall, Presser Hall, the Ray House and Facilities.
As of last Friday Madison County’s COVID community level has remained in the “Red” designation, and all of our neighboring counties have gone “Red,” too, as has most of Eastern Kentucky.
The number of new reported cases in the Commonwealth has increased a bit to 9159 in the past week. That is still about 1300 new cases per day. The test positivity rate has continued to decrease and is now at about 12%. The number of deaths per week in the state is holding pretty steady, 80 this past week, vs. 78 two weeks ago.
Given that the situation is largely unchanged from the last two weeks, the College will continue its current masking policy:
Lyle Roelofs, President
Berea College