Covenant Community: As you will see from the data below, we had another significant increase in cases week over week.  Until we see numbers decreasing we will continue another week with the indoor mask mandate in place (just to clarify, you should have your mask on in Carter Lobby and in the Great Hall unless sitting down to eat).  With 8% of the student body either in isolation or quarantine (up from 7.3% last week), the virus is making its way through the campus, and we need to work together to change behaviors to reduce transmission.

 

Of our 25 cases we added in the past week, 11 were on Tuesday.  The likely conclusion is that weekend exposure was responsible.  Please be thoughtful in your behavior regarding close contact. I have found it helpful to think of transmission risk with the simple phrase: time, space, people, place.  

• The more time you spend and the closer in space you are to people, the higher your risk.  Interacting with more people raises your risk, and indoor places are riskier than outdoors. 
• Masks make a difference.  A very small number of our cases have been traced back to class or chapel.  With almost no exception, these cases are being passed among friends, roommates, teammates, hallmates, etc. in unmasked contexts.  

Of our 50 total cases since August 16, we have found that 13 (26%) were vaccinated individuals.  This highlights the importance of staying home/in your room if you develop symptoms regardless of vaccination status.  Please do the responsible thing and stay away from others when you become sick and call Health Services at 706.419.1275 to set up a free rapid test in the Health Center.

 

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Data as of September 10, 2021

 

Active positives (student): 32

Active positives (employee): 0

 

Quarantined (student): 36

Quarantined (employee): 0  

 

Positives since August 16 (student): 50

Positives since August 16 (employee): 6