Talee Messenger
Equinox Staff
COVID-19 cases are rising on campus.
Keene State College reported 42 positive COVID-19 tests for the week of February 22, 2021 through February 28, 2021. This has pushed the school into the “green/yellow” zone for operational status.
Director of Strategic Communications Kelly Ricaurte commented on how the school plans to respond if it moves into the “yellow” operational status, “Some measures would include remote learning instead of in-person, continued twice-weekly testing, on-campus dining services would be take-out only, on-campus students would stay on their respective floors in their residence halls and go outside to socialize with anyone not living on their floor using and wearing masks, all campus buildings would be closed except for residence halls and Zorn Dining Commons for take-out. Mason Library would have curbside pick-up only, all in-person campus events would be canceled though virtual events would continue.”
The college is currently watching the data daily, and follows a set of criteria in order to make decisions about operations.
In the March 1 announcement made by President Melinda Treadwell, students were warned that the positivity rate among off-campus students had recently doubled. This followed the announcement that testing would now be administered biweekly.
“Several other schools have had to move to remote learning due to cases of COVID-19. The decision to test students two times per week was made to ensure that people who test positive and need to isolate, and close contacts of people who test positive who need to quarantine, are moved to safe places even more quickly,” Ricaurte commented.
Dean of Students Gail Zimmerman commented on the rising positivity rate among off-campus students. “The most important thing that students sharing off-campus residences can do to mitigate the spread of COVID is to wear masks at all times, even when in the house, to social distance, practice good hygiene and keep social gatherings limited,” Zimmerman said.
The University of New Hampshire had been previously closed due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, but has returned to limited on-campus classes. Dartmouth College decided on March 1 to continue remote learning after seeing an increase in positive cases, at least until March 5.
Keene State College has begun issuing suspensions to students who break the Community Commitment Acknowledgement, a form signed by students before the fall semester began that stated they would adhere to the schools COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
According to Gail Zimmerman, 10 students were suspended for COVID-19 violations.
“When we receive information of violations of the public health directives, we will hold students accountable through the conduct process… The college takes these violations very seriously,” Zimmerman stated.
When a student is suspended, they are banned from campus for the length of their suspension, do not have access to their Keene State email and are not considered a student for the length of the suspension.
“We strongly urge students to stay home and call the Wellness Center at (603)358-2450 if they don’t feel well– even with a runny nose or congestion… Don’t go out, and ask for help with essentials that you need. You can also feel perfectly well and have the virus, so please, always wear a mask, physically distance and keep your hands sanitized– even when you’re around trusted friends and roommates, and even though you’re being tested two times per week. This is very important,” Ricaurte stated.
Ricaurte, Zimmerman and other officials at Keene State ask that students stay vigilant as we progress through the semester and continue to attend testing twice a week.
Talee Messenger can be contacted at:
tmessenger@kscequinox.com
