Week of April 19, 2021
Weekly COVID-19 Update
Sent: April 23, 2021
To the Dickinson community:
As we move into the final week of classes, I want to thank you for your vigilance to health and safety protocols these last few months. Your efforts allowed us to have a successful semester. We plan to be fully in person in the fall, and we are developing health and safety guidelines to make that happen.
While the end of the semester is in sight, we must not relax our focus on health. Continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, stay physically distant and avoid large groups of people. We are almost across the finish line! Please also remember that you will be returning home to friends and family, and you do not want to bring COVID-19 to them. Seniors, we want you to be able to participate in the Graduate Recognition Ceremonies, so stay healthy.
Right now, Pennsylvania has a positivity rate of 9.6% and Cumberland County's positivity rate has risen to 6.5%. Our county is still considered a hotspot for the virus but also has been effective at getting residents vaccinated. The vaccine currently is readily available in our area. We all need to encourage our family, friends and neighbors to get vaccinated so that we can get back to a more normal way of life.
I have some other important updates to share:
- On-campus COVID-19 testing for students will run through May 18. Even fully vaccinated individuals still need to continue to participate in on-campus testing.
- More than 200 people were vaccinated in our on-campus clinic last Friday. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered Friday, May 7.
- We continue to encourage all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Keep in mind that you are not considered fully vaccinated until it has been two weeks since the final dose in the vaccine series. That's two weeks from the second dose for Pfizer and Moderna, and two weeks from receiving the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Prior to reaching that period, a vaccinated individual must still quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- We are asking all employees to complete this confidential survey to determine how many members of our community have been vaccinated and/or have plans for vaccination. We will use this information as the college considers health and safety guidelines for the fall semester.
- Students who have been fully vaccinated can upload their vaccination card to their patient portal or email it to health@dickinson.edu. Employees can upload their vaccine documentation here. Even if you have been fully vaccinated, ongoing testing is still required.
- Keep in mind that you need to hold on to your vaccination card and keep it in a safe place even if you have uploaded the information.
I am so proud of how this community has come together and navigated this pandemic. Continue to make responsible decisions about health and safety and finish the semester strong.
Sincerely,
Margee M. Ensign
President