COVID-19 case reported

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

Unfortunately, I write to inform you that following President Crawford’s message to campus this afternoon I received notification that a student who lives off-campus and who has not been to campus recently has tested positive for COVID-19. The student is self-isolating. Contact tracing has been completed. Close contacts have all been notified and are taking appropriate steps regarding testing and quarantine. 

For additional information about COVID-19 and steps that the university is taking to protect the health and safety of our community, please visit the university’s coronavirus website.

Neither the university nor public health authorities will identify any individuals who have tested positive for the virus, nor will information be provided that may compromise confidentiality in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) for students and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for employees.

We are well prepared to quarantine and/or isolate individuals on campus as needed in order to help ensure the health and well-being of the campus community as a whole. Our campus leadership and the Emergency Response Group are monitoring this ongoing situation daily. We advise that all members of our community continue to take precautions and follow the guidance of the CDC and state and local public health officials.

Students, faculty and staff experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are advised to immediately self-isolate. Students who live on campus or in the local area who develop symptoms can call CHWS (253.879.1555) or their primary care provider for medical advice. CHWS can provide testing as needed. Students who reside outside of the local area should contact their primary care provider or local public health department for guidance. Also, faculty and staff members who exhibit symptoms should contact their primary care provider or local public health department for guidance.  

As a reminder, mass testing for the entire University of Puget Sound community is being offered in the Wheelock Student Center parking lot between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sept. 23, Oct. 2, Oct. 28, Nov. 28 and Dec. 9. Tests are free and open to the public. You do not need to be experiencing symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 to be tested.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kelly Brown

Kelly K. Brown, Ph.D. | Director
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services.