Jan. 16, 2022
Dear Chatham Hall Community,
We are happy to share that our second round of testing yielded only four positive results. These students are either in the HCC or at their own homes. While some students who had exposure will remain in quarantine for the next few days to monitor and ensure they are not positive, the HCC is no longer at capacity and students will be returning to dorm based on CDC guidelines for release and our local health department. This is able to take place because each dorm room has its own ventilation return system meaning that air is not flowing beyond the room, so each room is effectively contained. Exposed students will not be staying with an unexposed roommate and all positive cases will continue to be treated in the HCC or off-campus. All students returning from the HCC have received strict instructions about masking and other protocols while on dorm. We are setting aside a bathroom on dorm for these students to use to mitigate the possible spread of the virus. These students will also continue to take meals in personal dorm rooms for the duration of the recommended quarantine time.
With these results we have been in contact with the epidemiologist at our local health department, and they have advised we can make the following easements:
- We will all return to Yardley for lunch on Monday with boxed meals only for those students in quarantine. Gloves will still be required in the servery. Please unmask only while eating, and re-mask while socializing at the table.
- Advisory meals and rotating lunches will be cancelled this week.
- Cookie Break will take place in-person with Advisories on Wednesday.
- On Thursday, students will be able to visit each other’s rooms.
- Athletic competitions will return Thursday with basketball.
- All-School gatherings will resume with Chapel on Friday.
- Masks will continue to be required in all public areas.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our very dedicated nurses, all of our dorm advisors, administrators on duty, and indeed our entire faculty and staff for their care and concern. I’d also like to thank all of our students for their patience, flexibility, and respect for the guidelines we have had and currently have in place to ensure the health and safety of all. We will all need to remain aware of any possible COVID symptoms and report them to the HCC as soon as possible to contain any possible spread of this or any virus, as well as continue to mask, socially distance when we can, wash our hands frequently, and otherwise follow CDC precautions against the coronavirus. We will continue to update you on additional easements as they are possible. Thank you all for your vigilance.
Sincerely,
