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Dear Hotchkiss Families,
I write with an important update. This afternoon, we received the results of our weekly COVID surveillance testing, which revealed three positive cases among students on campus. These students are now being cared for in our Health Center, and we have communicated with their families. We have also initiated contact tracing. As we identify close contacts of these students, we will follow our planned procedures. This will include communicating with any affected families and working to get affected students into quarantine at home or with their proxy caregiver.
Positive cases on campus are part of our planned protocol. Accordingly, we have initiated a campus "pause" -- a return to the full quarantine status we had at the start of School -- while we conduct contact tracing and assess the health of the campus community. The email below was sent to students within the last hour and provides further information. Note, some links that were provided are only accessible to students.
We understand that you may have questions. As always, the health and safety of your children and of the entire community are our highest priority. We will send further communications as we learn more.
Sincerely yours,
Richard Davis COVID Coordinator
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Subject: Response to COVID testing -- ACTION REQUIRED
I write with important news. This afternoon we received 3 positive results from the surveillance COVID testing we conducted on Monday and Tuesday. We have planned for this, and, given the nature of the pandemic, this is not unexpected and one of the reasons we have continued to emphasize safe practices on campus, including masking, distancing, hand washing, and symptom monitoring. You can continue to protect yourself and others by practicing the safe protocols -- they work.
As planned in this situation, we are going to invoke an immediate return to in-dorm quarantine to aid our campus response, so that we can conduct thorough contact tracing and take other steps to assess community health. Important steps for you to take: -
We ask that you return to your dorm rooms as soon as possible or after your last class at 3:50 p.m. Day students should go to their places in the library and make arrangements to go home.
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You must stay in your dorm pods and practice the strictest protocols: wear a mask at all times you are outside your room, stay 6' distanced from others, wash your hands, and ensure that your window fans are working properly.
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Co-curriculars will be suspended for the day.
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Between 4 and 5 p.m., all students must complete the symptom check: instructions and link are on the HUB on the bottom of this page. If you are feeling any of the symptoms at the bottom of this web page, please stay in your room and reach out to the Health Center (x3226).
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Starting at 5 p.m., dinner will be grab-n-go by our original dorm pods using this schedule. Pick up your meals by pod and eat in your dorm room.
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All classes and meetings tomorrow will be remote.
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If you are contacted by the Health Center or a contact tracer, it is very important that you cooperate.
We will share more information later this evening. I have appended below the same advice I have provided before, which helps make clear the steps we are taking to respond. I'll emphasize two things: (1) Stay calm, and (2) be kind and let our processes work--be careful what you communicate and do not spread rumors. Thank you again for your care of yourselves and each other. Be strong, be kind, be well-- RHD If you hear about someone who has tested positive: -
Stay calm. Take a deep breath. Understand that the School is responding promptly, but that a positive test result is not a critical emergency.
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Be kind. This is a potentially scary situation for the individual who has tested positive and any others they have come into contact with. Be supportive, and please respect their privacy by not spreading the news or rumors.
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Lean on our safety protocols. Remember that masking, distancing, and hand washing are the most effective ways individuals can protect themselves. The contact tracing process will identify other individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
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Be alert to other instructions. Pay attention to your email and other communications in case there are instructions for your dorm or the community.
If you are identified as a contact of a positive case: -
Stay calm. Take a deep breath. The Contact Tracing Team will provide specific instructions to you about your next steps.
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Ensure you are not exposing others: put on your mask, stay distanced from others, and proceed to your dorm room (if you are not already there).
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Prepare to move into quarantine. Most contacts will quarantine at home or with a local proxy caregiver, but some may remain in School-provided space. We will provide a suggested packing list for you.
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Remain in your dorm room until you are picked up or moved into campus quarantine space. In some cases a student may move into School quarantine space overnight until leaving campus.
If you test positive: -
Stay calm. Take a deep breath. The School will connect you with the care you need, contact your parents/guardians, and provide specific instructions to you about your next steps.
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Ensure you are not exposing others: put on your mask, stay distanced from others, and follow the instructions provided by the Health Center staff.
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When you are instructed to, wearing your mask and keeping at least 6' distance from all other individuals, proceed to the expanded Health Center space in the Wieler Common room. A member of Security, the Health Center team, faculty, or staff will escort you.
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While you are in the Health Center, a member of our contact tracing team will connect with you to help determine whether other individuals should go into quarantine because of their contact with you. It is essential for the health of others that you participate fully and honestly in the contact tracing process.
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