Faculty and Staff: The following message was sent to students earlier today. You are receiving for informational purposes only. No action is required on your part.
Dear Students,
 
I hope this email finds you well on this Friday after a long week of classes, labs, and other work. I am writing with an important update.
 
Today, four ESF students -- all living off-campus -- entered quarantine at an off-campus location after having a close contact with an ESF graduate. After the visit, the ESF graduate, who doesn’t live in this area, tested positive for the coronavirus. The quarantine was prompted because masks were not consistently worn during contact. ESF will continue aggressive testing to monitor the status of these students and is working closely with the Onondaga County Department of Health. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks presented to our campus community when our members do not socially distance and wear masks.
 
This brings the total number of ESF students currently quarantining to 14. In addition to not appropriately wearing masks, these students were all exposed to the coronavirus by people who are currently external to the ESF community. An earlier communication shared a change to the College Commitment, to which all ESF students, faculty, and staff are accountable. This expectation reads, “Our community is strongly discouraged from hosting any guests, including family, who do not currently live in Central New York.” The common denominator for all 14 students currently quarantining, and one of the most pressing threats to our entire community, is exposure to the coronavirus from people external to Central New York and external to the ESF community.
 
All students currently quarantining are legally directed and restricted for 14 full days. They have been directed, in part, that they are not permitted to be in public or otherwise leave their quarantine quarters, that they must have their food delivered to them, and that they must have quarters with separate bathrooms. Being directed to quarantine is a very serious matter.
 
I cannot emphasize strongly enough that the decisions you make, or choose not to make, have the potential to significantly impact our entire community. So much is at stake for all of us, including our very ability to continue to work and learn in this hybrid capacity. I have been so proud of your collective effort, and we are incredibly fortunate to be able to report that there are currently no positive cases amongst our ESF community. But it will take everyone’s continuing diligence to help insure this moving forward. Please – continue to do your part and hold your fellow students, housemates, and friends accountable for their behavior as well.
 
Finally, please be reminded that the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 at ESF is available on the ESF dashboard. I encourage you to visit the page regularly to stay up-to-date regarding the number of tests completed and cases in quarantine.
  
Regards,
Dean Lombard
 
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Anne E. Lombard, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Vice Provost and Dean for Student Affairs