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Dear Hotchkiss Families,
I write to share an update on our testing last week and a look ahead.
As you know, we have been conducting weekly surveillance testing. Up until last Thursday, we had conducted over 280 tests in this process with no positive results. In last week's testing, four students (all of whom are boarding students) tested positive, including the three students I wrote to you about on Thursday and one additional positive yesterday. We have followed the safety procedures outlined below: -
All four students who tested positive, and their parents/guardians, have been contacted. The students were immediately moved into the Health Center for care and isolation while arrangements were made for them to go home, to be picked up by a local, off-campus proxy, or to receive care on-campus, as appropriate.
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Bathrooms and other common surfaces in affected dorm corridors have been cleaned and disinfected by the housekeeping team.
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Contact tracers have worked diligently with the students to identify "close contacts" as a precautionary measure. These students and their parents/guardians have all been notified, and they are now in quarantine at home, with a local proxy, or in School-provided quarantine space.
A CAMPUS "PAUSE"
When we received positive results on Thursday, we instituted a campus "pause" -- a temporary return to in-dorm quarantine status -- while we ascertain the health of the community. We will remain on "pause" only as long as it takes us to feel confident that we have identified the extent of the virus on campus and contained it. During this time, we are taking steps to minimize opportunities for the virus to spread. For example, classes are being conducted remotely, and activities outside the dorms are happening individually or in dormitory "pods" only. Students have the flexibility to choose their own meals via grab-and-go service by dorm pod so we can avoid some of the difficulties we experienced with meal delivery to dorms. Given these limitations, we will continue to provide as normal a routine of School activities as we are able.
ALL-SCHOOL TESTING
As part of our effort to gauge community health, we will test all students and student-facing employees tomorrow through a new method called pooled saliva testing. This technology was developed at Yale University and was first deployed by the NBA. It offers a number of advantages:
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It is quick, safe, and non-invasive, requiring only a small sample of saliva
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Students can perform the test themselves in the privacy of their own room
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The technology allows for faster processing of results
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The test is a PCR test that matches the sensitivity of our existing surveillance testing
We expect to receive the results of this weekend's testing in the first half of next week, and we will respond to results and communicate them as soon as possible thereafter.
Importantly, this new technology provides a way to test the entire community quickly and efficiently. We will continue to test all students and student-facing employees on a weekly basis moving forward.
UPCOMING CALLS
We are looking forward to the Virtual Family Week program that will begin next week. It will kick-off on Monday with opening remarks from Head of School Craig Bradley, during which he will provide an update on campus health as well as introduce the full week's events.
In addition, on October 26, please join me and Steve McKibben P '22, dean of community life, for a call focused on COVID-19. We will share the latest updates with you as of that time, and we welcome your questions in advance.
Family COVID Conversation
Monday, October 26
8 - 9 p.m. ET
We will, of course, continue to communicate as there is more to share.
Sincerely yours,
Richard Davis COVID Coordinator and Associate Dean of Faculty
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