Dear Orediggers,
Thirty-six of your fellow Orediggers tested positive for COVID-19 Monday and Tuesday. While we don’t yet know the results from Wednesday or Thursday, these results indicate increased prevalence and increased potential for transmission within and outside our community.
Given this increase in cases – and especially as we approach finals, athletic championships, and graduation – please do your part to help us prevent further spread within our campus community and externally to our neighbors and families. For the next week, or until we can get a lower positive test frequency, please do your part to reduce COVID-19 transmission:
- Avoid gathering indoors with multiple households,
- If you live in residence halls, FSL housing, or anyplace with large numbers of bedrooms or apartments connected through indoor hallways, please wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth when indoors and outside your bedroom or apartment,
- Wear face masks outdoors when you cannot maintain at least six feet of physical distance from others, and
- Get tested regularly. If you feel you may have been exposed to COVID-19, do not stop testing after one negative result. Sign up for free testing on campus at: http://primarybio.com/a/mines/. On most days you can make same-day appointments.
With state and county restrictions loosening and vaccination levels increasing throughout Colorado, it’s easy to fall into a false sense of security – and this might be the reason for the recent increase in cases. We’re almost there, but it’s too early to forgo COVID-19 prevention measures. We want you to be healthy and safe and to be able to participate in classes, finals, athletic competitions, and graduation.
When confronted with previous spikes like this in our community, we all did what was necessary. I know we can do it one more time. Your commitment to keeping our community safe has allowed us to maintain in-person classes, Spring Break and E-Days. We have much to keep working for as we close out the semester. Help us finish strong and keep our community healthy.
Go Orediggers!
PCJ
P.S. If you haven’t received a vaccine yet, there are still plenty of appointments available at our on-campus vaccine clinic scheduled for April 28-29 and May 17-18. For more information on how to sign-up look for the message on Canvas.