Dear Southwestern community,
We are still awaiting some of the test results from our January 19 testing. Although we were promised results within 48 hours, Community Labs, like many businesses, is experiencing a backlog and we are now expecting that everyone will receive their results by midday tomorrow.
Based on the results we have received, our current positivity rate is 5% for students and 8.5% for faculty and staff. The current results are significantly lower than our surrounding community, which has a positivity rate of 33.8%. Southwestern, as it has been for the past year and a half, continues to outperform Williamson County and the surrounding areas thanks to you and the health and protocols we have in place.
As Community Labs continues to process the January 19th tests, we are not anticipating a material change in our positivity rate. We also have no evidence of classroom transmission from contact tracing as classrooms are the most highly regulated spaces on campus with masking and distancing in place. Since the start of the spring semester the majority of classes have been taking place in person, and, as has been previously announced, we will return to fully in-person instruction tomorrow.
The January 19th community testing was to obtain a baseline positivity rate for the campus and to identify students who were exposed to the fast-spreading virus following their in-take testing. This would allow us to quarantine/isolate students, faculty, and staff appropriately prior to returning to fully in-person instruction. Because of this, we are asking all students to not attend in-person class until you have received your January 19 testing results. Your faculty member will work with you to make appropriate accommodations. Students who receive a positive result will receive an email from Student Life with additional information. Faculty and staff who have not received their results should stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
According to Southwestern’s
health and safety policies and the CDC, anyone who received a positive result from last Wednesday’s test, will be able to return to class and work on Tuesday if they have no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving.
Southwestern ordered 1,000 KN95 masks for our community weeks ago. They were expected to arrive on campus the first week of class, but have been delayed. Until the KN95 masks are available, the Dean’s Office located on the first floor of Cullen will provide surgical masks to anyone who would like to double mask or replace a used mask.
Thank you for your flexibility and patience as we navigate this ever-changing pandemic.
Sincerely,
