COVID-19 Update

The following email was sent to employees and students on July 6, 2022.

As vaccines, viral variants and medical advancements change the public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minneapolis College continues to adapt and refine our evidence-based health and safety strategy. We base our practices on information from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to best protect the safety, health and wellbeing of every member of our community.

Just as students and employees monitor themselves and follow responsible health guidelines for other illnesses, we are now moving to a phase where they will also do so for COVID-19. Faculty, staff and students are no longer required to report a positive COVID-19 test result or a possible exposure to the Health Response email. The COVID-19 Information page remains a resource for the Minneapolis College community. Individuals are encouraged to make their own personal health and safety decisions regarding exposure to COVID-19, as with other illnesses.

Recommendations

Both MDH and CDC have shifted their guidance as the rate of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 has declined. Currently, the CDC’s recommendations for quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 are similar to those for people diagnosed with the flu.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, theCDC coronavirus self-checker can help you decide if you need a test. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, use the CDC quarantine calculator to determine whether quarantine and testing are recommended.

For the most up-to-date information on community testing sites in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota COVID-19 testing sites website. Free at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests are available to every household in the United States. You can order yours on the federal government's test kit ordering site. The State of Minnesota also offers free at-home tests on the State of Minnesota test kit ordering site.

Employee leave

Sick leave is time away from work or school to care for your wellbeing or for the wellbeing of your dependent children or immediate family members. Isolation can help protect others from contagious disease. Employees can use sick leave or vacation leave if they feel they need to isolate because they have been exposed to COVID-19 or another illness and should notify their supervisors as required for any other absence. Students who have been exposed to illness, feel sick or have tested positive for COVID-19 should work directly with their instructors.

The CDC now recommends aligning precautions for educational settings with those for other community settings. While the pandemic will be a source of stress in the months to come, living with uncertainty and risk is not in itself a new phenomenon. Use your best judgment about your personal health. Be responsible, proactive and rely on trusted public health agencies to stay informed.

Sincerely,
President Sharon Pierce