NCC walkway

October 16, 2020

Dear North Central College Community,

We’ve crossed the halfway mark of fall semester and we want to take this opportunity to thank you for your consistent commitment to the health and safety protocols that have been implemented across campus. Your adherence to these measures has helped minimize the spread of COVID-19 among our campus community and has enabled the College to continue to operate in-person.

The midway point of the semester is also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the #TogetherNC pledge to protect the health, safety and wellness of our campus. We are entering the flu season at the same time that we continue to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. The flu presents its own health risks, and it also shares many of the same symptoms as COVID-19, including fever, chills, muscle aches and fatigue, among others. The College’s positive and probable case protocol requires symptomatic individuals—those experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms—to isolate and their close contacts to quarantine prior to returning to campus. The combination of the pandemic and the flu season means that we are entering a period where, over the next several weeks, prioritizing your health and the health of others will be critical to our ability to continue to engage in-person.

The College’s proactive health and safety measures are designed to be effective in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases, including the flu virus. We hope that these measures have become second nature by now, but it is imperative that you continue to:

  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, including tables, desks and work stations before and after use – Sanitizing wipes are available in all classrooms and labs
  • Wash your hands frequently – If soap and water is not readily available, use hand sanitizer pumps located throughout campus facilities or carry your own bottle
  • Wear a face covering inside all campus buildings and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible
  • Maintain a distance of six feet or more from others and avoid gathering in large groups
  •  Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Get a flu shot – According to the CDC, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever this year to protect yourself and those around you from the flu, and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Stay home or in your residence hall room if you are not feeling well or exhibiting symptoms, and avoid contact with others who are ill
  • Immediately report positive or probable COVID-19 cases, or the onset of symptoms, by using the College’s COVID-19 Reporting Form, and self-monitor for symptoms by using the College’s #CampusClear symptom tracking app

For the most up-to-date information on the College’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit covid.northcentralcollege.edu. Thank you again for your continuing commitment and we wish you good health for the remainder of the semester.

#TogetherNC,

Dr. Peter Barger
Assistant Provost, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning
Co-Chair, COVID-19 Institutional Response Team

Michael Hudson
Vice President for Operations
Co-Chair, COVID-19 Institutional Response Team

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