Simpson College is currently in Phase Yellow
January 18, 2022 (4:36 p.m. Central Time)
Dear Simpson College students, faculty, and staff:
The rapid spread of the Omicron variant remains a source of great concern. The 7-day positivity rate in Warren County is 28%; on campus, last week we had an 11% testing positivity rate. Like in the broader community, we are seeing a rise in the rate of new cases and we currently have 38 active cases among students, faculty and staff.
Vaccination Clinic
COVID vaccination continues to be highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID. Boosters are particularly important with the highly transmissible Omicron variant. There are still spots available at tomorrow’s vaccination clinic for Simpson community members. We’ll be offering Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for both boosters and first doses. The clinic is Wednesday, Jan. 19, 11:30 – 1:30 in the Kent Black Box. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4FAFAA2DA6FD0-coivd19
Dashboard Updates
Our campus COVID dashboard now includes the following information: the occupancy of our dedicated on-campus isolation/quarantine space and the on-campus testing positivity rate from the prior week. Hopefully having access to this information helps you to be informed about the status of things on campus.
It obviously remains critical for all of us to be extremely vigilant in following our COVID-19 protocols, most especially wearing proper masks in all indoor situations. As you know, this remains a very fluid situation. We will send another update by the end of this week.
Heidi Levine, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Development & Planning
Chair, COVID Management Team