COVID-19 Resources

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am writing with an update on the COVID-19 response on campus.

Today we noted an uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases on campus.

• 508 Allegheny community members were tested today.
• 17 students tested positive today, all vaccinated, for a total of 27 vaccinated students currently in isolation.
• Four employees tested positive, all vaccinated.
• Two students who are not fully vaccinated are in quarantine off campus.

Everyone who tested positive today has been contact traced. Contact tracing helps by allowing us to notify those who have been exposed. It also allows us to assess the pattern of COVID-19 infections on our campus. This is what we noticed with the uptick today:

• None of the infections appear to be “random.” While the student may say “I have no idea where I got COVID-19,” when we review the contact trace reports as a whole, patterns become obvious.
• Three students became infected from their roommates.
• Six of the students with COVID-19 are contained within one friend group.
• Three other students with COVID-19 are contained within a different friend group.

Of note, four of the students who tested positive continued to socialize while symptomatic, including eating meals with friends in the dining halls and playing video games in the residence halls. One student attended a social event while feeling ill, then took a home COVID-19 test when they arrived home from the event. A better choice is to stay home, mask, and take meals to go when you feel ill.

You may receive an email requesting that you test in the next few days. This is based on our assessment of patterns on campus. Please report for testing if invited, even if you are asymptomatic. 

While masks are not required for fully vaccinated persons on our campus, ACHA strongly recommends that you wear a mask this week. Also, keep up that Gator community spirit: if you feel ill, stay home, get tested, and email ACHA.

Finally, COVID-19 is poorly transmitted outside. Allegheny is lovely in the spring; consider taking some long walks with your friends and enjoy our beautiful campus.

Gator strong.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am writing with updates on the pandemic response on our campus.

Allegheny College campus COVID-19 testing update for the last week:

• 2 students tested positive (vaccinated) and 2 are resting comfortably at the Quality Inn.
• 2 employees tested positive (vaccinated) and are resting comfortably at home.
• Our positivity rate is .08%.

Testing reminders:

• Testing for vaccinated persons is required every other week. Testing for vaccine-exempt persons is required twice weekly. Please find our testing hours here. You can make an appointment here.
• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, remember that you can walk in to the testing center during open hours or email ACHA at healthagency@allegheny.edu for advice.

Returning from travel:

Vaccinated employees and students are not required to quarantine or test when returning to campus after traveling.

Unvaccinated students and employees who must travel for personal reasons must follow CDC guidelines, which recommend a PCR test 3–5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. Quarantine is not available for students on campus. Please submit your travel plans to ACHA here.

Plans for next year:

As we watch the rise and fall of variants around the world, ACHA is drafting pandemic plans for 2022–2023. We continue to strive to offer our community the most vibrant in-person experience while balancing safety. Plans will be announced this summer. We are impressed by how amazingly supportive and caring our community has been this year and look forward to a wonderful 2022–2023 academic year!

Gator strong. Gator safe.

Dr. MorrowUpdates on the pandemic response on our campus

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am writing with updates on the pandemic response on our campus and information and testing around Spring Break.

Allegheny College campus COVID-19 testing update for last week:

• 3 students tested positive (all vaccinated), all at Quality Inn, all resting comfortably.
• 1 employee tested positive (vaccinated) and is resting comfortably at home.
• Our positivity rate is 0.27%.

Testing over Spring Break:

• If you remain on campus over break and are due for testing, the Wise Testing Center will be open with reduced hours. Please find our testing hours here.
• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, remember that you can walk in to the testing center during open hours or email ACHA at healthagency@allegheny.edufor advice.

Returning from Spring Break:

• Returns from break are when we see our highest COVID-19 positivity rates on campus. Protect your friends and colleagues! If you travel over Spring Break, even for one night, you MUST test at the Wise Center before returning to your residence hall or office.
• Fully vaccinated students who are already living on campus and are traveling for spring break, sign up for testing.
• Employees can sign up for testing.
• Vaccine-exempt students and employees who traveled must obtain a PCR test off campus within the three days before you return to campus.
• For those staying in Meadville over break, the testing center will be open on select days, which will be posted on our website here. Sign up for your test here.

Gator strong. Gator safe.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am writing with updates on the pandemic response on our campus. I am thrilled to tell you that we have noted a significant decrease in the number of College community members testing positive for COVID-19 as well as a drop in the COVID-19 rates in the surrounding areas. Therefore, we will be relaxing our testing requirements for vaccinated community members.

Testing update:

• Vaccinated community members are required to test every other week.
• If you tested last week, you do not need to test this week. That said, around 400 vaccinated community members did not test last week and are therefore required to do so this week. You can sign up for a testing appointment here. See you this week at Wise!
• Vaccine-exempt persons are still required to test twice weekly at the Wise Center. This will protect them from unknowingly contracting COVID and will protect our community as a whole.
• If you feel ill, don’t hesitate to walk into the Wise Center for a rapid COVID-19 test or email healthagency@allegheny.edu. You can find Wise testing center hours here.

Allegheny College campus COVID-19 testing update for the last seven days:

• Three students tested positive (all vaccinated), one is at home and two are at Quality Inn, all resting comfortably.
• No employees tested positive.
• Our positivity rate is 0.18%.

Masking update:

• We continue to require masks for vaccine-exempt persons on campus at all times.
• There is no mask mandate for vaccinated community members. Those who wish to mask are encouraged to do so.

Gator strong. Gator safe.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I hope everyone is excited to begin Module 2. We are continuing to see a decline in cases of COVID-19 in Crawford County and all over the globe. While this is very promising, this is not the time to let our guard down. With that in mind, here are some updates on the COVID-19 response on campus.

Masking policy
Masks are not required on campus for fully vaccinated persons outdoors or indoors (including in classrooms). One exception: When you arrive back on campus, please wear a mask until you receive a negative test result at the Wise Center.

Those who are not fully boostered or who have received a vaccine or booster exemption are required to mask at all times on campus.

Shortening of the post-COVID-19 testing exemption period
The number of people reinfected with coronavirus has been rising since the Omicron variant was first detected, with a significant number of people testing positive for COVID-19 within two months of their prior infection. Therefore, those who test positive for COVID-19 will now be exempt from testing for 60 days from the date of their positive test.

Return to campus testing
Students and employees who have been off campus during the Module 1 break, or who did not participate in Module 1, must obtain a COVID-19 test at the Wise Center before moving into their residence hall or rejoining friends and colleagues on campus. Wise Center testing hours can be found below and on our website here.

Testing Center Dates and Hours
Friday, Feb. 18:  9 am–7 pm
Saturday, Feb. 19: 3–7 pm
Sunday, Feb. 20:  9 am–8 pm
Monday, Feb. 21:   7 am–5 pm
Tuesday, Feb. 22:   9 am–5 pm
Wednesday, Feb. 23:  9 am–5 pm
Thursday, Feb. 24:  9 am–5 pm
Friday, Feb. 25:  9 am–2 pm

Flu shots
Flu shots are still available at the Wise Center and will be dispensed around campus during the first two days of Module 2 classes as follows:

Monday, Feb. 21    
8:15–9 am:  Quigley lobby
9:15–10 am:  Carr lobby
10:15–11 am:  Doane-Steffee lobby
11:15–Noon:  Arter lobby
1:15–2 pm:  Carnegie lobby
2:15–3 pm:  Ruter conference room

Tuesday, Feb. 22    
9:15–10 am:  Odd Fellows lobby
10:15–11 am:  Vukovich lobby
11:15–Noon:  Alden lobby
1:15–4 pm:  Pelletier Library lobby

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am writing with several updates on the pandemic response on our campus.

Allegheny College campus COVID-19 testing update for last week:

• 7 students tested positive (all vaccinated), all at Quality Inn, all resting comfortably.
• 3 employees tested positive (all vaccinated), all resting comfortably at home.
• In the midst of the Omicron surge, our positivity rate is 0.57%. Nice work!

Wise Testing Center:

• We have added the Wise Center testing hours to our website.
• Hours vary week by week and will be posted every Saturday for the upcoming week.
• Those with an approved vaccine exemption are required to test twice weekly on their assigned days; no appointment needed.

 Returning from the Module Break:

• Returns from break are when we see our highest COVID-19 positivity rates on campus. Protect your friends and colleagues! If you travel over the break between Module 1 and 2, even for one night, you MUST test at the Wise Center before returning to your residence hall or office.
• Fully vaccinated students who are already living on campus and are traveling for the Module 1 break, sign up for testing.
• Fully vaccinated students who did not come to campus for Module 1 and are moving in for the first time since last semester, sign up for testing.
• Employees can sign up for testing.
• Vaccine-exempt students and employees who traveled must obtain a PCR test off campus within the three days before you return to campus.
• For those staying in Meadville over break, the testing center will be open on select days, which will be posted on our website. Sign up for your weekly test.

Mask Mandate:

• The mask mandate is currently in place in classrooms only through today, February 7, 2022 (the end of Module 1 classes).
• There is currently no plan to mandate masks on campus during Module 2. That may change based on the positivity rate during move-in weekend, but our recent numbers show that members of our campus community make great choices that limit COVID-19 on our campus.
• As always, those who wish to mask are encouraged to do so. Medical-grade N95 masks are available at the Wise testing center.

Dining over Break:

• February 11
  • Brooks 7:30AM­–2:00PM, 5:00–8:00PM
  • Pine Market 7:30AM–8:00PM
  • McKinley’s 11:00AM–9:00PM
  • Kinz Market 7:30AM–9:00PM
• February 12–16
  • Brooks (B) 8:00–10:00AM, (L) 11:00AM–2:00PM, (D) 5:00–8:00PM
  • Pine Market 8:30AM–8:00PM
• February 17–20
  • Brooks 8:00AM–2:00PM, 5:00–8:00PM
  • Pine Market 8:00AM–9:00PM
  • McKinley’s 11:00AM–10:30PM
  • Kinz Market 9:00AM–10:30PM

Gator strong. Gator safe.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am writing with an update on the COVID-19 pandemic response on campus and the recent campus-wide mask mandate. Thank you to our marvelous community members as we watch the number of new positive tests shrink every day. Your efforts are keeping COVID-19 limited on our campus.

Over the last two weeks, I have heard from concerned faculty, staff, students, and parents about the intensity of Module 1. ASG leadership has taken the time to explain the high stakes for students and faculty as a semester’s worth of work is compressed into a three-week period. Missing any days due to isolation for COVID-19 would be detrimental, and the threat of that loss is significantly felt by students working so very hard to complete the coursework and by the faculty striving to lead students through their studies.

Out of respect for these efforts, we will continue to require masks in all classrooms through the end of scheduled classes for Module 1, which is Monday, February 7. Masks are not required in any other areas of campus. Those who wish to continue wearing a mask outside of the classroom are encouraged to do so. N95 masks continue to be available at the Wise Testing Center.

Gator strong.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

Day 2 of Module 1 move-in is now complete.

The COVID-19 test results from today’s move-in are as follows:

• 519 students were tested today, with 12 students testing positive; 1 of the positive students is unvaccinated.
• 12 employees were tested, with no persons testing positive.
• Since yesterday, 2 more students have contacted ACHA to report a positive COVID-19 test at home.

Here is a summary of the Allegheny community members currently in isolation for testing positive for COVID-19 (including today’s results):

• 71 students are currently in isolation; 11 are at the Quality Inn and 60 are at home.
• 21 employees are currently in isolation at home.

Other ACHA reminders and updates:

• We strongly discourage any travel or off-campus activityduring the next three weeks.
• There is a mask mandate in place through next Friday, at which time we will re-evaluate.
• Isolation for employeesis 10 days from the start of symptoms, though those who are improving or asymptomatic may be approved to return after 5 days.
• Isolation for studentsis 10 days from the start of symptoms, unfortunately without exception because students live together in congregant housing.
• Masking indoors at all home athletics events remains required. Effective immediately, only Allegheny students, faculty, staff, and invited guests of participants may attend athletics events hosted on campus.Spectator policies will remain in effect until further notice. Allegheny expects guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to coming to campus for events and activities.
• Persons who are fully vaccinated are required to test weekly through ACHA. Invitations to sign up for testing will be sent on the prior weekend. Those who have not yet received the COVID-19 booster because they are not yet eligible are considered fully vaccinated until they hit the 5-month mark, at which time they are required to receive the booster.
• Persons who are unvaccinated are required to test twice weekly through ACHA.You will not be invited to test; it is your responsibility to appear twice a week for testing on your assigned days. The second test is at the expense of the unvaccinated person. The weekly cost for the second test is $25. The cost will be administered in the following manner:
  • For students, the $450 cost for the semester will be billed to their student account at the beginning of the semester. Contacts of COVID-19 positive persons who are unvaccinated are required to quarantine for 14 days at their own expense (either at the Quality Inn or off campus).
  • For unvaccinated employees, a payroll deduction will be administered for the weekly cost each pay period.

Gator safe. Gator strong.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am writing with an update as move-in progresses for Module 1. The COVID-19 test results from today’s move-in are as follows:

• 395 students were tested today, with 12 students testing positive; 1 of the positive persons is unvaccinated.
• 33 employees were tested, with 1 vaccinated person testing positive.

Over the last week, 38 students have contacted ACHA to report a positive COVID-19 test at home. All are isolating at home with minimal symptoms and normal vital signs. Thank you on behalf of our community to those students who tested at home before returning to campus. Your commitment to your community keeps us all safe.

Here is a summary of the Allegheny community members currently in isolation for testing positive for COVID-19 (including today’s results):

• 10 students are at the Quality Inn.
• 51 students are at home — 38 who tested positive at home and 13 who tested positive on campus.
• 23 employees are at home.

We continue to monitor our students who are COVID positive with daily nurse check-ins, either by phone or in person. All vital signs are normal, and everyone is resting comfortably. Employees are cared for by their usual health provider; occasional ACHA nurse check-ins show good health among our employees who have tested positive recently.

As we strive for a successful in-person Module 1, we at ACHA strongly discourage any travel during the next three weeks. Students and employees should avoid off-campus socialization as much as possible. Programming calendars will be shared by Student Life in the coming weeks to encourage on-campus engagement. Travel on behalf of campus business is permitted, though many college and university events such as athletic contests have been canceled.

While we have had numerous positive test results today, our numbers are lower than those many other colleges and universities are facing. Our students and employees have been forthcoming with contact tracing and kind and thoughtful with medical staff, College staff, and each other. It continues to be an honor to serve the Allegheny College community during this difficult time.

Gator safe. Gator strong.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College campus community,

I am writing with an update on the COVID-19 pandemic response on campus.

Given the high rate of transmission of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, effective January 13, 2022, masks will be mandatory for all persons on campus in all indoor spaces, including classrooms, the Wise Center, and residence halls. Masks may be removed in private rooms, while eating, and while bathing or swimming, as well as outdoors.

This mask mandate will expire on Friday, January 21, 2022, at 5 p.m., at which time the College and ACHA will make a determination on ending it or extending it for an additional week. Our decision will be based on the disease burden on campus and will be communicated to the campus by email midday on Friday, January 21, 2022.

N95 masks are available at the Wise testing center upon request for anyone who wants one.

Booster update: evidence has shown that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is effective against the Omicron variant. Therefore, Allegheny College will accept this as an appropriate booster.

Campus arrival: If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and obtain a COVID-19 test before returning to campus. Please have your ride to campus await your COVID-19 test results. While isolation housing continues to be available at Quality Inn, it is limited, and students may have to room together. You may prefer to isolate at home, and ACHA can provide information on how to do so safely.

Gator safe. Gator strong.

Dr. Morrow