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Here is this week’s update regarding our ongoing College-wide efforts to safeguard the health of our community. Please read the full update for vital information on our planning considerations for the spring 2021 semester and new state mandates.
The State of North Carolina and Guilford County have both seen record highs in new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations. As of today, Dec. 11, 2020, Guilford County has reported the following COVID-19 statistics:
- 17,027 total cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic
- 14,989 total recovered patients
- 1,777 active cases being managed
- 348 new cases reported yesterday
- 193 current hospitalizations
- 259 total deaths
- 11.5% daily positive test percentage rate based on 15,000 tests administered the week prior to Thanksgiving.
- The majority of new cases have been attributed to the Thanksgiving Day weekend as reported by the Guilford County Health Department.
Currently, Guilford College is not managing any positive cases. We have not had any hospitalizations or deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. However, there are now 50 North Carolina counties that are identified in the red critical spread alert category on the N.C. County COVID-19 Alert map. The State just today reported 7,500 more positive cases, a new single day record.
N.C. Executive Order 181
Governor Cooper has issued N.C. Executive Order 181, which goes into effect tonight, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m. The order puts into place a Modified Stay at Home Order, which has the following restrictions:
- Certain businesses and facilities are ordered to close to the public between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. (the “Night-Time Public Closure Period”). This includes restaurants (with exceptions for takeout and delivery, as noted below), bars, entertainment venues, parks, museums and aquariums, certain retail establishments, and other businesses and facilities specified below and in the order.
- All individuals in North Carolina must stay at home or the place they will remain for the night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. (the “Stay at Home Period”), unless an exception applies.
- Events or convenings outside of the home must end by 10 p.m. and guests must leave the establishment and travel home or to the place where they will stay for the night.
- One exception to the order is that college sporting events may continue past the curfew time.
This order and previous orders limiting capacity on certain businesses, indoor and outdoor gathering limits, and other public health measures have been extended to Jan. 8, 2021, which will correspond to when our student body is expected to return to campus.
Last week we posted some community testing options in Guilford County. Below is an update to the Cone Health testing initiatives:
- Cone Health: Drive Up COVID-19 Testing, Greensboro 803 Green Valley Rd Greensboro, N.C., 27408, 336.890.1140
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday:
- Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Other pop up community testing sites
- Great information
What This Means for Guilford College
While the College has transitioned to all online classes with most of our students currently off campus, we still have a limited amount of students residing on-campus. As a college, we will be following the restrictions that were put in place by Executive Order 181. For our students who are currently residing on campus, please stay in your apartment or residence hall during the hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless traveling for the following reasons:
- To or from a place of work when the worker’s presence is required by the worker’s employer;
- Obtain food, medical care, fuel, or social services;
- Travel from a business that closed at or after 10 p.m.;
- Travel to a business that will open at 5 a.m.;
- Travel to take care of a family member, friend, or pet in another household;
- Travel to or from a religious service;
- Travel necessary for personal safety;
- And travel into or out of the state.
Monitoring Developments for the Spring 2021 Semester
The Health and Safety Task Force and other partners on campus are paying close attention to the data provided by our external public health partners. Together with the President and the Cabinet, we are having ongoing discussions on the implications of the data and the effect it will have on the upcoming semester. We will be communicating any pertinent changes for the spring 2021 semester in the days ahead.
We will resume our weekly communication on Dec 18. Please remember that if you have any questions related to COVID-19 and our efforts to mitigate the pandemic on campus, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 336.316.2319. We are all in this together!