The Health and Safety Task Force continues to meet regularly, discuss, and monitor the College’s ongoing COVID response. We are proud to share that numbers of positive cases on campus remain extremely low and the transmission rates in Guilford County have been on the decline for the last few weeks.

The President’s Cabinet agreed to transition the campus to Phase 5 of our activity matrix based on a recommendation from the Health and Safety Task Force, due to our high vaccination rates and low on-campus and community spread.

• This is the least restrictive phase of our activity matrix and campus will assume a “more normal” operation.
• Masking inside will remain optional, although certain spaces may still require masking. Please continue to carry a mask with you at all times. Individuals may continue to wear masks inside if they would like.
• Our Visitor Policy remains in place. Residential students will hear from the Residential Education and Housing team about any changes in on-campus housing policies.
• If you feel sick with COVID symptoms, please mask up, stay home, and obtain a COVID test from Student Health or Public Safety, if you do not have a home test readily available. Continue to wear a mask even if you have tested negative until your symptoms subside. 
• If you test positive, you should:
  • Isolate for five days and then wear a mask for five additional days.
  • Students should notify studenthealth@guilford.edu and faculty/staff should notify their supervisors and share with covidscreening@guilford.edu about their positive test results.

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Guilford will host a COVID booster and flu shot clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Founders Hall. Individuals can sign up for a COVID booster time slot using this website. Anyone who is above the age of 12 and is more than four months past their last COVID shot is eligible for a booster. Individuals can receive both the flu and COVID shots on the same day.

Finally, the Health and Safety Task Force remains concerned and is regularly monitoring the Monkeypox outbreak.

• No one from Guilford College has tested positive for Monkeypox.
• The State of North Carolina is up to 566 cases as of Thursday, Sept. 29; two weeks ago North Carolina was in the 20 to 100 case bracket.
• Please see the CDC website for more information about Monkeypox symptoms.
• If you think you have Monkeypox:
  • Students should contact Eagle Physicians to schedule a tele-health appointment by calling 336.852.1915, option 2. 
    • You will be asked to leave a message with your name, date of birth, and a call back number.
    • Someone will return your call within 30 minutes.
  • Faculty/staff should see their regular primary care physician.
• On Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 5:30 p.m., the Guilford County Department of Health will hold a Zoom community webinar about Monkeypox with Dr. Iulia Vann, Guilford County Public Health Director, and Dr. Cynthia Snider, Cone Health Infectious Disease Specialist. The Zoom Link is here.

We remain committed to keeping our community informed about any potential health threats to campus. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at taskforce@guilford.edu.

Sincerely,

The Health and Safety Task Force

Ray Babnik, Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer
Suzanne Bartels, Director of Hege Library and Learning Technologies
Kim Berry, Associate Vice President of Advancement Operations (Co-chair)
Reacie Daniel, Administrative Assistant for the Office of the President
Victoria Dargen ’23, Student Representative
Erickia Elbert, Director of Human Resources
Kim-Anne Kleimeier ’13, Head Women's Tennis Coach
Michele Malotky, Professor of Biology
Steve Mencarini, Dean of Students (Co-chair)
Hunter Neal ’22, Presidential Fellow, Communications and Marketing
Jennifer Solis Rodriguez ‘22, Student Health Assistant