Today, college officials learned that an individual who attended a class on Thursday, July 16, has tested positive for COVID-19. This case is unrelated to Virginia Western’s first identified case earlier this week, with the class taking place at a different location in the Fralin Center for Science and Health Professions, where most of the limited in-person classes are currently being held.
The college is working with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to contact any individuals who attended the class on Thursday and advising them to self-quarantine for 14 days unless they experience symptoms of COVID-19, at which time, they should seek medical advice and potentially testing/treatment.
The college is performing deep cleaning and sanitizing of the impacted area in accordance to guidance from the VDH. The VDH has directed the college that there is not a need to close the classroom or facility at this time. Employees and students are advised to use appropriate face masks/face coverings as well as practice social distancing and hand washing in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and VDH best practices.
We want to ensure that messages related to COVID-19 campus impacts are easily accessible and contained in a single location. In the future, if a positive COVID-19 case necessitates the closure of a facility or portion of a facility, notifications will be posted at https://www.virginiawestern.edu/covid19/. Health and safety guidance from the CDC and VDH as well as college protocols are also located on that site and within the college’s re-opening plan.
