December 4, 2020
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
I write to you with our weekly update from the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group.
New Cases at Reed
Since our last update, we have identified two new COVID-19 cases at Reed. While these individuals did access campus in the 14 days prior to their positive test results, we do not believe they originated from an on-campus exposure. Both cases were notified and placed in isolation promptly after their positive results were reported. Thanks to diligent adherence to COVID transmission prevention measures and quick test turnaround times, very few close contacts were identified among Reed community members. These contacts were successfully notified of their potential exposure, placed on 14-day home quarantine, and instructed to connect with a healthcare provider for more information. Reed continues to report all associated COVID-19 cases online within 24 hours of identification, found in the "Total Cases" section of the dashboard.
Statewide Changes
This week, Oregon announced a new statewide framework for evaluating county-level COVID-19 risk and implementing appropriate response measures. According to the latest data, Multnomah County, where Reed College is located, is currently in the "Extreme Risk" category. The Risk Assessment Group will continue to review these guidelines as they are published, and will recommend updates to the Reed COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan accordingly.
Face Coverings: New Statewide Requirements
One major change in the state's latest COVID-19 guidance requires, with limited exceptions, the use of approved face coverings indoors and outdoors, regardless of ventilation or ability to social distance. The Reed College face covering requirements have been updated to reflect this change and we ask that all community members follow this guidance.
State and National Trends
COVID-19 activity in Oregon and across the country continues at the highest levels observed since the pandemic began. Hospital and other healthcare resources are increasingly strained, and widespread community transmission challenges important public health response activities, including contact tracing and outbreak management. While we continue to assess and strengthen our ability to detect, respond to, and prevent COVID-19 in our campus operations, we also recognize the risk that high COVID activity in the general community poses. As ever, we ask you to please help us keep Reed a safe place to live, work, and study by participating in surveillance testing, the weekly risk assessment survey, and, for those both local and remote, all other essential response measures on and off campus.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group at coronavirusquestions@reed.edu.
Sincerely,
Madison Riethman, MPH, CPH
COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Health Project Manager
Health & Counseling Services
Reporting on behalf of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group
PS: As a reminder, you can track all our COVID-19 communications to members of the Reed Community here.