Hillsdale College reported four active cases of COVID-19 Wednesday morning, with one student in isolation awaiting test results. Twenty-five individuals are in contact isolation after close contact with a person who tested positive, the college reported in the faculty and staff newsletter on Wednesday.
Out of the 235 students who have been tested this semester, 208 tested negative and 27 tested positive. Twenty-three positive cases are resolved.
According to mlive, Hillsdale County averages a rate of 17.54 daily cases. On Oct. 14, Hillsdale Community Schools Superintendent Shawn Vondra announced that Davis Middle School would transition to online learning, after multiple positive test results within the school community. The middle school plans to stay online until Oct. 28. Hillsdale Academy and Will Carleton Academy are still holding in-person school, as of Wednesday.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported Monday that in recent weeks, high schools have seen a rise in outbreaks of COVID-19. According to the data, Michigan colleges have seen less outbreaks than high schools in the last week, but colleges like the University of Michigan are taking extra precautions.
On Oct. 20, the Washtenaw County Health Department ordered 31,000 undergraduates at the University of Michigan to stay in their rooms except for food, work, exercise, medical appointments, or in-person classes, until the morning of Nov. 3. The order does not include graduate students and it exempts athletes.
Director of Health and Wellness Brock Lutz said the relatively low number of positive cases at Hillsdale College seems promising.
“The community of Hillsdale still remains fairly low in positive cases,” Lutz said. “As long as everyone remains diligent regarding spatial distancing and wearing masks in close quarters, we are hopeful our cases can remain low.”
Health Care Liason Stephanie Gravel said students should still do their part to hold themselves accountable whenever they feel ill.
“If someone is not feeling well I encourage them to call health services or the on-call nurse,” Gravel said. “Students have said sometimes they have not been able to get a hold of the on-call nurse, but I encourage them to call again. If they don’t answer it is because they are talking to another student.”
While the low number of positive cases after fall break suggests no new outbreaks at the college so far, Gravel said the school isn’t relaxing protocol.
“We are ready and able to handle an outbreak if necessary,” Gravel said.
