Campus Coronavirus Update as of March 4, 2020

Greetings,

In light of rapidly changing news about the coronavirus (COVID-19), the College will be providing daily updates via email and the website about the status of this public health concern on Shoreline’s campus. Please check www.shoreline.edu/covid19.aspx regularly for all of the latest updates

Current Status of the Campus 

At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 on our campus. Following guidance from health authorities, the campus is open as usual.  

Our custodial crew is doing additional daily cleaning of high-touch areas on campus, including tables, desks, door handles, handrails, etc. 

Our shuttle service will change effective March 5th: the interior of the vans will be wiped down with disinfectant after each round trip, each day that it is in service. The shuttles will stop at the Sears Lot and Aurora Avenue every 30-45 minutes, rather than every 15 minutes, to allow time for the cleaning. The vans will also be cleaned after each grocery shuttle run. To accommodate any additional parking needs, the Greenwood Parking Lot will be opened. Students who wish to park there will not need to purchase a parking pass through the end of the quarter.

Updated King County Guidance 

The College’s Communicable Disease Task Force is actively monitoring guidance from CDC, the Department of Health, and Public Health – Seattle & King County. We are reviewing the latest information released from King County this afternoon about large gatherings and working from home. We will follow up with more information tomorrow about how these recommendations may impact the College.  

When Would the Campus Close? 

The College would close the physical campus if a confirmed case of COVID-19 was documented on our campus (which has not yet happened).  

If someone on campus is found to have the virus, we would activate our coordinated emergency response plan. The campus would shut down for cleaning and we would consult with health officials about when it would be safe to reopen. Students and employees would be notified immediately via email, text, phone, website, and social media, and would receive information about how to continue their studies or work remotely. We are crafting protocols for how to shift nearly all face-to-face classes to online instruction should the campus need to close temporarily. 

If You Think You May Have Been Exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, the College has created a new form where you can self-report your concerns. A Shoreline employee who is a health professional will follow up with you to provide resources on what to do next. Using this form will help the College track and follow-up with any potential exposure on our campus. 

Prevention Measures 

Remember, the best action we can all take right now is to maintain good personal health habits, such as hand washing, frequently disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and staying home if we feel ill. As a reminder, U.S. health officials do not currently recommend that the general population wear face masks, but we understand that some people may choose to wear them either for personal or cultural reasons. 

Respectfully, 

Cheryl Roberts, Ed.D. 

President

March 4th, 2020 by