Jan 20, 2022 —
Good afternoon everyone –
It’s been a busy week so far, so I’m reaching out with another update on processes our District and College will be offering to help mitigate further spread of the Omicron COVID variant.
- Reedley College will again implement our “SCCCD Safe” app for employees only starting Monday, January 24th, specifically to assist with contact tracing and notifying employees of possible close contacts with the COVID virus. Please be aware that using this app generates information that Human Resources professionals only see. Names that are generated from this app are not associated with time spent in any location, only that you were present in a building on a specific day.
- Similarly, Reedley will release a modified Qualitrics survey used by students only to report close contact with COVID, symptoms, or positive tests. We will launch this reporting tool for students on Monday, January 24th.
- Today we began serving all employees with COVID-like symptoms at the drive-up COVID testing site located behind our staff dining room.
- The drive-up COVID testing pilot ran smoothly, so starting January 20th, we began serving all employees without symptoms that have had close contact with COVID and need testing.
- On Monday, January 24th, we will also begin serving students without exemptions that:
- Have had close contact with COVID -- Access testing inside the tent
- Are experiencing COVID-like symptoms -- Access testing at the drive-up location behind the staff dining room
Thanks to everyone actively supporting our efforts to introduce wearing high-efficiency KN95 or N95 masks this term. This one additional mitigation effort will help reduce the spread of Omicron combined with effective mask-wearing (above the nose).
County COVID statistics are currently at an all-time high for the spread of this virus, so mask-wearing is incredibly important particularly this month. Please also remember that mask-wearing is currently required indoors by the State of California and State Center Community College District, specifically when more than one person is present.
Twice-weekly testing is currently required for all students with medical or religious exemptions. We are currently investigating expanding our testing service to Fridays and 7:00 pm Monday - Thursday to better serve everyone’s needs.
I appreciate your support, and please stay safe.
Best wishes,
Dr. Jerry Buckley
President, Reedley College
