Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
Testing for COVID-19
After a delay due to the national testing backlog, Carroll College is in the final stages of planning for asymptomatic testing for select populations of students, faculty and staff in the coming weeks. We are currently determining the vendor we will use for testing and how the testing will be administered. We will have more information in next week’s Marching Back update. The first individuals included in this testing are likely to be those with higher exposure levels including athletes, coaches, resident assistants, peer ministers and faculty teaching in person.
Students that are symptomatic for COVID-19 can obtain a test by contacting the Wellness Center by email at krigsby@carroll.edu or by calling 406-447-5441. Faculty, staff and students can also contact their healthcare provider or by calling the St. Peter’s Urgent Care hotline at 406-457-4180.
Two locations in Helena also offer asymptomatic testing without a medical order:
PureView Health Care (Monday through Friday 1 pm to 5 pm)
Walgreens (online appointments available for next day testing)
Quarantine, Isolation and Positive COVID-19 cases
While Carroll College has not reported any new COVID-19 positive students in the past three weeks, the college has had students who were quarantined because they were identified as a close contact with someone who was positive for COVID-19 outside of campus or was a suspected case due to their symptoms. Students who have symptoms are encouraged to self-isolate and follow the guidelines on the Marching Back website. It is very important that students placed in quarantine follow all guidance of Lewis and Clark Public Health. A reminder of these important definitions:
Isolation: As defined by Lewis and Clark Public Health, “Isolation refers to separating people who are sick from those who are not sick.” For the purposes of the Marching Back plan, isolation refers to the plan to move individuals with confirmed cases of COVID-19 into separate living arrangements where they can recover and not infect others. Isolation duration is individual and directed by the physician or Public Health nurse.
Quarantine: As defined by Lewis and Clark Public Health, “Quarantine refers to separating people who are, or may have been, exposed to COVID-19, but are not showing signs of illness.” For the purposes of the Marching Back plan, quarantine refers to the plan to move individuals who through contact tracing are known to have been exposed to COVID-19 and according to public health guidelines need to be separated from the community for 14 days from the last exposure date.
Contact: LCPH defines close contact as exposure of 15 minutes or more within 6 feet of the person diagnosed COVID-19 positive, less than 48 hours before symptoms began. Contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days.
Please continue to do your part as we navigate the fall semester. We have worked together to make the most of this semester, and we appreciate all you are doing to keep us all safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
John E. Cech, Ph.D., President
Carroll College Marching Back Task Force