Dear Lawrentians,
Last Wednesday, we wrote to alert the community to an increase in viral spread on our campus. We have continued to see concerning viral activity this week. As of 3:00 p.m. today, an additional 19 community members have tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
It is more important than ever that we continue to Honor the Pledge as we face this steep increase in positive cases over the last two weeks.
We are also implementing the following safety measures:
- Voluntary PCR testing will be available tomorrow, April 20, in the Wellness Center. Testing will take place at 12:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
- All community members are encouraged to take extra precautions, which includes checking your symptoms daily, limiting in-person meetings and gatherings whenever possible, and wearing a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. KN-95 masks are available in the Wellness Center.
- Dining spaces will be adjusted to accommodate enhanced physical distancing as quickly as possible. Capacity in the Brengel Dining Room will be reduced, and additional spaces in Warch will be opened as an alternative dining space. Capacities will be monitored, and students may be asked to move to another space to ensure physical distancing.
- Students, faculty, and staff planning large events are asked to coordinate with the following groups for guidance:
- Student organizations should contact the SEAL office (Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership).
- Employees should consult with the Facilities Request Group.
We also encourage all community members who have not yet received their booster shot to participate in two upcoming clinics: Friday, April 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Somerset Room and Thursday, April 28 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Pusey Room.
If adjustments to our plans or operational status are needed, we will be in immediate communication with our campus community.
The recent increase in positive cases on campus is a disappointment, especially as we look forward to spring term’s many opportunities to gather as a community. We greatly appreciate your patience, flexibility, and dedication to Honor the Pledge as we work to mitigate the spread of the virus on campus.
As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to monitor the situation, learn from our experiences, follow the science, and adapt our mitigation strategies as quickly as possible to limit the spread on campus. Together, we will overcome this challenging moment for our community.
As always, please submit questions to coronainfo@lawrence.edu and stay tuned to your email for updates.
Be well and stay well,
Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team
