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April 9, 2021 – Threshold Action Level Update

Dear Whitman community,

The openings of these updates are beginning to feel a little repetitive, but in the best way possible: once again a week has passed with no new cases of COVID-19 identified through our surveillance testing, and we will remain at Threshold Action Level 1: Low. In addition to seeing that our students, staff and faculty are diligently wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines, we are also hearing anecdotal evidence that many on our campus are being vaccinated, and we continue to be thankful that the Whitman community is taking this so seriously.

Unfortunately, there are other less pleasant themes that we must continue to repeat as well; namely, that this pandemic is not yet over and we cannot be lulled into complacency. We are extremely concerned about a new surge in local cases, which have doubled over the past two weeks as public health guidelines are relaxed and people fail to follow social distancing and masking practices even as COVID-19 variants spread throughout the area. Multiple cases of COVID-19 in Walla Walla County have been identified as caused by highly contagious and potentially more dangerous variants. It is extremely worrying that the current transmission trend shows higher rates among younger age groups than in the past, with more cases and more serious illness occurring in people under 40, including a 22-year-old who died in Walla Walla this past weekend.

We cannot let down our guard and must continue to diligently follow all our campus masking, distancing, and testing protocols as well gathering guidelines:

  • Inter-campus visitors are allowed in residence halls (one visitor per room; visitors may not be in public spaces; visitors from off-campus are not allowed).
  • Students may gather outdoors on campus in groups of up to 15 people and indoors in groups of up to five people.
  • Student clubs and organizations may submit proposals to hold outdoor activities and gatherings of up to 15 people and indoors in groups of up to five people.
  • Off-campus residents may gather for indoor visits of up to a total of five people from two households and outdoor visits of up to 15 people from two households.

As spring weather brings more people outdoors, you will likely begin to see more people who are not Whitman staff, faculty or students passing through campus. Because our campus is not strictly closed to the public, visitors are allowed to walk through outdoor areas and we do expect them to wear face coverings and keep at least 6 ft. from others. There are two specific visitor situations that we want to make sure you are aware of: Admitted Students Saturdays and a new policy for spectators at Whitman Baseball games.

Admitted Students Saturdays
This spring’s visits by admitted students have been carefully crafted following social distancing protocols to keep both our campus community and our visitors safe, including limited numbers of participants, mandatory COVID testing upon arrival and a managed program of events. Admitted Students Saturdays will take place through May 15.
 
Whitman Spring Sports Spectators Policy
In accordance with the Northwest Conference Presidents' Council’s new policy on the allowance of spectators at spring sports conference games, Whitman will permit a limited number of student-athlete family members as spectators at home events effective April 10. Student spectators and spectators from visiting teams are not allowed. The two Whitman spring sports with home events remaining this season are baseball and tennis.

There is one final item that bears repeating: hang in there! We are going to get through this. I know you’re tired of talking about COVID and living under COVID restrictions; I am too. But the only way we will finish this pandemic is by continuing – individually and as a community – to do the things we know prevent the spread of this virus.

Best,
Peter Harvey
Coronavirus Task Force Chair

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