An important coronavirus update from President Murray

Dear Members of the Whitman Community,

We wanted to give you an update on some coronavirus developments on our campus and in our area and share college response plans for different scenarios.

This weekend one Whitman student with flu-like symptoms was tested for coronavirus out of an abundance of caution. Until the test is complete the student is self-isolating.

As of this morning, there are no presumptive or confirmed cases on Whitman’s campus and no confirmed cases of community transmission in Walla Walla. As of Friday, the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health had tested seven people for the coronavirus and six of those tests have come back negative.  They are still waiting for the results of the seventh test.

We have been preparing for the possibility of confirmed cases or community transmission.

If there were presumptive or confirmed cases of coronavirus in residents of the Walla Walla community, as defined by the county department of community health, Whitman College would cancel all public events on campus and limit community access to Whitman facilities and suspend all Whitman-sponsored community programs.

If there were presumptive or confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Whitman Community, Whitman College plans to move to online instruction while we disinfect the campus and better understand the extent of the outbreak. WCTS will work with faculty and staff to prepare for this possibility.

We recognize that some faculty, staff and students may have risk factors that make them more susceptible to coronavirus. If you are in this category, we encourage you to make arrangements to teach, attend class or work remotely if possible.

The coronavirus task force, along with faculty leadership, decided not to cancel spring break.  However, to limit the possibility of exposing members of our community to COVID-19 and transmitting coronavirus  Whitman College strongly encourages you to cancel spring break travel and stay in Walla Walla for the break. The situation is changing rapidly and there is a chance that if you leave campus you may be unable to return due to travel restrictions. Countries and regions may enact restrictions and even quarantines with little advance warning.  

If you travel to countries on  a Level 3 or Level 2 travel warning, you must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor your symptoms before you return to regular activities.

We’re asking every member of the Whitman Community to fill out the  spring break travel alert planning form, regardless of whether or not you plan to travel.

While for many students, the risk associated with coronavirus is low, it is important to remember that we have a responsibility to the Walla Walla community to go to every effort to not spread the virus throughout our region.  That is a real possibility should you travel during spring break and return to campus at the end of the month. 

The coronavirus situation continues to change day-by-day, which is why we recommend checking  www.whitman.edu/coronavirus for the latest updates.

Kathy Murray
President