The following message was sent by the University’s COVID-19 Task Force to the campus community on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020:
Dear Elmhurst University Community:
Since the beginning of October, our nation, state, county, and campus have seen an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases. This past week (Monday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 8), we had 26 reported positive cases of COVID-19 in our campus community. This number is a combined total of positive results from on-campus and off-campus testing.
On our website, you will find updated information on our Dashboard numbers, and you will see that our Alert Status remains Yellow. With the pandemic surging around us, the COVID-19 Task Force will provide weekly updates on our testing and Alert Status.
By now, you may have heard that DuPage County has implemented additional restrictions directed by the Governor of Illinois. These new restrictions include no indoor seating for bars and restaurants, and the public gatherings restriction has been reduced to 10 or fewer people. The COVID-19 Task Force is in the process of examining how these restrictions may impact our campus (gatherings of 10 or fewer people); however, we know with certainty that the gatherings restriction does not impact classrooms or athletic competition. And just yesterday, Illinois’ Health Department issued new recommendations urging people to stay home and work from home as much as possible. We are also monitoring these recommendations and encourage employees to work with their supervisors on their in-office schedules.
With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, we continue to encourage everyone to be mindful of wearing a mask in all buildings, washing your hands often, maintaining social distancing, and using hand sanitizer. If we all follow these CDC recommendations, as well as limit our movement, we will minimize the possibility of acquiring the virus and passing it along to family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The COVID-19 Task Force clearly understands that we are all becoming frustrated with the pandemic. This is not the time to throw in the towel. Now, more than ever, all of us need to follow the local, regional, and national mandates when it comes to our health and safety.
Since we began tracking positive cases on campus on March 16, we have had 94 reported positive cases. Certainly, Elmhurst University is not immune to the virus. We all need to take the virus seriously. If not for yourself, please do it for family, friends, co-workers, and your fellow Bluejays.
Stay Safe and Healthy,
Dr. Phil Riordan, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Dean Pribbenow, Vice President for Academic Affairs