A Cypress College student who took on-campus classes prior to the closure of the school has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus, according to a statement emailed to campus faculty, staff and students by the school’s communication office.
A student participating in the joint-Fullerton College and Cypress College study abroad program to London, England also tested positive for the Coronavirus, officials stated earlier this week.
Below is the emailed statement sent to Cypress College students and faculty on March 26 by Cypress College public information officer Marc Posner.
A second Cypress College student has reported a positive test result for the novel Coronavirus. The student, who is in self-quarantine, participated in on-campus classes prior to the campus closure earlier this month and remains enrolled in online coursework at this time.
The student was last on campus on March 11, meaning the incubation (two to 14 days) for symptoms has passed. The student’s instructors are notifying classmates with this and additional precautionary information.
Health Center Director Marla McBride has been in contact with the student to address any needs or concerns. McBride is also working with other health care professionals to ensure that anyone who had contact with the student receives information from the Orange County Health Care Agency, which is in alignment with the agency’s practice.
Cypress College is actively engaged in activities to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the campus community. This includes sharing of information in an effort to reduce unnecessary anxiety and concern. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and in alignment with government directives, Cypress College was closed to students on Friday, March 13, and to employees on Monday, March 16. This closure will last at least through April 13.
We appreciate everyone exercising an abundance of caution during this time and ask that anyone with knowledge of a student who believes they may have been exposed report this information to their manager and encourage the student to report to a health professional immediately.
For the cases we become aware of, the college will work to contact individuals who may have been directly exposed. Health officials expect that the number of reported cases will continue to increase in the coming weeks before actions such as the campus closure and social distancing start to help flatten the curve. Because of community transmission and increased testing, please do not be alarmed if we start reporting more confirmed cases.
We promise to keep you informed. Because the campus has now been closed past the incubation period for exposure, future confirmed cases will appear on the website at: https://www.cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus/latest-information.
Social distancing remains the most-important mitigation step. In addition, students and employees are asked to heed the guidance of federal, state, and local public health agencies and other government officials. This includes following Gov. Newsom’s stay-at-home order and practicing good hygiene.
“Every trip to a public place increases your risk of exposure,” Mc Bride said. “We are all potentially exposed in our community in our daily lives. Community transmission of Coronavirus means we should follow the recommendations of health professionals to limit contact with others.”
For more information, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control provides a Coronavirus Self Checker located at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html.
Resources for students and employees are available at https://www.cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus/.
