For Immediate Release
Contact: Katie Glass, Executive Director of Marketing/Public Information Officer
Phone: 608.822.2411
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: September 2, 2020
Southwest Tech responds to positive COVID-19 test and delivers program virtually for a period of time
Fennimore -See Updated Release for most recent information.
On Sept. 2, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College was notified that a student attending face-to-face classes tested positive for COVID-19. After consultation with health authorities, the college is taking the precautionary measure of temporarily changing the education format for the students in the Electro-Mechanical Technology program to a virtual format. The move to virtual instruction is a short-term response allowing education to continue while students isolate following an exposure incident. The plan is to resume face-to-face instruction after two weeks.
The Grant County Health Department has confirmed that Southwest Tech is taking the appropriate actions to prevent the spread of illness on campus. College officials have directly contacted and offered additional guidance to anyone known to have had direct exposure to this individual while on campus. The officials also understand that this is a challenging situation at several levels, and they ask that the privacy of this individual is respected.
“We commend the students for communicating their circumstances and recognize the faculty and staff for their efforts to keep people safe and healthy,” said Southwest Tech president, Jason Wood. “In compliance with the College’s Return to Campus Plan, the students are isolating, and the College notified public health authorities. We will continue to take steps to help protect the health and safety of our community.”
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act, any incident that creates a threat to the students, employees, or campus guests will result in a timely notification. These steps are essential to the college’s efforts in reporting and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The college will keep the community informed of any new developments that would impact the campus’s health and safety. To learn more about Southwest Tech’s Phase III of the Return to Campus Plan, please visit the website. https://www.swtc.edu/news/covid-19-coronavirus/
This is also an opportunity to remind the community of some important information regarding COVID-19. In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, the college is requesting immediate attention to and compliance with the following health-authority-recommended practices – not only to ensure an individual’s own well-being but the well-being of others. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
- Wash your hands
- Avoid close contact
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Clean and disinfect
- Monitor your health daily
Those who develop a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing should call their primary care provider or contact their local county health department for further instructions. Southwest Tech students and employees can contact the college for free resources that are available to support those experiencing anxiety or other mental health concerns, which are so common in these times.
Please know that college officials will be monitoring daily, updated guidance, and information to determine appropriate action. Regarding events and other campus-based programs: they will be keeping the community informed about developments occurring to minimize the spread of the virus. This is not a time to panic. However, it is a time to be attentive, flexible, serious, and engaged regarding the steps needed to take as a community to care for ourselves and one another. Please be attentive to Southwest Tech communications addressing COVID-19 and additional steps to be taken to address this evolving situation.
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, and in a blended format. The College provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare students for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |