Hello, everyone, and welcome to the New Year! As we return from the Holiday Season, the College Taskforce would like to remind our community to be cautious in your interactions with others for the next few weeks. Many of our community over the holiday season traveled to be with family and friends to receive and give comfort during these challenging times. In order to prepare for the new school quarter, they are now returning, so we ask that everyone double their precautions in regards to maintaining COVID protocols: stay socially distanced when possible, wear masks, use hand sanitizer and wash your hands frequently.
The college does not require students, patients, or employees to quarantine after your return from travel. However, if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in contact with anyone who is COVID-19 symptomatic, please stay home and follow the usual protocols, get tested, and isolate yourself. Alameda County’s free testing sites can be viewed here. Students are to contact Professor David Straub (dstraub@lifewest.edu); staff/faculty, please contact Tarsha Addison (taddison@lifewest.edu) if you test positive or are not going to be on campus because of exposure. If you test positive, isolate yourself to protect others from infection. Isolation instructions can be viewed here and please use the same contacts above. All new students, patients, and employees are required to complete a Health Screening Questionnaire. If your health condition changes after you were previously cleared, a new Health Screening Questionnaire must be completed and your status updated prior to your return on campus.
The public health department has not changed the shelter in place order issued on Dec. 7, except to extend the end date of the order indefinitely. We will be remaining under the purple code order until ICU bed capacity reaches a more manageable level. The college was already operating under purple code conditions before the launch of the holiday break and we will continue to do so as long as the county is at this level of concern.
Remember that we can all do our part to help keep ourselves healthy during these times so stay free of subluxation (get checked), hydrate frequently, and maintain high levels of vitamin D12, vitamin C and Zinc. The Taskforce continues to recommend performing outdoor exercise as weather permits as something to not only keep us healthy but also give our minds a break from the same old four walls of our homes, offices, apartments, etc.
We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday time (even if virtual) with their families and friends, and that you took time for yourself to rest, relax and rejuvenate. We also hope everyone is ready to begin a new quarter as we continue to adapt to our new and ever-changing world.
If you have any questions or feedback you would like to share, please email us at taskforce@lifewest.edu.
We look forward to everyone starting this Winter 2021 quarter and working toward “creating a brighter future for humanity.”