WATERVILLE, MAINE, November 2020 — Thomas College reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in its community.
A critical component of the Thomas College Return to Campus Safely Plan is a rigorous testing program that was designed to respond quickly to any incidents on campus or in the Thomas College community. The College has been regularly testing the entire campus since August. As of today, the College has conducted more than 6,000 COVID-19 tests.
Thomas College learned of its first confirmed case in its community on the afternoon of November 6. The individual is in isolation off-campus. At this time, according to the Maine CDC, given the timeframe from onset of symptoms and knowing when the individual was last active in our community, the Maine CDC concluded that there has been no identified close contact on campus between this individual and others.
“While this news may be concerning, I want to stress that this is what our strategy was designed to do: Identify any incidents as soon as possible so they can be contained quickly and minimize the risk of spread to others,” said Thomas College President Laurie G. Lachance. “Our goal has always been to put the health and safety of the community above all other considerations. We will continue to monitor and work closely with the Maine CDC to determine whether additional steps need to be taken to protect our entire Thomas community and our extended community of family, friends, and the central Maine region.”
For the most recent updates from the Thomas College community, please visit our COVID-19 web page at https://wwwold.thomas.edu/coronavirus. You can find more information about the Thomas College Return to Campus Safely Plan at https://wwwold.thomas.edu/coronavirus/return-to-campus.
About Thomas College: Thomas College has been preparing students for success in their personal and professional lives for over 125 years. Thomas College nurtures the unique potential within each student. Our Guaranteed Job Program, 3-year accelerated offerings in all undergraduate degrees (master’s in the fourth year), individualized advising, career counseling, and our Innovation Centers in Business and Education meet a student’s determination to succeed with the direction, confidence, and tools to realize the highest version of themselves. From the classroom to community activities, or on the athletics field with our 19 varsity sports, Thomas College provides a personalized experience that prepares you for the workplace of tomorrow. Data reported by the New York Times ranks Thomas in the top 13 percent of all higher education institutions in the U.S. for upward mobility of its graduates, and U.S. News & World Report ranks us #7 among colleges in the Northeast. For more information, visit wwwold.thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at mediarel@thomas.edu or 207-649-4487. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.