Latest Update from Laurie G. Lachance – First Confirmed Case of COVID-19 at Thomas College MacKenzie Riley Young | November 6, 2020

Published: November 6, 2020

To the Thomas College Community,

Since we began the school year, our goal has always been to create an environment where we can safely learn, live, and work together on campus.  One of the cornerstones of the Thomas College Return to Campus Safely Plan is our testing program which was designed to respond quickly to any incidents on campus.  We have been regularly testing the entire campus since August. As of today, we have conducted more than 6,000 COVID-19 tests.

I write to inform you that this afternoon we learned that a member of the Thomas College community has tested positive for COVID-19. 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 rigorous testing 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.

We are fully committed to transparently communicating our testing results while preserving this individual’s privacy, and we ask that you please respect the privacy of this individual so they can focus on their health.  Our  COVID-19 Dashboard is updated regularly with the total number of administered tests and positive cases since testing began, the number administered in the last 14 days, and the number of positive cases in the last 14 days.

This news along with the recent rise in cases throughout Maine reinforces the need for us to continue to be vigilant and committed to making our campus as safe as we can by remembering our shared pledge:

  • Self-screen daily for COVID-19 symptoms
  • Practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing
  • Wear a facial covering when appropriate
  • Practice social distancing by remaining 6-feet from others
  • Help to keep shared spaces sanitary
  • Participate in campus testing and contact tracing
  • Observe and follow posted signs and instructions
  • Regularly monitor campus communications for updates
  • Actively encourage others to adhere to our Terrier Pledge
  • Show leadership and kindness in service to our community

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 Thomas College community and our extended community of family, friends, and the central Maine region.

I urge you to please get your seasonal flu shot.  More than ever, being proactive about protecting your personal health will help keep our community safe and healthy and will help ensure that we can remain together on-campus. 

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.  If you have questions related to COVID-19, please email us at  [email protected]

With Deep Respect,

Laurie G. Lachance
President