Dear GRCC Family,

I am writing to inform you that a member of our GRCC family, a student, has tested positive for the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. This result was confirmed by the Kent County Health Department.

Our first thoughts are with this student as they continue to recover.

We have worked closely with the Health Department to determine the next steps for us as a campus and as a community.

The student reported showing symptoms of COVID-19 on March 17. They were tested on March 19, and we learned late on March 20 that the test results were presumptive positive.

The Health Department has been in contact with this student and has determined that the risk to GRCC is low.

The student is in isolation, and the Health Department has worked with the student to determine who their close contacts are, based on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services risk-based guidelines.

The Health Department has determined this person has had very few close contacts, and has contacted those individuals who require observation and are monitoring them for illness for 14 days after their last known exposure to the student.

I know these are challenging times. We have been proactive by suspending face-to-face instruction and closing campus. We will continue to work together to keep our campus community safe.

As a reminder

All students and employees should continue to monitor themselves for symptoms as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and county Health Department. These symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, new coughing and shortness of breath.

As the spread in West Michigan increases, there will be a higher likelihood that people will come into contact with others who have been exposed to this virus.

We should all continue to exercise discipline and practice social distancing. Most importantly, continue to implement steps to prevent illness.

n Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer.

n Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

n Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.

n Maintain social distance of at least six feet from all other individuals.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus, CDC.gov/Coronavirus and https://www.accesskent.com/Health/coronavirus.htm

We also will continue to update the GRCC homepage with campus information at grcc.edu/coronavirus.

Stay well,

Bill Pink

GRCC President