Important COVID-19 reminders

Dear Skidmore Community,

We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the beauty of fall at Skidmore! We are reaching out to provide you with an update from the COVID-19 Logistics WorkingGroup given the recent trends we are seeing in county transmission rates.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to classify the COVID-19 Community Level in Saratoga County, New York, as “medium,” but we are aware that neighboring counties are at “high” and are keeping a close eye on county transmission levels and an increase in the percentage of hospitalizations in Saratoga County.

While we have historically seen our campus COVID-19 levels trend with the county, our levels are tracking at alower rateat this time,and we have thankfully not experienced hospitalizations due to COVID-19 this academic year. We are fortunate that Skidmore is nearly 99% vaccinated and boosted (many with the new bivalent booster) and that we are mask-friendly and respect the diverse needs of our community. In order to maintain this trend and protect our community, especially those most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19, we want to reiterate important precautions that we can all take to keep our campus a safe place for all.

As a reminder, we ask for your continued support to keep our campus safe and healthy by following these measures:

• We are a mask-supportive community. We understand that our staff, faculty, and some students come to campus from different locations, some of which may have a higher community level of COVID-19. Wearing a well-fitting KN95 or equivalent masklowers the risk of infection, and we encourage and support wearing masks at work and in the classroom.To help keep cases at Skidmore low, wearing a mask while in high-density places and at events on and off campus is suggested.
• Get your COVID-19 booster as soon as possible. A second bivalent booster clinic will be held on campusfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, and is open to all faculty, staff, and students. You must book your appointment here in advance. Please download and complete this paperwork and bring it with you to your scheduled appointment. If you are unable to attend this clinic, you are still encouraged to receive a booster as soon as possible. Available appointments at nearby locations can be found here.
• Remember to test. Please test if you develop symptoms (even if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days) and continue to wear a mask while symptoms persist.
• Pick up free masks and rapid tests on campus. Free KN95 masks continue to be available to all on campus and will be made easily accessible at all events and gatherings. Free rapid tests remain available to all at Campus Safety and at the Case Center Information Desk.
• Consider getting your flu shot. Visit Vaccines.gov  to find available flu vaccination appointments nearby.

Skidmore is also working with student organizations to consider how best to keep the Skidmore community safe at upcoming large gatheringsand events.

We will continue to communicate key updates, and we thank you again for your commitment to our collective health and well-being and attention to these protocols.

 

Sincerely,

The COVID-19 Logistics Working Group
Adrian Bautista, (Co-Chair), Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs
Sarah Vero, (Co-Chair), Strategic HR Advisor
Abigail Caldwell, Director of Health Services
Jacqueline Conrad, Vice President for Communications and Marketing
Pat Fehling, Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor for Health and Human Physiological Sciences
Julia Routbort, Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Health and Wellness