According to Wheaton College’s on-campus testing results on the college’s website, at the conclusion of the first full day of classes, two students and one non-student member of the community had tested positive for COVID-19. Six of the college’s On-Campus Isolation and Quarantine Housing rooms, located in Everett Hall, are currently in use, with 114 rooms still available.
This places the college at an alert level of “Yellow – Moderate Concern,” a status level determined by Wheaton College’s President’s Council, in consultation with the COVID-19 Task Force and in consideration of a number of internal and external COVID-related factors. A Status Level of Yellow suggests that the college will continue with their reopening plan, utilizing the hybrid tutorial model to allow for both in-person and remote learning, but all other in-person co-curricular activities are subject to restriction. Guidelines surrounding other in-person activities would be determined through contact tracing and potential sources of the spread.
Upon return to campus, every member of the community: students, faculty and staff were tested. During the semester, all members of the community on campus more than 3 days a week are tested twice a week, with members of the community on campus less than three days are tested once a week. Those remote or not in a community facing role are not tested. At a Status Level of Yellow, only essential personnel are required to work on campus, with other personnel encouraged to limit their time on campus.
As of Jan. 28, the town of Norton has had 148 positive tests in the last 14 days, with a 6.61 percent positivity rate. Norton is currently at a Red community risk level as reported by the Department of Health on Mass.gov.