March 30, 2020
An Update from Ursuline College President Sister Christine De Vinne, OSU, PhD
An Ursuline College faculty member has tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The faculty member’s last face-to-face interaction with students was on March 13. Since being diagnosed on March 29, the faculty member has been self-quarantined at home, is recovering, and is able to teach courses online.
The faculty member’s last day on campus was March 16. They said they were exposed to the virus in an off-campus location on March 17 and began noticing symptoms on March 25. They have not returned to the Ursuline campus since exposure.
Most Ursuline College undergraduates were on mid-semester break from March 9-13. No classes were held for any students on March 16-17, and the College began online instruction on March 18.
“The good news is that our faculty colleague is making a good recovery from this illness. They have had no face-to-face contact with students, faculty, or staff in 17 days,” said Sister Christine De Vinne, OSU, PhD. “Our prayers are with everyone fighting COVID-19 and all of their loved ones and caregivers.
"We recognize that nurses and all healthcare workers are particularly at risk to contract the disease as they give care to others. As well, COVID-19 continues to spread across Ohio and the country. Ursuline College will continue to monitor its eruption among our community and will continue all practices recommended by the State of Ohio and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about quarantining. We can expect that others in the Ursuline College community will be diagnosed in the days and weeks ahead, and to the fullest extent possible we will notify those who have had the potential to come into direct contact with anyone who tests positive," President De Vinne said.
According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure: fever, cough, shortness of breath. Now 17 days since the faculty member was last on campus, Ursuline College has received no other reports of faculty, students or staff exhibiting symptoms.
The CDC provides important information on prevention measures, symptoms, and more on its website.
