HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Hope College officials announced Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, that 38 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as the result of the school’s testing program.
The 38 were identified among 3,979 tests administered.
Some students are quaranting at home; those living on campus are staying in housing set aside for people with COVID-19.
Hope College spokeswoman Jennifer Fellinger said school officials have been planning the fall semester for months, knowing they’d be dealing with the new coronavirus. (Listen to the full interview.)
Starting today, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, mandatory testing will be administered to 1 percent of the student body each weekday. This is part of the school’s strategy, along with requiring people on campus to wear masks, wash hands frequently, practicing social distancing — and school officials also instituted a program to analyze wastewater for signs of the virus.
She said school officials are confident they’ll have enough test kits, which deliver results in about 15 minutes, to last the full fall semester. She noted the current rate of testing reflects more than a 99 percent negative results.
Felinger, Hope’s vice president for public affairs and marketing, is part of Hope’s COVID-19 response team steering committee, which also includes Kristyn Bochniak, associate dean for residential life and education; Lindsey Engelsman, assistant athletic director of finance and marketing; Jeff Pestun, computing and IT director; and Provost Cady Short-Thompson
School officials are making COVID-19 updates a campus routine.
