November 9, Lamar Community College’s COVID-19 Response Team met with Prowers County Public Health and Environments to review cases at LCC. Because two or more positive cases within a 14-day period is considered an outbreak and because LCC has had several outbreaks among cohort groups, the college received advice that LCC is considered an outbreak location. 

In accordance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment  and Colorado Department of Higher Education, PCPHE is working to contact all students and staff members who have been in direct contact with these individuals and providing guidance on next steps. Affected individuals have been advised to quarantine or isolate.  

In response, the college has made the decision, in consultation with PCPHE, to:

1. Move to remote instruction and pause in-person classes, activities, and events for 14 days effective 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 10.
2. Continue scheduled and new remote learning, teaching, events, and activities during this time.
3. Ask career and technical programs to submit plans for course completion. These plans may include limited in-person activities during the 14-day period and/or in-person activities during or after Thanksgiving break. Instructors will communicate plans with students.
4. Activate "essential personnel" staffing for 14 days, effective at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 10.
5. Advise all residence hall students not in quarantine or isolation to consider going home and continue classes remotely during this time period.
6. Work with PCPHE to monitor all residence hall students in quarantine or isolation to determine when they can safely go home and/or resume classes.
7. Ask students and employees to report daily on #CampusClear during this time period so we can continue to monitor potential spread of the virus.The goal is to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the region and reduce the number of people infected. The college will continue to be open and operational during this 14-day pause, but classes and activities will be conducted remotely.

LCC’s top priority is the safety of students, staff and community members and will continue to keep the public updated on case status at LCC.  Everyone is encouraged to remain calm, aware, and mindful of all that is happening and to be empathic and respectful to all those affected.

The college will continue to monitor this situation and determine if additional steps need to be taken. Students and employees must continue to monitor their symptoms and immediately report any symptoms that could possibly be related to COVID-19 on #CampusClear and to PCPHE or your own local public health if you're in a different county.

More information is available at https://lamarcc.edu/coronavirus-information/.