Coronavirus Information

Health and Safety Protocols

• Current recommendations say that people who test positive should isolate from others for at least five days, regardless of whether they were vaccinated.
• CDC officials advise that people can end isolation “if they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and they are without symptoms or the symptoms are improving.”
• The CDC has also dropped its recommendation that people quarantine if they come into close contact with an infected individual.
• More information can be found on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

On-site Isolation for Students

• MLC has reserved portions of Centennial Hall and Concord Hall to use as isolation rooms for students who test positive for COVID-19.

Health Monitoring and Testing

• MLC has a limited supply of COVID-19 testing kits available to the college family.  Note, that when these supplies run out, individuals who want to test will need to acquire their own testing materials–which are now widely available.
• Faculty, staff, and students should fill out the COVID Contact Me Form if you tested positive.
• Click this link to view the scenario chart.
• The isolation period for a positive individual, regardless of vaccination status, is 5 days. If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave isolation but must continue to mask around others for an additional 5 days. If you have symptoms or fever after 5 days, continue to isolate and stay away from others until your symptoms improve and your fever resolves for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine.  For the individual who is experiencing symptoms and tests positive, the infectious date is two days prior to symptoms.
• If the individual is asymptomatic (i.e. has no symptoms) and tests positive, the isolation period is 5-days from the date of the test. For the individual who is not experiencing symptoms and tests positive, the infectious date is two days prior to the date of the test.
• Students who are excused for isolation purposes can expect the professors to accommodate their absence through educational formats that will meet curriculum standards.

Masking

• Masking is recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) regardless of vaccination status, but under the current regulations, MLC is not requiring masking for students or employees.
• Anyone on campus is welcome to wear a mask for their own protection at their discretion.
• To comply with Allina Medical requirements for healthcare environments, masking is required in the Athletic Training Room.

Vaccinations

• Vaccination is recommended by the CDC and MDH through your healthcare provider, your pharmacy, or the county.
• Vaccinations are not a requirement for students to attend MLC or for MLC employees.
• Brown County Public Health (BCPH) has a vaccination clinic every Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Vaccination is free and all three vaccine products are available. BCPH is located just down Center Street hill, within walking distance, at 1117 Center Street.

General Health and Safety Guidelines

• MLC will continue to operate our HVAC systems at full capacity to allow for frequent air exchange.
• MLC will continue to operate the air filtration units in the MLC Fitness Center and the Chapel of the Christ.
• The Custodial Department will follow standard cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
• MLC will continue to monitor the state and federal requirements. We ask for your flexibility and understanding as we may need to change our plans to comply with these requirements.

Early Childhood Learning Center Operations

The ECLC Committee has adopted the requirements held in place for MLC.

• Parents or guardians of currently enrolled ECLC children are encouraged to monitor children and other members of their household.
• ECLC children and employees who are experiencing symptoms, awaiting test results, or will be absent for the day, should report this to the Lead Teacher and the ECLC Office.
• ECLC may exclude any individual (child or worker) experiencing symptoms.
• Click this link to view the scenario chart.
• The isolation period for a positive individual, regardless of vaccination status, is 5 days. If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave isolation but must continue to mask around others for an additional 5 days. If you have symptoms or fever after 5 days, continue to isolate and stay away from others until your symptoms improve and your fever resolves for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. For the individual who is experiencing symptoms and tests positive, the infectious date is two days prior to symptoms.
  • Per MDH, children under age 2 should not wear a mask. The child must be able to properly remove and don the mask when eating and sleeping. Our teachers will do their best to assist children with masking and please send extra masks along for your child to use in the event the masks become unusable (i.e. wet, soiled). For this reason, isolated individuals who are 2 years or younger, will need to isolate for the full 10-days.
• If the individual is asymptomatic (i.e. has no symptoms) and tests positive, the isolation period is 5-days from the date of the test. For the individual who is not experiencing symptoms and tests positive, the infectious date is two days prior to the date of the test.
• ECLC will notify exposed parties (child or worker) by email of exposure, along with the exposure date(s). While quarantine is not required, we do encourage symptom monitoring for 10-days.
• Per MDH, licensed child care centers serving 40 or more children will complete a reporting survey weekly, beginning the week of August 1, 2022, to report COVID-19 cases.
• The MLC Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) is not requiring masks for children, student teachers, or employees.
• Parents or guardians of currently enrolled ECLC children whose child is at least age 2, and desire for their child to wear a mask, may send a mask along for the child to wear. The child must be able to properly remove and don the mask when eating and sleeping. Our teachers will do their best to assist children with masking.
• Vaccinations are not a requirement for children to attend ECLC, for college students to attend MLC or for MLC ECLC employees.
• ECLC continues to follow MDH and Licensing regulations regarding hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
• ECLC continues to follow Licensing regulations regarding daily disinfecting and cleaning of toys and surfaces.
• MLC will continue to operate our ECLC HVAC systems at full capacity to allow for frequent air exchange.
• MLC will continue to operate the air filtration units in the ECLC.
• The Custodial Department will follow standard cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
• MLC will continue to monitor the state and federal requirements. We ask for your flexibility and understanding as we may need to change our plans to comply with these requirements.

Resources

• CDC COVID-19 webpage
• MDH COVID-19 webpage
• MLC COVID-19 Contact Me Form
• MLC Scenario Chart
• Temporary Telecommuting Request Form

Scenario Chart