Construction worker at new residence hall site tests positive for COVID-19

Dear Campus Community,

Late yesterday, we learned that a contracted construction worker employed on the site of Western’s new residence hall has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. This is the first confirmed case on Western’s Bellingham campus.

The construction worker lives in Snohomish County and had been commuting to Bellingham to work at the construction site at Western. The worker is complying with instructions from healthcare workers to stay home in self-isolation. Work at the site for the new residence hall has been temporarily placed on hold.

We are collaborating closely with the Whatcom County Health Department as they identify close contacts and instruct them to self-quarantine. The health department will offer testing to those exposed and experiencing symptoms.

At this time, it appears that any exposure on campus was limited only to the fenced construction site. Three Western employees who regularly interact with workers at the site are in self-quarantine.

The risk of exposure to the general campus community is regarded as low.

You generally need to be in close contact with a sick person to get infected. Close contact includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19,
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, OR
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.).

If you have not been in close contact with a sick person with COVID-19, you are considered to be at low risk for infection. You can continue to go to work and school, but should monitor your health and stay away from others if you get sick.

As the local situation changes, it is more important than ever that we stay informed through reliable sources, such as the Health Department and the CDC. Rumors abound in stressful environments, and they increase stress as they circulate. With hourly changes on the global, national, and state scene, we can feel overwhelmed. Remember to take good care of yourself, seek and give support as you need to, and find time to breathe—even if it’s just while you wash your hands! Keep taking those important steps of covering your coughs and sneezes, staying home when you don’t feel well, and, yes, washing your hands continue to be vital.

With appreciation for your partnership,

Melynda Huskey

Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services

The Incident Command System team at Western has established three goals for all of our preparation and response to COVID-19:  to protect life safety and minimize the spread of the coronavirus illness, to maintain – as much as possible – the continuity of Western’s operations, and to communicate with our communities as fully as possible.

Western's coronavirus information website features Frequently Asked Questions; has links to campus, regional and national resources; an archive of campus messaging and media stories about coronavirus; a new toll-free campus coronavirus information line, and more. The site is a living document, and will get frequent updates as the coronavirus situation evolves.