COVID-19 cases continue to spread on Campus Four Years Later.
Since the beginning of this year there have been over a dozen COVID-19 exposure reports on campus. There are six from Jan. 11, the same day as the mandatory staff meeting for Delta employees.
“We still have masks, hand sanitizer, and other preventives during all meetings,” said Delta’s COVID-19 Response Director Alese Campbell. ((who retired Feb. 3.))
Despite the Biden administration’s decision to end the COVID-19 public health emergency declarations on May 11, 2023, Delta remains vigilant in following COVID-19 procedures. With that decision came the lift of some COVID-19 Guidelines on campus, such as mandatory shots and wearing masks indoors.
“We still want to air on the side of being cautious,” said Director of Marketing and Communications Alex Breitler.
Delta provides several COVID-19 services on campus. There’s a nurse triage available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. where any student or staff member could be tested for free. They also provide at-home test kits in the Delta College Health center for students and the Human Resources Office for employees.
According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), new hospital admissions for COVID-19 in California have been down by 12 percent in the past week. COVID-19 deaths are down by 1.4 percent, despite there being a spike towards the end of last December. CDPH reported 615 new hospital admissions due to COVID-19 on Dec. 30 of last year. California Health and Human Services reported four COVID-19 related deaths in San Joaquin County, and only one as of Jan. 11 of this year.
Campbell is retiring Feb. 3 and she started her position as COVID -19 response director while the pandemic was at its peak.
“We were constantly pivoting directions,” said Campbell when asked what it was like when she came to Delta. “I’m proud we could all come together and make things happen.”
Breitler said that he is unsure if Campbell’s position will be filled once she’s gone. He also mentioned that we’re not completely done with COVID and there’s still guidelines in place from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).