[Wsssc] Fwd: DRAFT COVID-19 safety message for the holidays

Thu Nov 12 10:32:15 PST 2020

WSSSC: FYI sent to your PIOs just now. Please  distribute to others you think should see it, for example those who oversee student housing. Thanks.

Joe Holliday
SBCTC

Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
________________________________
From: Laura McDowell <lmcdowell at sbctc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2020 10:26 AM
To: Joe Holliday; Carli Schiffner; Jan Yoshiwara
Subject: Fw: DRAFT COVID-19 safety message for the holidays

Just sent this.

Laura

________________________________
From: Laura McDowell
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2020 10:26 AM
To: Public Information Commission (PIC) <pio at lists.ctc.edu>; ssem at lists.ctc.edu <ssem at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: DRAFT COVID-19 safety message for the holidays

Good morning PIOs and SSEMC,

Below is a draft message to your campus community about staying COVID-safe during the holidays. Please feel free to personalize/edit as you see fit.  As you are aware, cases are surging and the Governor's Office is stressing the importance of getting the word out to students.

This message is based on the Department of Public Health's 11/10/20 media briefing:  https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2020111030<https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2020111030>

Hopefully, the formatting will carry through on this email.

Also, Gov Inslee is holding a news conference at 5:30 p.m. tonight. We'll forward you more information as soon as it becomes available.

[https://www.tvw.org/wp-content/themes/tvw/img/logo@2x.png]<https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2020111030>
watch – TVW, Washington States' Public Affairs Network<https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2020111030>
www.tvw.org

Dear college community,

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Washington, we’re reaching out today to provide guidance about holiday gatherings to keep you, your loved ones, and our college community safe. Gathering in groups—even with people you know—may spread COVID-19. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread COVID-19 to others.

This holiday season, public health experts are urging all of us to “stay put”<https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2020111030&startStreamAt=862&stopStreamAt=1000&autoStartStream=true> —  to celebrate only with the people we already live with, whether that means staying at home or in a residence hall. This is especially important if, over the past two weeks, you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or you have had symptoms<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fsymptoms.html> such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath.  The Department of Health’s Safe Gatherings webpage<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEwMTQuMjg2ODEwMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLndhLmdvdi9pbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1mb3IveW91LWFuZC15b3VyLWZhbWlseS9zYWZlci1nYXRoZXJpbmdzIn0.5s0OFDzyteZ8JuS76hOMJ0DE9DWOXBJWVgEAMCKp4Yo/s/1122068805/br/86810224272-l>  offers helpful ideas on ways to celebrate safely and how to have conversations with friends and family about social events.

If you decide to host a Thanksgiving celebration, public health experts are asking that you celebrate outdoors, limit the guest list to no more than five people outside your household, and keep social interactions as short as possible. Whether you are a host or a guest, you should also consider quarantining from now to the celebration date, which means leaving your residence only for essential things like groceries, prescriptions or a brief walk around the neighborhood.  Everyone should wear a mask, stay six feet apart, and wash their hands regularly. It also makes sense to take your temperature before socializing with others.

If you have been around groups of people who may not have worn masks, health experts recommend getting a COVID-19<https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/TestingforCOVID19> test.  Take into account that it can take a few days to receive test results.

 [YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO INCLUDE A PARAGRAPH SUCH AS…. “We know this can be a stressful time of year, and even more so with a pandemic.  If you are feeling sad, lonely or anxious, please feel free to reach out to our ……..”  BELOW IS A SAMPLE MESSAGE FROM DOH.]

Thank you for being so resilient and caring during these disruptive times. We wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season.

Phrase highlighted in yellow can be used by colleges w/ residence halls.

[cid:a95b0e15-da54-4d84-90b3-957a6ea9b31c]Laura McDowell

Director of Communications

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

lmcdowell at sbctc.edu<mailto:lmcdowell at sbctc.edu> • o: 360-704-4310 • f: 360-704-4415 • c: 360-280-0670

sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> • Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> • Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

>From a Department of Health bulletin:

Coping While Apart. During normal times, the fall and winter months are wonderful times to gather. So, limiting and changing the way in which we gather with family and friends isn’t easy. It may cause feelings of stress, anxiety or depression. This time of year, it’s important that we practice self-care and support others who may be feeling lonely or isolated.

If you are experiencing stress due to COVID-19 call the Washington Listens line at 833-681-0211 for support and resources.

If you know someone who is struggling, reach out. Reassure them that you are there for them. Some ideas for how to show support while maintaining physical distance:

·       Set a regular day or time for a check in call or video chat.

·       Mail them a letter offering words of encouragement and love.

·       Drop off a homemade treat, takeout from their favorite restaurant, or a favorite book.

·       Listen without judgment.

·       Reassure them that it is ok to feel sad, anxious, and lonely during this time, and that this is not forever. Also remind them there is help available to them if they need it.

·       If possible, arrange for both of you to get tested, then self-quarantine for two weeks. Then you can plan a long visit to help give them the support and comfort they may need this time of year.

For more information and tips on safer gatherings this fall, visit coronavirus.wa.gov/gatherings<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEwMjEuMjkwODQ3MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLndhLmdvdi9nYXRoZXJpbmdzIn0.uN92-m1bsGhKKfjBauYZG3yK_j2XawV5EDOga4EGuYs/s/1122068805/br/87168882254-l>.

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