COVID-19 update

March 19, 10 a.m.

The first COVID-19 case was confirmed at Clallam County yesterday, according to the county. One-twenty individuals have tested so far; one tested positive and 42 tested negative, leaving 77 unknown, as of March 19.

Peninsula Campuses will be closed campuses today, except for child care at the Port Angeles location.
The college officials said that all events through April 12. are canceled.
These decisions were based on COVID-19 developments over the weekend and announcements yesterday, March 16. from the Governor and President, college officials said.

March 16 will be the last day of Winter Quarter, for face-to-face classes, Peninsula College President Luke Robins said, as Gov. Inslee has declared.

Revised first day of Spring Quarter 2020, both face-to-face and online, is April 13 instead of the original date April 6.

The classes are held online until April 24, but Proftech and labs will continue to meet in person from 13th through 24th, with appropriate social distancing guidelines, Robins said.

The college’s tentative plan is to resume regular operations on April 27.

No matter the class adjustment, the campus will remain open. These places include the library, business office, Pirate Central, and the Pirate Pantry. Robins said that the childcare would remain open as well.

“… this is a fast-moving and constantly changing health crisis in our community,” Robins said. He followed that details are still evolving, but he would update the campus community regularly, as information is provided.

He encourages the campus community to continue checking e-mails from the college, college’s social media and the college website.

March. 7, 3 p.m.
Peninsula College Incident Management Team met Friday, March 6 and decided to devote the Monthly Meeting on Monday to briefing the college community and discussing how these contingency plans might be implemented should the situation warrant.

“Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to attend the monthly meeting Monday, March 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the Little Theater. Discussion will include contingency plans and things to be vigilant about during ongoing COVID-19 developments. If you are working remotely or showing signs of illness please plan to attend via Zoom,” Peninsula President Luke Robins said.

As of the Emergency Operations Center briefing yesterday evening, there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Clallam County, and one confirmed case of COVID-19 has been identified in Jefferson County.

EOC is not operating over the weekend unless conditions change, Robins said.

Enhanced messaging around personal hygiene and staying home when ill is still being advised as the most effective means to limit spread of the virus.