Coronavirus Information for Students

LETTER EMAILED TO CCC STUDENTS FROM PRESIDENT DR. LORI BENNETT ON MARCH 9, 2020

Dear Students,

I’m sure you have heard and seen on the news, the growing spread of COVID-19 (also referred to as the Novel Coronavirus), especially as it has now reached California, and recently, both Fresno and Madera Counties.  I want to ensure that we are monitoring the situation and are communicating with local health officials.

This weekend, the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) confirmed the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Fresno County. This is a travel-related case and was not community-acquired. Two travelers presented themselves for testing after returning from a Grand Princess cruise on March 6, 2020. One (1) of these tests has returned as a presumptive positive case. The family of this individual is self-monitoring with FCPDH oversight.  Currently, the FCDPH says there is no immediate threat to the general public, and the FCDPH is not recommending cancellation of events, closure of schools, or buildings at this time.  Similarly, Madera County has also reported a travel-related case. The Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is monitoring the situation and sharing information with us.

At this time, per the FCDPH and MCDPH, none of the travelers are believed to be affiliated with the Clovis Community College community.

The best advice right now is to stay calm, keep washing your hands, and stay home if you are sick.  Be sure to contact your professor if you will miss class.

To keep our college safe and provide the most up-to-date information, we are currently implementing the following activities:

1. Reporting of Potential Health Issue
   • If you, or someone you know, has tested positive for COVID-19, or has been in contact with someone who has tested positive, please report this information immediately to our College Nurse, Naomi Forey: naomi.forey@cloviscollege.edu.
2. Attendance
   • Faculty will take daily attendance to monitor student absence levels.  This information will provide important data regarding a change in the level of sickness across the campus.
3. Cleaning
   • The custodial team is cleaning high-traffic areas more often, cleaning desks daily, and will be placing hand sanitizer in high-traffic areas. 
   • Tutoring and Open Lab staff are cleaning desks and keyboards throughout the day.
4. Webpage/Communication
   • We are creating a webpage that will be the central location for COVID-19 information.  We will include links to health information, college emails, and other information related to this situation.  We will send notice when the page is up.  Please check the webpage for current information.
5. Planning
   • While we certainly hope this does not happen, the college is working on a district-wide plan to ensure classes can continue if this virus affects our colleges or communities.
6. Questions
   • If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Welcome Center at 559-325-5421.

Please know that the College is working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of our campus and community.  We will continue to provide you valuable information as it becomes available.  I encourage you to visit the following websites for more information.

• Center for Disease Control website:
• State Chancellor’s Office website: 
• Fresno County Department of Public Health:

I know this situation may be stressful.  Please reach out to our Welcome Center staff, or any faculty or staff member, if you want to talk or need more information.  We care about you.

Thank you

Lori Bennett, Ed.D.
President
Clovis Community College