En Español

March 23, 2020

Media Contact:
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)
Maria Agnew, WVC safety, security and emergency manager, 509-682-6659

Wenatchee Valley College was notified on March 23 that two WVC employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

At this time, these are the only confirmed cases of a WVC student or employee having COVID-19. WVC will not be releasing the names or titles of the employees.

Following the positive test results, WVC consulted with CDHD to determine the best response to keep students and employees safe. At this time, the college is already closed to the public and students until March 30. Spring quarter will be starting a week late on April 13 and most spring quarter classes will be moved online.

WVC is continuing sanitization as outlined by the Washington State Department of Health, focusing on high-traffic areas like classrooms, labs and common areas.

Neither employee has been on campus since March 12, however, areas that the employees are known to have come in contact with will be the target of focused sanitization.

“Currently, we are putting the safety of our campus community first and everything else second,” said WVC President Dr. Jim Richardson. “Prior to these test results, we had already made the decision to move online as much as possible. Now, we are looking at ways to keep everyone who must be on campus safe and healthy.”

Campus leadership is urging the campus community to remain calm, be respectful to one and other and follow CDC protocols for staying healthy, including practicing good hygiene and staying home when sick if they are not working from home already. CDHD recommends anyone with possible symptoms or questions should call ahead to their medical provider prior to visiting a medical facility.

WVC will provide more information as it becomes available and answer common questions at wvc.edu/PublicHealth. Please send questions about WVC’s response to COVID-19 to PublicHealth@wvc.edu.

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu.

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses:

• To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Wenatchi Hall 2322M, (509) 682-6445, title9@wvc.edu.
• To request disability accommodations: Director of Student Access, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.