Public Health

At this time, we are taking direction directly from public health agencies, including the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) and Washington State Department of Health. We are working with these agencies to keep our campus community safe and informed.

 Chelan-Douglas Health District website

Sitio web de Distrito de salud de Chelan-Douglas

Currently, the WVC facilities department is responding proactively. They clean the Wenatchee campus regularly, following best practices for sanitization to prevent the spread of illness. Custodians are focusing their efforts on sanitizing areas with large numbers of students, including classrooms, computer equipment, labs and common areas. Campus is cleaned using anti-viral cleaners. Custodians will continue to follow these practices to prevent the spread of illness, as recommended by the Washington State Department of Health.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends "routine environmental cleaning," including:

• Routinely cleaning all frequently touched surfaces, such as workstations, countertops, handrails and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label.
• Cleaning and maintaining sports equipment and facilities on a regular basis.

If you are planning an event or meeting on campus, please use the following guidelines when deciding whether or not to cancel or reschedule your event. Remember this is an evolving situation. Let your participants know that you might need to cancel at the last minute and that they should make contingency plans just in case.

NOTE: Check back for updates. This information will be updated as state agencies and officials continue to make decisions and recommendations about how large events and gatherings should be handled.

Should you cancel or postpone?

1. Non-essential large gatherings are not encouraged at this time. Organizers should consider postponing the meeting or event, or using remote technology if possible (Zoom, Skype, etc.) to help avoid the spread of coronavirus.
2. Consider high-risk populations. If your event is open to the public or is likely to involve many high-risk individuals, it may be best to postpone or use remote technology. According to the Chelan-Douglas Health District, high-risk populations include:
   • People 60 and older
   • People with underlying health conditions including heart disease, respiratory illness and diabetes
   • People who have weakened immune systems
   • People who are pregnant
3. Meetings or events of any size should be reconsidered. Even if your event is not large, it may be best to use remote technology instead of meeting in person. The CDC states: “If you can feasibly avoid bringing large groups of people together, consider postponing events and gatherings.”

 

Canceling your event

If you cancel your event and will not be providing an option for remote attendance:

• Inform your supervisor
• Notify the Public Information Office by emailing PublicHealth@wvc.edu and calling 509-682-6420. Please send both an email and leave a voicemail to ensure your message is not missed during this very busy time.
• Notify your audience of the cancellation as soon as possible. Let them know if there are plans to reschedule the event and who to contact if they have questions.

Event or gathering best practices

If you choose to hold an event, regardless of size, please follow the best practices below:

• Ask that people do not attend if they are sick or have come into close contact with people who are sick. Offer remote options for attendance if possible.
• Encourage attendees to avoid shaking hands.
• Encourage handwashing, use of hand sanitizer and covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
• Ensure that the meeting space is cleaned and disinfected before and after the gathering.
• Provide access to handwashing stations, sanitizing wipes and/or hand sanitizer. If you are a WVC employee or student, you can request supplies for your event by contact Director of Facilities and Operations Rich Peters, rpeters@wvc.edu, 509-682-6465.
• Share the resources available at wvc.edu/PublicHealth. On this page, you can also download or print posters and handouts about best practices for staying healthy.

Ongoing communication about your events and the decisions you make surrounding them can ensure members of the WVC community stay informed and healthy.

Yes. In the event that operations are impacted, WVC will seek to continue providing essential services and, most of all, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our campus community.

Will classes be affected?

In the event of a closure, classes will operate as they would during inclement weather, such as a snow day. WVC is already making preparations for alternate instruction methods. A majority of our classes utilize Canvas, an online learning management program, for online learning, resources and documents. There are also other options available for instructors and students.

How will a decision be made?

WVC will follow advice and direction from local health districts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washington State Department of Health and other state officials.

Will WVC close?

In the event of a closure, we are making preparations to ensure we can continue to offer essential services remotely (email, phone, Zoom video conferencing) and offer classes online. Any in-person classes will follow social distancing of at least six feet and 10 or fewer people per room, as recommended by the CDC.

Notifications

If we have closures, suspended operations or any other changes to normal operations, you will be notified through our emergency RAVE Alert system that sends out emails and text messages.

Sign up by texting "CAMPUSALERTS" to 67283. The text alert system is open to all students, employees AND members of the public. If you choose to sign up for text alerts, you may incur expenses through your carrier when alerts are issued.

Don’t miss a notification. Check your notification settings through your RAVE account. Learn how on our RAVE webpage.

Campus closures vs suspended operations

Not sure if you should come in once you receive an alert? It depends on whether the campus is closed or if operations are suspended. Review the suspended operations and college closure procedure:

• Closed campus: Classes are canceled, but college operations will continue and the college will be open for business. If an employee does not report to work, they must choose one of several leave options available to them (outlined in procedure 1500.600) or work from home if mutually agreed upon between the supervisor and employee.
• Suspended Operations: The procedure used to ensure the safety of public health, property and campus personnel when emergency conditions exist. Campus is closed to students and all non-essential personnel.

All of this information and more about employee leave and compensation can be found on the campus closure and suspended operations procedure page. 

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human coronaviruses are common throughout the world and usually cause mild to moderate illness in people. This new virus is a public health concern because:

• It is newly identified, so much is still unknown about it.
• Two other human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, have caused severe illness

The CDC has prepared the following handouts in English and Spanish with general information about COVID-19:

What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Lo que necesita saber sobre la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Transmission of COVID-19

According to the CDC, COVID-19 is a new disease and health experts are still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.

At this time, the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Symptoms may be flu-like, ranging from mild to serious, and include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

If you have symptoms of fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing in the last 14 days AND you traveled to any of the affected geographical areas (China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea) or had close contact with someone who is diagnosed with COVID-19, you should seek medical care.

The CDC has prepared the following instructions on what to do if you are sick or think you may have COVID-19:

What to do if you are sick

Qué hacer si se contrae la enfermedad

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

The CDC recommends the following actions to minimize your risks:

• Stay informed and up-to-date by monitoring the CDC website.
• Get vaccinated for influenza (the flu) and other respiratory diseases.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• If you think you are sick, call your primary care provider first for assistance.

Handwashing: When and How

Cuándo y cómo lavarse las manos

There are also several actions the CDC recommends not taking:

• Do not travel to China.
• Do not use face masks.  CDC does not recommend the use of face masks for the general public to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Do not show prejudice to people of Asian descent out of fear for this new virus. Do not assume that someone of Asian descent is more likely to have the virus.

According to the CDC, stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease, such as COVID-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease. Stigma can also occur after a person has been released from COVID-19 quarantine even though they are not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others.

Some groups of people who may be experiencing stigma because of COVID-19 include:

• Persons of Asian descent
• People who have traveled
• Emergency responders or healthcare professionals

Stigma hurts everyone by creating fear or anger towards other people. Everyone can help stop stigma related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others in your community.

CDC: Know the Facts

This is a good time to emphasize Wenatchee Valley College’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Name-calling, racist tropes, or any type of harassment against individuals or groups is never welcome on our campus. Please keep in mind that many of our community members, including our international students, may be dealing with difficulties stemming directly from the impact of COVID-19.

If you experience or witness any bias or harassment please report it by visiting wvc.edu/Bias or emailing bias@wvc.edu.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the best source of information about how the virus spreads and how to protect yourself, in addition to the most current national and global assessments. Also check with local agencies for up-to-date information in your area.

On-campus health clinic

CLOSED: The Wenatchee campus on-campus clinic will remain closed until spring quarter begins on April 6. Make an appointment by calling 509-662-6000.

If you are feeling unwell, you can visit the on-campus health clinic on the Wenatchee campus. The clinic is staffed by certified personnel of Columbia Valley Community Health and is open to all WVC students and employees. It is located in Van Tassell Center and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday. Appointments or walk-ins are welcome and most insurances are accepted. Schedule an appointment by calling 509-662-6000.

If you think you have the 2019 novel coronavirus, it is important that before seeing your health care provider you tell them about your symptoms and/or close contact with someone who is confirmed to have, or being evaluated for, COVID-19 infection. This will help the health care provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected. 

Counseling services

Your mental and emotional health is also important. Students and employees may use our on-campus counseling services. Learn more at wvc.edu/Counseling or contact a counselor directly at 509-682-6850. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the local Wenatchee hotline at 509-662-7105 or 1-800-852-2923, or the Omak hotline at 509-826-6191 or 1-866-826-6191.

The CDC also has resources Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19.

Chelan-Douglas Health District and Okanogan County Public Health

CDHD and OCPH offer resources and tips for staying healthy and preventing the spread of illness. You can learn more at cdhd.wa.gov and okanogancounty.org/ocph.

 Chelan-Douglas Health District website

Sitio web de Distrito de salud de Chelan-Douglas

Okanogan Behavioral Healthcare

OBHC provides holistic behavioral health services that promote wellness and recovery in Okanogan County. Learn more at kbhc.org.

Washington State Department of Health

The Washington State Department of Health has information in 11 languages. Visit their site for more information in those languages.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is the national health protection agency. Follow along with their COVID-19 information at cdc.gov.