MHCC TAKES STEPS TO PREVENT CORONAVIRUS ON CAMPUS

With outbreaks beginning in California and Washington (frequent stops for travel between the U.S. and Asia), Oregon was – and still is – a coronavirus sandwich.

As expected, the virus has worked its way to the Portland area and beyond, with cases now springing up in Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah counties, close to home. 

There has been a lot of misinformation spreading through the news, which has caused panic among the public. Grocery stores are struggling to keep hand sanitizer (and toilet paper) stocked; hospitals have seen a spike in theft, as citizens are stealing face masks; and institutions, including MHCC, are rushing to develop plans to combat the virus.

Harvard University, along with many other colleges and universities, has switched to online-only classes until further notice, to combat the spread of the virus. Students there have even been asked to vacate their dorm rooms and have been given five days to do so.  

Here in the PNW we have seen quite a few public school closures, and now the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State have formally switched to online-only classes through the duration of this pandemic. 

By Thursday, the NWAC (Northwest Athletic Conference) canceled its championship basketball tournaments. This came after finding out a student at the host school, Everett Community College (where the Mt. Hood women won their first-round game on March 5), had tested positive for COVID-19. The conference rescheduled games for Albany and Oregon City this week – only to shut them down for good.

At MHCC, the administration has set into action a plan to help minimize the spread of the virus on campus. The school has implemented daily cleansing plans, distributed sanitizing kits to offices, and placed hand sanitizing stations throughout campus. 

Mt. Hood is following the advisements of the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oregon Health Authority, and Multnomah County. OHA is advising against school closure currently.

As of press time on Thursday (March 12), MHCC has announced that the school will not be closing, in accordance with the recommendation of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown – but will, however, work to shift as many classes as possible to a distance learning format.

COVID-19 has a mortality rate of between 3 and 4 %, according to recent calculations by the World Health Organization (WHO). Many of us will catch the virus and feel rough for a week or so before returning to normal life. Those most at risk of a coronavirus-related fatality are the elderly, infants, and persons affected by chronic medical conditions. 

While the public panic may not be necessary, individuals are still encouraged to take the recommended precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19. Even if you aren’t a part of any of those groups in the increased risk category, you will likely come in to contact with others who are. 

The precautions that have been recommended to help limit the spread of the virus are as follows: 

-Wash your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water

-Stay home when you are sick 

-Avoid close contact with people who are sick 

-Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue 

-Avoid touching your face 

-Clean frequently touched surfaces