Coronavirus

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

LSSU Safety Guidelines are based on federal, state, and local guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We continue to encourage all Lakers and Laker families to seek vaccination. The following four guidelines provide the foundation for the continued safety and wellbeing of our University and surrounding community. Please do your part to adhere to these guidelines.

Mask/Face Covering

There is no longer a statewide requirement to wear a face mask in most settings. While masks are no longer required, many will choose to continue wearing a mask for health or other lawful reasons and will be supported by the Laker community for doing so. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status in all University health facilities—including the LSSU HealthCare Center and during Covid testing and vaccination clinics.

Hand Hygiene

Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds multiple times each day or use hand sanitizer of at least 60% alcohol. Good hand hygiene continues to be an important strategy to keeping our Laker community healthy.

Personal/Social Responsibility

Actively encourage those around you to adhere to these guidelines while doing so yourself. Remember, we all have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Health Monitoring

Actively encourage those around you to adhere to these guidelines while doing so yourself. Remember, we all have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Cumulative COVID-19 Data

This COVID-19 dashboard is updated regularly. Data represent campus testing beginning August 16, 2021.

The University notifies the Chippewa County Health Department of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. On-campus student positive cases isolate in Brown Hall while off-campus students isolate at their residence.

Chippewa County Health Department completes contact tracing and notification protocols. The University supports the Health Department’s contact trace effort.

Confidentiality laws prohibit the University from disclosing identifying information about affected individuals.

Fall 2021 Active COVID-19 Cases

Total LSSU Population*	Total Active Cases**	% Active Population		Active Employees	Active Off Campus*	Active On Campus	Active Isolation***	***Active Quarantine
2,197	1	0.05%		1	0	0	1	0

Fall 2021 Cumulative COVID-19 Cases

Total LSSU Population*	Cumulative Cases**	LSSU % Positive		Employees	Off Campus Students*	On Campus Students	Cumulative Isolation	Cumulative Quarantine
2,197	129	5.87%		26	65	38	129	55

*This count represents students and employees at the LSSU campus in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.**Includes positives from testing on the LSSU campus in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, as well as external tests. ***This count is dependent on self-reporting and local health department reporting cases and direct contacts to the university.

Isolation is defined as an individual who has contracted COVID-19.
Quarantine is defined as potential exposure as determined by contact tracing.

Fall 2021 LSSU Campus Testing

Tests Completed#	Total Positives##	% Positive
1,349	87	6.45%

#This number reflects tests conducted at mass testing at the LSSU campus in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and the LSSU Health Care Center.##This number represents only positives from tests conducted on the LSSU campus in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. It does not include positive tests done externally.

Chippewa County COVID-19 Case Data

2021 Actively Monitored	2021 Positive Cases	Cumulative Positive Cases
195 (0.52%)	3,453	4,893

For more information about COVID-19 in Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area, please visit https://www.chippewahd.com/.

COVID-19 Communication

ETS Suspension

December 10, 2021

Dear LSSU Community,

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued Emergency Temporary Standard 86 FR 61402 on November 5, 2021 mandating employees to be vaccinated or be tested weekly if unvaccinated. The Standard and its mandate face an ongoing series of legal challenges and one ruling judge issued an emergency stay, in effect suspending the Standard’s enforcement.

OSHA has subsequently suspended expectations for January 4, 2022 as the date by which it expects compliance for the Standard. As a result, Lake Superior State University suspended its compliance effort.

Until further notice, full-time, part-time, and student staff
– are not required to show vaccine status or
– are not required to test on a weekly basis if unvaccinated or fully vaccinated.

The University will continue to monitor the litigation and will comply with the eventual outcome.

Sincerely,

Wendy Beach
Director of Human Resources, Safety, & Risk
Co-Chair of COVID-19 Response Team

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

November 5, 2021

Dear LSSU Community,

Today – Friday, November 5, 2021 – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor issued Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) 86 FR 61402. The ETS set a federal COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all private and public employers that have 100 or more employees. Lake Superior State University (LSSU) is subject to this ETS. The ETS is effective immediately and the University will need to be in compliance by January 4, 2022.

Under this mandate, all LSSU employees – full-time, part-time, and student – are required either to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption and undergo weekly testing and wear a mask while in the workplace. To be fully vaccinated, two weeks must have passed since receiving the second of either the Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen single-shot vaccine.

Each vaccine is readily available in Chippewa County, including at a clinic on Sunday, November 14 from 12:00-5:00 PM in Taffy Abel Arena. Each vaccine will be available to LSSU employees and family members 12 years or older, with the Pfizer vaccine also available for children aged 5 and above. Under the ETS, exemptions may be granted for religious, medical, or ADA-related reasons; however, individuals receiving an exemption will still be required to test weekly and wear a mask in the workplace.

Under the ETS, by December 4, 2021, the University is required to maintain a full roster of employees who are fully vaccinated. Effective January 4, 2022 under the ETS, those who are exempted or who have not completed their primary vaccination will be required to begin weekly testing.

Instructions for submitting vaccination records, test results, exemption requests, as well as the comprehensive policies associated with LSSU’s compliance with ETS 2021-0007 will be released under separate cover in the near future. Information about the ETS will also be posted on the COVID-19 and HR websites.

Thank you in advance for your collaboration with the ETS.

Sincerely,

Rodney S. Hanley, Ph.D.

President

Off-Campus & Community COVID-19 Spread

September 16, 2021

Dear LSSU Community,

We currently have 12 positive cases of COVID-19 in our community that are affiliated with LSSU. Although we are seeing on-campus positive cases, the majority of our COVID-positive cases this semester has been off-campus. I want to remind everyone to remain vigilant in mitigating COVID-19, particularly those who reside off-campus. The most effective way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is by being vaccinated. You can also wear a mask over your mouth and nose, regardless of vaccination status.

The Chippewa County Health Department observed 136 new cases between September 2-15, 2021. They are actively monitoring 78 cases countywide.

I understand the importance of socializing with members of our communities as a complement to our academic endeavor at LSSU. As we interact and socialize with Lakers, friends, loved ones, and families – regardless of the setting – we each have an individual and communal responsibility to promote LSSU’s safety.

For your protection and safety – and that of your family’s – practice COVID-mitigation strategies.

Stay safe and well.

Dr. Michael Beazley
Dean of Student Affairs
Lake Superior State University

COVID Requirements

Dear LSSU Community,

This evening, President Biden laid out his Path Out of the Pandemic, a six-point plan to combat COVID-19. The first point in the plan describes a forthcoming Emergency Temporary Standard from the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that will require a vaccinated workforce for all employers with 100 or more employees – of which Lake Superior State University is one. Those employees not vaccinated will require weekly testing. The expense of the weekly test will be paid by the employee. This requirement applies to all full-time, part-time, and student employees.

Once the Department of Labor issues this new Emergency Temporary Standard, LSSU will announce its implementation in subsequent communication.

In addition to vaccinating its employees and slowing the spread of the virus, LSSU will begin to require the wearing of masks by all unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff in all indoor campus facilities. Vaccinated individuals are also strongly encouraged to wear masks for added safety.

Vaccines are widely available throughout Chippewa County, including the nearby locations below:

LSSU Health Care Center
(906) 635-2110 (by appointment)

Chippewa County Health Department
(906) 635-1566 (by appointment)

Meijer
Walk-in or appointment

War Memorial Hospital
(906) 635-4460 (by appointment)

Stay safe, be well, and get vaccinated.

Rodney S. Hanley, Ph.D.
President

Start of Fall 2021 & COVID-19

Dear LSSU Community,

Welcome to the Fall 2021 semester at Lake Superior State University. As classes begin, I want to encourage all Lakers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

This morning, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) granted formal approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 16 and older. If you want to be vaccinated or need to complete your vaccination against COVID-19, the campus Health Care Center has Pfizer vaccine. For an appointment, call (906) 635-2110. Data indicate that the most effective way to counter the spread of COVID-19 is to be vaccinated.

Given ongoing spread of COVID-19 and its variants, this virus continues to factor into LSSU’s planning and operations this semester. We continue to monitor local, state, and federal developments. We are expressly committed to face-to-face instruction and ask for your help to keep our community safe. The first two or three weeks of the semester are particularly important and may be a barometer for the balance of the term.

Enact practices that helped LSSU stay face-to-face last year such as washing your hands frequently, sanitizing your work and study spaces, taking personal responsibility, and participating in rapid background testing offered around campus.

If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and contact the Health Care Center. COVID-19 testing is available at the Health Care Center.

It has been great to see campus populate with new and returning students and faculty colleagues these past several days. We have been looking forward to – and planning for – the start of the academic year all summer. Best wishes to all for a safe and successful semester.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Beazley

Dean of Student Affairs
Lake Superior State University

COVID-19 Testing and Isolation/Quarantine Management

LSSU is committed to responding as quickly and thoroughly as possible when notified of a positive COVID-19 case. There may be instances when students are in more immediate contact with peers or instructors than the University-Required Absence (URA) notification due to the speed of text message communication. However, due to the need to initiate several facets of a response, there may be a short delay in faculty members receiving a URA.

The LSSU Health Care Center has an Abbott ID NOW analyzer that enables rapid COVID-19 testing, delivering results in 15 minutes or less. The test type is PCR and is known to be highly sensitive and highly specific when testing for COVID-19. Testing at Health Care Center is available by appointment. Please call (906) 635-2110.

Throughout the University’s response to COVID-19, the Chippewa County Health Department (CCHD) has been a critical partner with whom we have collaborated closely and, since our first positive case, on a daily basis. The details outlined below were reviewed by colleagues at CCHD to ensure accuracy of the information, and we are grateful to CCHD for ongoing collaboration.

Key Definitions and Criteria for Isolation versus Quarantine

Isolation

Isolation is used to separate people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID- 19, from people who are not infected (CDC, 2020). Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home. People in isolation will be monitored by CCHD (or their local Health Department if residing outside of Chippewa County).

Duration of Isolation
- Symptomatic: You can be released from isolation after…
  - At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
  - At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
  - Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving**Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation
- Asymptomatic: If you continue to have no symptoms, you can be released from isolation after…10 days have passed since the date you had your positive test
- Brown Hall is the University Housing unit designated for isolation. The separate isolation location on-campus allows students who are COVID-19 positive to continue to benefit from the support of Academic Services, University Housing, Dining Services, and general infrastructure of LSSU while recovering.
- Release from isolation does not require a negative COVID-19 test (CDC, 2020).

Quarantine

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been [directly] exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department (CDC, 2020). People in quarantine will be monitored by CCHD (or their local Health Department if residing outside of Chippewa
County).

Direct exposure is defined as proximity to a person who is positive for COVID-19 at a distance of less than six feet for a period of 15 minutes or more.
Contact tracing and issuing of URA notifications begin immediately after notification of positive test results. URAs will not denote whether a person is in isolation or quarantine. The process for contact tracing and URA notification initiate similar action responses, so the private health information about whether a person is positive or a traced contact is not public knowledge.

Duration of Quarantine

Symptomatic: If you develop symptoms during quarantine, you should contact Health Care Center at (906) 635-2110.
Asymptomatic: If you do not develop symptoms during quarantine, you should be home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.

Release from Isolation or Quarantine

The CCHD (or responsible local Health Department) will make the determination about when a person is ready to be released.
CCHD will also provide appropriate documentation as evidence of completion of isolation or quarantine period.
Students should submit release documentation to and employees should submit release documentation to .

Reintegration After Isolation or Quarantine

After an extended period of time secluded from others, it can be difficult to reintegrate oneself into past routines and habits. Friends and colleagues may also be anxious around you or fearful of your presence because they do not want to contract COVID-19 from you.
As a friend or colleague of a person coming out of isolation or quarantine, be mindful that the individual may be struggling with reintegrating. Remember that the Health Department would not have released the individual if there remained medical reasons for maintaining the individual in quarantine or isolation. Be supportive of their reintegration process.
Support is available from Counseling Services ([906] 635-2752), Residential Life Staff, and trusted advisors.