Dear KGI Community,
 
The KGI COVID-19 Task Force would like to provide a few critical updates. As a reminder, the KGI Coronavirus website provides all updates and resources in one centralized location for your convenience.
 
Please use the hyperlinks in each item to gain access to more information:
 
Institutional Updates

  • KGI participated in signing a Congressional Stimulus Package joint Claremont Colleges letter to Senator Feinstein, Congresswoman Chu, and Senator Harris.
  • The research guidance document has been distributed and will be discussed at the faculty assembly on Thursday.
  • Alumni have received an email from President Schuster providing support and resources. If you speak with anyone, please remind them to check the coronavirus website for the alumni update.

Health Updates

  • The third and final test that TCC Health Center administered came back as negative.
  • There has been one confirmed positive diagnosis in Claremont, but there is no additional information available regarding who it is, and where they visited. The LA County Department of Public Health is working with the individual to determine if there were any exposures.
  • There are no known confirmed cases that are involved with The Claremont Colleges.
  • Please take a look at the LADPH testing recommendations on our coronavirus page.

Business Office

  • In response to the evolving situation with COVID-19, The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS) has taken action to limit their onsite staff presence. Beginning immediately, account payable staff will be onsite on Fridays only to process check payments for supplier invoices, expense report reimbursements, and ad hoc payments. Due to this, to ensure timely payments, we encourage the community to request ACH payment information from suppliers and transition to processing e-payments. If you are unable to obtain banking details, please make sure you have selected the “Mail” handling option. We will not be holding checks for pick up. Lastly, for expense report reimbursements, we encourage the community to set up the direct deposit payment election in Workday.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

This is a summary of yesterday’s events based on various media briefings by federal, state, county, and city officials.

White House Updates

  • As of Monday afternoon, the US has 50,000+ cases, with more than 500 deaths.
  • President would like to lift restrictions including school closures and requiring people to work from home by April 12.
  • Until we are in a 24-hour cycle of testing (currently backlogged), we will not have a good handle on our numbers. (Dr. Birx)
  • Need to act policy-wise on areas that are not hot spots. For example, areas that are not hotspots (meaning not NY, CA, and WA) need to act promptly in locking down those that are confirmed cases.
  • We need to stop the “seedlings” and keep them from spreading. (Dr. Fauci)
  • The many people leaving NYC could likely be carries (estimating 1 out of 8 could be carrying the virus elsewhere in the country). (Dr. Fauci)

L.A. Department of Public Health/County of Los Angeles

  • First confirmed case in Claremont – no known details about the individual
  • Known cases number is now at 662 (an increase of 256 new cases; total deaths at 11, including a child)
  • 80% of cases are people between the ages of 18 – 65; 42% of the cases are between the ages of 18-40 years of age.
  • 119 cases have been hospitalized to date.
  • All confirmed cases are isolated and contacts as well.
  • 5,700 tests to date; 10% of those tested are positive.
  • Still limited test capacity and must prioritize those that are tested (symptomatic and those that a clinical provider has confirmed need).
  • Those awaiting testing or testing, resulting, should assume they are positive and self-isolate.
  • Isolation is required by law for those that are positive or likely positive. 

Elsewhere

  • New York has over 25,000 confirmed cases, and the number appears to be doubling daily.
  • California has 2,494 confirmed cases with 50 deaths
  • Orange County cases at 152. Most patients (87)- are between 18 and 49 years of age.
  • Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021.

Be well!
Kelly Esperias,   
Vice President of Institutional Development and Partnerships

Back to kgi.edu/coronavirus page