College Moves Classes Online after Latest COVID Outbreak
Twenty-one Bluefield College students tested positive for the coronavirus during the week of September 14 prompting the college to move all of its classes online for an indefinite period of time.
According to BC president Dr. David Olive, the positive cases were connected to a variety of sources, including an unapproved off-campus social gathering. Affected students, he said, are in the care of the college’s Student Development team. They were immediately placed in quarantine, while other students who may have been exposed were placed in isolation until they test negative for the virus.
“While this latest increase in students testing positive for the COVID-19 virus is a setback, I am hopeful this pause in seated instruction will assist in our efforts to ensure other students, faculty, and staff remain safe,” Dr. Olive said. “I know that everyone desires the very best for our campus community, and I am certain we will come together to overcome this latest outbreak so that we can safely and successfully complete the fall semester.”
All classes have been moved to remote instruction, and only essential personnel are allowed to report to work. All other employees are working remotely from home. In addition, athletic competitions and practices have been postponed indefinitely. The Herb Sims Center is also closed. The remote instruction period, Dr. Olive said, will allow for deep cleaning of facilities around campus and for additional testing to be completed.
Earlier this semester, the college experienced a similar COVID outbreak when 28 students tested positive for the virus. A significant majority of those positive cases were related to an incident involving a group of students traveling off-campus to a social gathering in Radford, Virginia.
“We did a tremendous job in immediately identifying and confronting the virus outbreak a few weeks ago,” Dr. Olive said. “I am proud of the way the campus community has come together to ensure a safe on-campus environment.”
BC student Anna Flinchum, a member of the women’s soccer team, was among those isolated during the first outbreak. She described that time as “very boring.”
“All I did was watch Netflix,” said Flinchum, who added that the greatest challenge was not being able to go anywhere.
Sophomores Mykkel and Marek Banks, members of the Rams football team and roommates on campus, added that they did as much as they could while confined to their room, passing the time by playing video games and watching Netflix.
“It was fine since I had my brother with me,” Mykkel said. “It is better to be with family than alone or someone you barely know. The online school aspect was confusing. I’d rather be in class.”
As a result of the most recent outbreak, the college’s Fall Break has been canceled. Students will no longer have a break and classes will now take place October 1-2. Classes will also conclude with the Thanksgiving holiday with exams being taken either before leaving campus or remotely after Thanksgiving break.
“I strongly encourage each of us to continue to do our part to follow the protocols put in place for seated instruction this academic year,” Dr. Olive added. “By strictly following these guidelines each day, we can continue to enjoy the diverse opportunities that an in-person campus experience provides. Without them, it is very possible that could drastically change.”