St. Catherine University is actively monitoring COVID-19 cases within the community and coordinating closely with public health officials to make informed decisions related to our campus policies and procedures. We are currently at Level B, with decreased and or limited cases on campus being stable for the past several weeks, and a re-instating of the masking requirement for all persons indoors on campus, regardless of vaccination status.
Current Case Data
Last updated: September 16, 2021
| Positive cases from March 15 to August 15, 2020—TOTAL | 17 | Level B |
| Positive cases since August 15—TOTAL | 344 | Level B |
| Positive cases since August 15—Employees | 34 | Level B |
| Positive cases since August 15—Students | 310 | Level B |
| Positive cases reported in the last seven days | 4 | Level B |
| Saliva tests administered in the past week | 133 | |
| Percent of saliva tests positive | <1% | Level B |
| Testing capacity and PPE | Adequate | Level B |
| Capacity for isolation on campus | 75-100% | Level B |
Decisions related to increasing or limiting campus activity will be data-driven and take into account a wide range of factors. The following chart outlines some of the key factors that would cause us to change course, and some of the possible increased mitigation measures that may be implemented.
| Level | Level A | Level B | Level C | Level D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus Status | Campus Open | Campus open with few limitations on in-person activities | Campus open with very limited in-person activities | Campus closed |
| Community Spread and Risk Level |
No evidence of community spread/limited risk of COVID-19 Unlimited testing capacity Effective vaccine widely available |
No increase in campus cases Less than 5% positivity rate for tests performed in the Health and Wellness Clinic Cases have known links Less than 10 cases per 10,000 people in Ramsey County State on continued path to reopen Adequate testing capacity and PPE Isolation capacity at 75-100% |
Increase in reported cases over seven (7) days Greater than 5% positivity rate for tests More than 5% of cases have unknown links State pauses or reverses reopening Limited testing capacity and PPE Isolation capacity less than 50% |
More than 30 cases per 10,000 people in Ramsey County State/governor implements strict stay-at-home order |
| Mitigation Measures |
No need for mitigation measures All courses in-person Residence halls at full capacity Fully engaged athletic teams General health guidelines followed |
Masking Vaccination Requirement for all students, faculty and staff. Surveillance testing for unvaccinated persons. Continued case management and contact tracing. All courses in person. Most common spaces open Athletics practice/competition with additional mitigation measures in place. Offices and departments fully available. |
Closure of all common spaces considered Residence hall capacity reconsidered Limit in person courses to Tier 1 and some Tier 2 Athletic practice and competition suspended Only virtual interactions, meetings, and events. |
All courses online Only essential employees on campus Residence halls closed |
Case Notification Process
Case data above is updated on a weekly basis.
The University will follow all best practices for COVID-19 notification, including following laws and health guidelines to ensure privacy and confidentiality. The notification process will be managed through the COVID-19 Response and Management Team, as outlined in the Preparedness Plan.
- All St. Kate’s faculty, staff, and students are required to self-report if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 via the COVID-19 Diagnosis Notification Form.
- This information is confidential and goes to the Health and Wellness Clinic and the COVID-19 Response and Management Team.
- Health provider members of the COVID-19 Response and Management Team will work with students who test positive for COVID-19.
- Human Resources will work with employees who test positive for COVID-19.
- The online COVID-19 Diagnosis Notification Form requests information relevant to contact tracing and University cleaning needs.
- Students, faculty, and staff who undergo testing in the Health and Wellness Clinic will sign a release of information allowing test results to be forwarded to the COVID-19 Management and Support Team.
Once a positive case of COVID-19 is confirmed, the University will act promptly to mitigate virus spread. The St. Kate’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing Team will work in collaboration with MDH to conduct contact tracing on all cases. In addition, St. Kate’s will use this information to monitor for potential outbreaks and assess cleaning and sanitizing needs.
Students, faculty, and staff at St. Kate’s identified as a close contact of a person testing positive for COVID-19 will be notified by the Contact Tracing Team through phone or email and instructed to self-quarantine for a full 14 days from last known contact. The name of the individual and identifying details will not be shared in this notice.
Individuals who have not had close contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19 but who have been in the same area or classroom will not be notified by the Contact Tracing Team and are not required to self-quarantine.
The Contact Tracing Team will consult with MDH regarding the need for any additional notices to the local campus community.