August 5, 2021

Dear Parents:
 
On July 28, I shared an update on how Wilson College’s Chambersburg campus will approach the COVID-19 virus and its variants during the fall semester. Those health and safety protocols included information on routine surveillance testing, a strong encouragement of all individuals on campus to receive the vaccine prior to the start of the semester, the use of masks and other personal protective gear, social distancing, guests and visitors on campus, plus the use of the LiveSafe App. Scientific research shows that the most effective way to prevent the spread and impact of the virus is for people to become fully vaccinated. I want to strongly urge all members of our community to get vaccinated. We do this to protect one another and to help our campus get back to some normalcy.
 
I also shared the Pandemic Safety Team would continue to monitor the state of the pandemic and modify our precautions as needed to help prevent the spread of the virus and its variants on our campus. The goal is and always will be to keep our entire Phoenix family safe.
 
Change to Masking and Personal Protective Equipment
The CDC currently recommends that all individuals, regardless of being fully vaccinated or not, wear a mask while indoors in communities with substantial or high levels of community transmission of the virus, based on their four tiers of community transmission: Low; Moderate; Substantial; or High.
 
As of today, August 5, the CDC has updated its classification of Franklin County, Pa. from a moderate transmission rate to one of substantial transmission. This change is a result of an increasing number of positive COVID-19 and COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the county.
 
To help contain the spread of the virus and its variants, the College intends to follow this recommendation of the CDC. That means that beginning tomorrow, Friday, August 6, all individuals on the Chambersburg campus must wear a mask when indoors. The only exception is when eating or drinking, or alone in your office or residential hall room. This recommendation includes individuals who are fully vaccinated. Please keep in mind that masks should cover your nose and mouth.
 
The Pandemic Safety Team will continue to monitor the data tracked by the CDC as well as any potential progression of the pandemic. Should the transmission rate reported for the county change, the Pandemic Safety Team will consider relaxing the mask mandate.
 
The Phoenix family did an exceptional job keeping everyone safe and healthy last year. Much of that success was due to your thoughtful approach to protocols and adhering to all guidelines. I would ask that you continue to do so this year, and be patient as we respond to the ever changing status of the pandemic. If we continue to join together as #onewilson, we can continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and keep one another safe.
 
Thank you in advance for all your help. 
 
My best,
Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D.
President
WILSON COLLEGE