Confirmed Cases Reporting

The anonymity of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 is paramount. Please respect their privacy – even if you believe you know who they are – so they can focus completely on their health. As a community, we must do everything we can to support these individuals and one another through this incredibly challenging time.

Guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health agencies, Mount Union has established protocols for evaluating individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19. In line with those protocols, the Alliance City Health Department oversees contact investigation and notification. Persons who have had close contact with those who have tested positive (or probable) will be notified by the Alliance City Health Department in accordance with standard public health principles.

According to the CDC, for COVID-19, a close contact is defined as anyone who was within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated.

Given the risk to the learning community, students, faculty, and staff are required to report positive COVID-19 diagnoses to the University of Mount Union immediately upon notification. Failure to do so may result in referral to the Office of Student Conduct or corrective action via the Office of Human Resources. 

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please review and follow the guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding isolation and quarantine. You can also contact the Alliance City Health Department at (330) 821-7373 for assistance. 

Every single one of us has the responsibility and the power to keep our community safe. Please continue to take these steps to keep yourself and those around you safe, especially those most vulnerable.

• Monitor yourself for symptoms regularly and refrain from interacting with others (including physical attendance in class or at work) if you show any signs of illness.
• Wear an appropriate face covering every time you are in a public setting.
• Stay out of congregate settings, avoid mass gatherings, and maintain a distance of six feet from others whenever possible.
• Adhere to personal hygiene practices, including the following:
• Wash hands, with soap and water, often and for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, then throw tissue directly in the trash.
• Do not share personal items such as water bottles, etc.
  
  

See the CDC’s website regarding How to Protect Yourself and Others for additional information.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health in this time of uncertainty.

The Office of Counseling Services is providing several traditional and new supports to students this year. As always, all services from the Counseling Center are free and confidential to enrolled Mount Union students. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the Counseling website to meet our staff and schedule a live or virtual appointment for anything – big or small. Remember, counseling is a partnership between the therapist and client. This partnership focuses on self-improvement, problem solving, and emotional management.

For faculty and staff, the University has partnered with Impact Solutions, an employee assistance and work/life program. Impact Solutions offers confidential and professional support for work/life matters for faculty, staff, spouses/partners, household members, dependents living in and away from home, parents, and even parents-in-law. Services offered include professional telephone support, tele-mental health counseling, and three face-to-face counseling sessions.