COVID, community, campus, connections

Editor’s Note: Cornell announced yesterday that, out of an abundance of caution, Cornell has moved to Alert Level Red. Visit tinyurl.com/yyft2lqs for more information.

Good morning/evening, and as always, thanks for reading East Hill Notes and Tompkins Weekly.

The evolving challenges and COVID-19 spikes over the last week have understandably been of concern on campus and in our shared communities.

As always, my office both appreciates and needs questions and feedback from our neighbors — many of whom I’ve known for 25-plus years — as well as new friends, some of whom moved to Tompkins County in recent weeks and months.

Everyone’s inputs and candor are more than essential for progressive town-gown relations on any or all topics, which have included COVID-19 since March 2020.

In that light, please never hesitate to contact me directly at gjs28@cornell.edu or (607) 227-5531 with any questions tied to COVID-19 and related issues. I’ll either know the answer or research and respond in quick order.

Related to outreach and communications, there are some key standing resources on this site covid.cornell.edu that is steadily updated. From it, you can link to Cornell University’s regularly updated “data dashboard” as well as “messages and updates.”

The latter includes information on time-sensitive news and decisions, specific information for visitors, students, faculty and staff, and background on testing, vaccines, resources and a myriad of COVID-19-related topics.

Friends and neighbors who aren’t on staff or faculty at Cornell have told me it has been enlightening to read regular messages from leadership directly to students, which their parents receive as well.

An excerpt in a Dec. 11 send from Provost Michael Kotlikoff and Vice President Ryan Lombardi to students is representative of this steady, clear approach since March 2020, while outlining new expectations for the coming days:

“The number of new COVID-19 cases among the Cornell student body continues to climb at concerning rates. The vast majority of cases are linked to off-campus student social gatherings where masking and other public health measures were not followed. Being vaccinated, even with a booster shot, is not a license to let down our guards. Students testing positive for COVID-19 now, and in coming days, risk being required to isolate, away from family and friends, during the upcoming winter break.

“All in-person student gatherings, formal or informal, are canceled. This applies to undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and includes events with members of the local community. If you are leaving campus for the break, please depart as soon as you complete your last in-person final. Don’t risk getting COVID-19, which could require you to isolate until cleared by the Tompkins County Health Department for travel. If you are currently COVID-19 positive, you will need to discuss departure plans with the Cornell COVID Team.

“Please, let’s work together to stop COVID-19 transmission now:

• Masks must be worn indoors at all times, unless in a private, non-shared space (e.g., dorm room or office); we strongly recommend masking outdoors when physical distancing is not possible.
• Use grab-and-go food options if available. Otherwise, try to spread out from others and do not linger. Put your mask back on as soon as you are done eating or drinking.
• When studying with others, keep group sizes small, wear masks and maintain your distance.
• Adhere to your surveillance testing schedule and take advantage of supplemental testing.
• Again, we cannot stress strongly enough the importance of wearing masks indoors, avoiding social gatherings, and getting a booster as soon as you are able to do so.

“You have done an amazing job this semester. Let’s do our part to help finish the semester as safely as possible.”

Finally, thanks to the daily off-campus leadership and collaborations that have been essential drivers for Tompkins County for close to two years. My office was grateful to have the chance to recognize many of our colleagues and shared COVID-19-related initiatives at both the 2020 and 2021 Town-Gown Awards, a.k.a. The TOGOS.

This year’s event included a record number of retirees who have worked long and hard for the common good and well before March of 2020 (communityrelations.cornell.edu/the-towngown-awards).

Again, thanks to all, from a grateful Finger Lakes native.

Gary Stewart is associate vice president for Cornell Community Relations. East Hill Notes are published the first and third Wednesdays in Tompkins Weekly.