COVID Response/Planning

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Concordia College is committed to the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. With advances in vaccines, testing, and treatment, we are shifting our approach from previous years, to living with and managing the virus, while being ready to respond to outbreaks and surges that might arise. This is in alignment with recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health and the CDC. We will continue to monitor cases on campus and in our region and adapt our protocols as appropriate. Please refer to our email updates for the most recent news or changes.

Email Updates COVID-19 Case Count

The COVID Helpline will continue to provide resources and support.

Once on campus, you should contact the Helpline to report a positive test, exposure, or with any COVID-related questions. You can contact the Helpline at COVID19Helpline@cord.edu or 701.730.8304. The email and phone accounts are monitored during weekday business hours.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, the college will again offer a free vaccine/booster shot clinic on campus to ensure students and staff have easy access to a vaccine.

  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Knutson courtyard

There is no pre-registration.

Forms are available here or at the event. Moderna Form  or Pfizer Form. 

Bring your vaccination card.

Students: If you have symptoms or have tested positive, contact the COVID Helpline at 701.730.8304 or COVID19Helpline@cord.edu. The Helpline phone and email are monitored during the business day, Monday – Friday. However, all the resources you need to determine your next steps are also available here on this site.

  • Where and when to isolate if positive
    Day 0 of isolation is the day you took your positive test (if not symptomatic) OR the day your symptoms started.  
    • Day 0–5: Isolate. Do not attend in-person class, work, or other activities. Do not have any outside guests in your room.  
      • If you test positive and live on campus, in most cases you will stay in your regular dorm room/apartment to isolate for five days. You can also make your own plans to isolate off campus. This is consistent with how we manage other infectious diseases and aligns with MDH's current recommendations. 
      • The college will maintain a few dedicated isolation spaces to use in certain situations. If you have an underlying health condition that impacts your ability to remain in your room with a roommate who has COVID, please contact Health Services. 
      • You should contact your professors about continuing coursework while in isolation.
    • Day 6-10: You can return to classes and other in-person activities, but you must continue wearing a mask when outside your dorm/apartment. Use 'grab and go' food (if you have a meal plan). 

  • If you have been exposed to COVID (regardless of your vaccination status or previous infection): You should mask for 10 days. More information.

    • If your roommate tests positive for COVID, that means you have been exposed to COVID. Follow the instructions for students who have been exposed to COVID. 

  • If you are symptomatic, stay home until you have been in contact with the COVID Helpline.
    • See the 'detailed guidance' for information on how to get meals. 

Detailed Guidance if Sick/Exposed | Concordia College.

COVID-19 Symptoms:

  • Fever (temperature >= 100.0 F) or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you test positive:

Moorhead employees - Contact the COVID Helpline at 701.730.8304 or COVID19Helpline@cord.edu during the business day Monday-Friday.

Bemidji employees - Contact Mollie Nelson, Ph.D., RN at mnelso38@cord.edu or 218.586.8777. 

Staff: Contact the Helpline and communicate with your supervisor about the need for leave. When feasible, make arrangements to perform responsibilities remotely.  

  • If you are too sick to work or unable to work remotely, you may be eligible for Extended Illness Benefits (EIB) after three days of using PTO. Questions regarding EIB can be directed to HR@cord.edu or 218.299.3339. 

Faculty: Contact the Helpline and communicate with your department chair about the need for absence. When feasible, make arrangements to perform responsibilities remotely. 

Isolation/Masking Instructions: Follow CDC isolation guidelines

Day 0 of isolation is the day you took your positive test (if not symptomatic) OR the day your symptoms started. 

  • Isolate for at least five days.
  • After five days, you may return to the worksite if symptoms have improved and you have been fever-free for 24 hours. You will need to wear a high-quality mask for five additional days (KN95 or N95 ideally). 
  • It is possible you may need to isolate through day 10 if you had moderate or severe illness. Refer to the CDC on how to monitor for severity of illness or check with the COVID Helpline. 

If you are a close contact: Follow CDC exposure guidelines

  • If you have been exposed to COVID, regardless of your vaccination status or previous infection, you need to mask for 10 days when at the worksite and monitor for symptoms.
  • Get tested at least five days after last exposure. 

If you are symptomatic: Stay home until you have been in contact with the COVID Helpline. Be in communication with your supervisor about work schedule changes.

Masking is optional on campus unless you have a positive test, have symptoms, or were exposed to COVID in the last 10 days.

Concordia follows CDC guidelines for masking protocols for quarantine and isolation, which are detailed under the "What to do if sick or exposed" tab. 

We recommend KN95 masks. A limited number of masks are available at the Campus Information desk in Knutson.

With the Minnesota Department of Health's guidance that vaccination continues to be one of the most effective tools for mitigating COVID-19, all students are required to be up-to-date with their vaccinations. Once vaccinated, report your status using the COVID Vaccination Form or by contacting the COVID Helpline at 701.730.8304 or COVID19Helpline@cord.edu.

If you are seeking an exemption to the vaccine requirement, find the official request form here. After completing the form, please submit it to vacexemptreq@cord.edu for review and consideration. 

  • Students are encouraged to test before returning to campus for the Fall 2022 semester.
  • Students should bring a supply of at-home tests. Tests can be ordered online and sent to your home or your campus post office address.
  • The Campus Information desk in Knutson will have a limited supply of rapid tests for students in need.
  • Moorhead offers a free community rapid and PCR (saliva) testing location seven blocks from campus: Moorhead testing location
  • Fargo testing locations
  • MN Testing locations

Faculty, staff, and students traveling internationally are expected to follow the rules established by the countries they are visiting. 

The CDC has guidance you may want to consider when traveling.

  • We welcome guests to attend events on campus.
  • Concordia College is a welcoming community and will not tolerate discrimination against persons wearing masks.

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