An employee from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Children’s Center tested positive for COVID-19, Chancellor Dwight C. Watson announced on Aug. 17.
University officials were notified of the public health issue a day earlier.
Watson said the university acted swiftly to prevent further spread of COVID-19 infection as well using a process in place for reporting and notification of such public health matters.
“Contact tracing began immediately. Any staff (including student employees), who were identified as close contacts have been made aware of their next steps in regards to testing and self-quarantine,” Watson wrote in a letter to the campus community.
“This also includes families of the children who use services at the Center who were determined to be close contacts. University Health and Counseling Services is also in communication with the Walworth County Public Health Department,” he added.
The Children’s Center, Watson said, was already scheduled for closure on Aug. 17 and maintenance staff began disinfecting all rooms within the center.
The classroom where the employee worked will be closed through Aug. 28 as a precaution, Watson said, but the remaining classrooms were opened and staffed last Wednesday.
Watson said campus officials are encouraging employees to contact supervisors with any concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If you have any concerns about whether this situation affects you or your work, please contact your supervisor,” Watson wrote. “We will do our best to answer your questions and address your concerns while also respecting individual privacy rights and maintaining our obligation to public health and safety.”
Emphasizing transparency
UW-Whitewater and other University of Wisconsin schools plan to welcome students back for in-person instruction in the fall.
With the anticipated return, according to Watson, officials plan on bolstering transparency for the benefit of public safety.
“As we navigate this pandemic, we are committed to transparency as we work to make our campus community as safe as possible,” he said. “We are creating an online dashboard to be launched soon so that you can monitor the status of COVID-19, both at the university and across our region.”
Staff, students and faculty with any questions can call the university’s COVID-19 hotline at 262-472-1362 or send an email to covid19info@uww.edu.
