Covid-19 Updates

President’s Update Regarding Trinity’s COVID Protocols

02/07/22

Dear Trinity Community,

On Friday, February 4, a Sangamon County Illinois Circuit Court ruling resulted in a temporary restraining order enjoining Governor Pritzker from enforcing his executive order requiring universal masking in 150 (out of 840) public school districts. While the state of Illinois has already filed a motion to stay the order, on the advisement of Trinity’s legal counsel, Trinity personnel will—until further notice—no longer be enforcing the governor’s executive order of August 26, 2021.

Effective immediately:

• Masking is no longer required in any indoor or outdoor spaces on Trinity’s Deerfield campus, though you are certainly free to continue wearing one if you are more comfortable doing so.
• Weekly testing for those not vaccinated is no longer required, though free testing is still available to all Trinity students, staff, and faculty.
• Student athletes still need to comply with regulations associated with athletic competitions off campus.

It is important to note that Trinity’s COVID-19 health policies regarding quarantines and isolations are still in effect. Also, Trinity will continue to host the Lake County Mobile Vaccine Unit as scheduled during the semester, including tomorrow (Tues., Feb. 8) from 1–5 PM in Melton Hall.

Trinity intends to follow the laws laid down by its governmental authorities, just as it always has. Our COVID Readiness Team will continue monitoring the court’s decision and the state’s response, and will communicate any subsequent policy changes. For this reason, if the state of Illinois wins its appeal reversing this court ruling, TIU will need to reinstate the mitigations outlined in the governor’s mandate.

In closing, I would like to remind everyone that we as Christ-followers are called to exercise these privileges not as legally entitled citizens but as disciples. We have the privilege of caring for another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Though the virulence of COVID-19 is not what it once was, it is nevertheless true that the virus is still in circulation and still poses a certain risk, especially to the more vulnerable. Some of our community members have children at home that cannot be vaccinated; others have adjacent health concerns or are in contact with the elderly. Mandate or no mandate, we need to continue to be mindful of these realities.

In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul writes of setting aside his own rights for the sake of the gospel, becoming “all things to all people.” Along these lines, I would like to encourage members of this community to use reacquired freedoms wisely and to imitate Paul’s gentleness and sensitivity—in the weeks and perhaps even months to come.

Blessings,

Nick

—
Nicholas Perrin, PhD
President
Trinity International University

COVID Update: Isolation and Quarantine Policy for Trinity, Spring 2022

01/13/22

Dear Trinity Community,

As we return to campus for the spring semester, the University will continue to uphold its COVID-19 policies and procedures for all our students, faculty and staff—including weekly testing for those unvaccinated and masking in all indoor public spaces—with hopes that your Trinity experience will be as normal as possible while promoting everyone’s safety.

With the new surge of the now-dominant but apparently more mild Omicron variant, and taking into consideration the guidelines from the CDC, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the State of Illinois, Trinity has updated its isolation and quarantine policy, which includes shortened periods of quarantine but longer isolation than is recommended for the general public because of the nature of a university’s “congregate” living and class environment. If you do not live in a residence hall, then you are to follow the guidelines for the general public set forth by the CDC.

Isolation

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, isolate. Regardless of vaccination status or where you choose to isolate (for example, on campus or at home), you will:

• Isolate for 10 days.

• After the 10 days you can leave isolation and return to your residence hall or to campus (if you are a non-residential student), and to in-person classes.

Quarantine

If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 but have been boosted more than two weeks ago or vaccinated within the past 6 months (Pfizer or Moderna) or 2 months (J&J), then quarantine is not required. However, you will need to:

• Wear a mask at all times, except when eating, drinking, or sleeping, including in your residence hall if you live in one, for 10 days.

• Get a PCR test on day 5, if possible.

• If you develop symptoms, get a PCR test and isolate until you get your results.

If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are not vaccinated or were vaccinated more than 6 months (Pfizer or Moderna) or 2 months (J&J) ago, without a booster, you will need to quarantine:

• Quarantine for 5 days.

• Get a PCR test on day 5. PCR testing is available free of charge at Trinity for students  in Health Services (Carlson 104) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Schedule your appointment HERE.

• If after 5 days you have no symptoms and your PCR test is negative for COVID-19, you can leave quarantine and, if applicable, return to your residence hall and/or face-to-face classes.

• Continue to wear a mask at all times, except when eating, drinking, or sleeping, including in your residence hall, for 5 additional days.

• If after 5 days your PCR test is positive for COVID-19, move to the isolation protocol.

We know this may come across as unnecessarily complex, but we are following the guidance of the relevant health authorities based on the Omicron variant. We are hopeful, however, that we’re nearing the end of the line when it comes to COVID-19 being a “pandemic,” which will hopefully bring less intrusive mitigations as a result.

As always, please don’t hesitate to send any questions you may have about this policy update to [email protected].

COVID Weekly Testing, Spring 2022 Semester

01/07/22

Dear Trinity Community,

As we move into the spring semester we would like to thank everyone for helping keep our campus healthy this past fall by providing proof of vaccination online through Med+Proctor or getting tested weekly. Please note that if you have received a booster you will need to add that to your Med+Proctor account as well.

Additionally, there is a change that you need to be aware of regarding testing on campus. While testing is still free, due to a change in testing providers, it will be necessary for you to provide your insurance information (Insurance Name and Policy ID) prior to testing on campus. We will record this information the first time that you test on campus for the spring semester, and you will not have to present it for subsequent tests. If you do not have health insurance, please communicate this with the nurse upon your arrival; you will still be tested for free.

If you have been vaccinated or boosted and not uploaded your proof of vaccination/booster to Med+Proctor, please do so today. If you have chosen to be tested weekly for free on Trinity’s campus, please take the time to schedule your appointment (and bring your Trinity ID and insurance card with you the first time).

• ALL students can schedule your appointment HERE.

• Students participating in an athletic team on campus will NO LONGER test with your athletic trainer. Use the link above to schedule your test.

• Faculty and Staff can schedule your testing appointment HERE.

Non-Compliance and the Executive Order

As you know, the Illinois governor’s executive order mandates that a university “shall exclude its personnel and students who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from the premises” unless they comply with weekly testing requirements.

Trinity has established a system to track testing with an automatic communication to those who miss a test. This system will help us make testing convenient, ensure compliance and, in case a test is missed, provide guidance for avoiding exclusion from campus. In short, if a test is missed in a given week, it is expected that a test will be completed by the time it has been no more than 14 days since a test was last recorded, or consequences will be enacted.

Please note that those who demonstrate a repeated pattern of missed testing and/or abuse of grace periods may also be subject to exclusion from campus. Exclusion from campus for testing violations will remain in effect for the remainder of the semester regardless of subsequent testing or vaccination.

These mitigations are going on longer than any of us expected, and we don’t take pleasure in continuing them on campus this spring. By God’s grace, we made it through this fall semester without any major outbreaks despite the perpetually high transmission rate in Lake County.

We are praying for you and ask that you pray for continued discernment and wisdom as we negotiate this governmental mandate. Please don’t hesitate to send any questions you may have to [email protected].