By Troy Gillard

"thorough and enhanced cleaning" underway

RDC says “person within its community” tests positive for COVID-19

Apr 6, 2020 | 3:17 PM

Red Deer College says someone associated with RDC has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Yesterday we learned of a person within our College community who has tested positive for COVID-19. Given the size of RDC’s community, this news is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected,” the college said in a media release on Monday.

RDC says the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 did not display any symptoms when they last attended RDC’s downtown campus on March 13 and Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on March 18.

“On behalf of the entire College community, I wish this individual well and hope they have a speedy recovery and good health in the near future. It’s at times like this that we should all come together, and it is important that we share our compassion and patience for one another,” says Dr. Peter Nunoda, RDC President.

The college says that “out of an abundance of caution” their janitorial staff are completing a thorough and enhanced cleaning of known areas in which this individual last visited at RDC.

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“We have implemented a variety of measures to help keep our campuses as safe as possible with this rapidly changing situation,” the college says.

RDC officials note that Alberta Health Services (AHS) directly contacts any individual who is considered exposed to confirmed cases of COVID-19, and that these individuals are provided further direction, including being asked to self-isolate and to be tested for COVID-19. Only those contacted directly by AHS are considered exposed to this virus. If they are not contacted directly by AHS, they are not considered exposed and should instead continue to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms.

“We remind everyone to be vigilant in their efforts to practice physical distancing, good hygiene, and to stay home if ill,” RDC adds.

Steps the college has taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• online course delivery starting March 18

• connecting with students through phone and online service delivery

• ensuring physical distancing by those who remain at RDC for work

• using enhanced disinfecting and cleaning products and regimes

“The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors are of the utmost importance,” Nunoda adds. “I encourage everyone to take necessary precautions to help ensure good health and to use the available resources from RDC, AHS and the Alberta Government as we support each other during this unprecedented time.”