A dozen Lake Forest College students are in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this month , and 28 others who are believed to have had contact with the infected students have been quarantined, college President Stephen Schutt confirmed Thursday.
“Twelve Lake Forest College students tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and Tuesday,” Schutt wrote in a statement issued to Pioneer Press. “They represent less than one percent of the student population the College is testing weekly or more frequently. All twelve went immediately into isolation under the care and guidance of the College’s health center, and all are experiencing only mild symptoms.”
LFC has 1,566 undergraduate students, according to its website. College officials explained that last semester, all classes were held remotely. Students had recently began arriving on campus as the new semester — which was to include in-person and remote classes — set to start Feb. 1 .
Schutt said contact tracing helped to identify 28 other students who recently had contact with the other 12 students and they were quarantined as a precaution.
“The college takes the coronavirus very seriously, and our robust testing and contact tracing program will continue throughout the spring semester,” Schutt wrote.
In a post on the LFC website, Schutt said that a majority of the men’s hockey team have been isolated or quarantined. It was not immediately clear if any of the team members were among those who tested positive for the novel coronavirus – which causes the COVID-19 disease.
The positive cases may be traced to a recent weekend social gathering, as Schutt said college officials received information that many of the students involved – and possibly others – came together at residence halls the night of Jan. 30.
The college president said more than one student reportedly thought that by testing negative on Jan. 29, it was safe to gather with others. He labeled that as a mistaken belief, since an individual can test negative one day and positive the next and that, while a person can have a single negative test, they could still be carrying the virus.
“The health costs for them are now all too evident,” Schutt said in the website post.
Schutt said the school is reviewing student gatherings and other actions, and any individual or team could face disciplinary actions.
Due to the occurrences, questions now linger about how the liberal arts college will operate for the rest of the semester. Schutt cautioned that if additional students tested positive or need to be isolated or quarantined, the rest of the semester could be jeopardized.
Additionally, Irene Ratliff, the interim associate vice president for college marketing, said a review process into what occurred would be completed soon.
“We are confident that the college will have a full spring semester with many students, faculty, and staff on campus,” she said. “To ensure this, President Schutt’s campus message was a strong reminder to students that they need to follow the College’s COVID protocols.”
The Lake County Health Department’s epidemiology team is working with the college, and an investigation into the positive cases has started and information is being collected, Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli.
The sheriff’s office was assisting the health department with communication efforts Thursday, Covelli explained.
Schutt described the situation occurring in the first week of the semester as “deeply regrettable” and reminded students of the consequences of not taking proper precautions.
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“Your desire to be with each other is completely understandable after the long periods you’ve experienced away from campus,” Schutt wrote. “But 12 students in isolation and another 28 in quarantine should be a warning for every student.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer.