COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

UPDATED 01/22/2022

These FAQs will be updated as new information becomes available.

A special email account has been created allowing the MCC community to email any feedback or concerns they would like to have addressed by our Emergency Management Team. Please contact emergencymanagement@middlesex.mass.edu.

CORONAVIRUS BASICS
COVID-19 RESOURCES
SOCIAL DISTANCING
STAYING HEALTHY
MCC's BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS


CORONAVIRUS BASICS

What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) COVID-19  is a novel (new) virus that causes respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. More detailed and up-to-date information about COVID-19 is available on the CDC's website, along with a list of preventative measures.

What is a “Presumptive Positive Case?”
A Presumptive Positive Case of COVID-19 is someone who met the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) risk assessment criteria for testing and their test came back  as positive for COVID-19. The person then isolates at home. Close contacts, household and family members may be subsequently tested.

What is considered close contact?

A close contact is defined by the CDC as:

  1. being within approximately 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time; close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case; or
  2. having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on).

 


COVID-19 RESOURCES

CDC COVID-19 website full of resources and guidance on how to stop the spread of the virus and keep your family and community safe.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health website where all of the latest information on the Coronavirus may be found. This site will offer general information as well as Massachusetts-specific resources and updates.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth Busters

 


 

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Effective January 1, 2022, Middlesex Community College will require all students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated and social distancing requirements will no longer be required per CDC guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs).


STAYING HEALTHY

What can MCC students and employees do to reduce the risk of acquiring COVID-19?

The best way to protect yourself and others from severe illness, hospitalization, or death due to COVID-19 is to get a vaccine and wear a mask when indoors around others

Please note that the influenza (flu) infection rate is also high in Massachusetts this year. It is not too late to get a flu shot. Call your local Board of Health department or medical provider to learn more. To find a location to get a flu shot, please visit.

Also, as a means of preventing transmission of infection, please practice the following:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially before preparing food or eating and after using the restroom
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth 
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow, then dispose of the tissue in the trash and wash your hands
  • Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces like computers, door knobs, desks and countertops
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home from school and work if you are sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19

What do I do if I have been in contact with someone who has, or may have, COVID-19?

Please refer to MCC's COVID-19 Close Contact Decision Tree here

What should individuals do if they are experiencing symptoms (fever, cough)?
If you are experiencing symptoms (fever, cough,etc.), you should contact your primary care provider for further guidance. Please do not go directly to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care Center. 

  • Lowell General Hospital: 978-937-6000
  • Lahey Hospital and Medical Center: 781-744-5100
  • Emerson Hospital: 978-287-3690
  • For any medical emergency, call 911

Students, faculty and staff who have been diagnosed with a communicable disease by a health care professional should contact emergency management Per Massachusetts law, the College must follow established Communicable Disease Notification Protocol and follow U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HIPPA guidelines.

Please refer to MCC's Covid-19 Close Contact Decision Tree HERE

Can I be tested for COVID-19?

Testing for Covid-19 is widely available in Massachusetts!

To find a COVID-19 Test near you, Click HERE!


MCC's BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

Where can I read the findings of the recent air quality evaluation?
A summary of the results of the indoor air quality evaluation recently conducted by NV5 can be found here.
For more information about this evaluation, please contact the Emergency Management Team by sending an email to emergencymanagement@middlesex.mass.edu.

How are MCC’s buildings being cleaned?

The Facilities department is continuing with the ongoing cleaning of community spaces and classrooms. Currently the College has sufficient sanitizing supplies on campus and has ordered more. Hand sanitizer stations already located around campus are being filled and repaired. If you encounter a station without sanitizer or a bathroom missing soap or paper towels, please submit a facilities work order right away.

Sanitizing wipes are being distributed to each classroom for students and staff to use on keyboards and table tops. Touch-free hand sanitizers for building entry ways have been ordered and will be installed as soon as possible. Information about staying healthy and stopping the spread of the virus will be posted on both the Bedford and Lowell campuses.

 


 

Last Modified: 1/9/24