COVID-19 Update: Cases of COVID-19 at Montgomery College

Date: March 23, 2020
Media Contact: Marcus Rosano, 301-525-5283

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COVID-19 Updates: Cases of COVID-19 at Montgomery College 

In the last 24 hours, Montgomery College has been notified by two MC community members—an employee and a student—that they have tested positive for the COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Since the COVID-19 public health emergency is evolving quickly, the College is making this information public as quickly as possible so that our community is aware.

The student was last on campus Wednesday, March 11, and did not experience symptoms until March 16. The employee was last on campus March 13 and began exhibiting symptoms that day. Both individuals are following medical advice and self-quarantining. The College is working with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and following its guidance for communicating with those who may have been potentially exposed. Any such individuals will receive notification within the next 24 hours. Please consider that the College’s list of individuals may not be comprehensive and knowledge about the spread of this virus is still evolving. Regardless of whom you have been in contact with, anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath should self-quarantine and seek immediate medical care. The College encourages all of its community members to continue to practice the guidance that is circulating widely: wash hands frequently, don’t touch your face, and practice social distancing.

While this news may be distressing, please know that the College leadership team and the Coronavirus Advisory Team are meeting daily to evaluate this changing situation and make decisions that are informed by guidance from county, state, and national health officials. The health and safety of our students and employees is our top priority. The College will continue to send important updates about coronavirus and urges our community members to read them carefully. The most current information will be posted to the College’s coronavirus webpage, which includes general guidance on several frequently asked topics. Additional questions may be emailed to publicsafety@montgomerycollege.edu. If you have follow up questions, please contact the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services at 240-777-1755.

Please know that Montgomery College is working tirelessly to provide information and resources on COVID-19 and MC’s responses. The College is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of all members of our community, while continuing to provide emergency remote teaching and learning. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this unprecedented situation together. As this crisis continues to evolve, the College will limit official emails regarding individual cases to emergency notifications and information relevant to the College community. While the College will not communicate every time a member of our community tests positive, you can continue to check the coronavirus webpage for important information.