Our local area has been showing a steady increase in reported COVID-19 positive cases over the past two weeks.

The new Omicron BA.5 variant is now the most dominant strain of COVID-19 and is more contagious than previous strains of COVID-19. It appears to be less dangerous than the previous strains. However, both reinfections and hospitalizations are increasing across the US.

We want to encourage everyone to use the commonly accepted practices to prevent the virus from spreading.

Students that have symptoms should stay home/go home and report their illness to the Pandemic Team and their instructor. Once the Pandemic Team is notified, we will follow up with some questions, instructions, and a return to class date. You can reach the DEC Pandemic Team by email or phone: pandemicteam@dec.edu / 724-653-2232

There is a five-day quarantine period for anyone that shows symptoms or tests positive.

Upon returning from quarantine period, you may be asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing when returning to class.

You should test yourself or get tested immediately if you are experiencing symptoms. There have been many recent incidents of people mistaking COVID for allergies or the common cold. Mistaking symptoms for something other than COVID and continuing to come to school as usual could result in the variant spreading throughout a class.

If you have been exposed to someone that has tested positive, it is a good idea to socially distance from others, wear a mask if necessary, and monitor yourself for symptoms.

FREE at home tests are readily available. You can have tests shipped directly to your home for FREE by visiting   https://www.covid.gov/tests and Rite Aid is offering FREE at home tests at their stores with accepted insurance. Monessen Rite Aid is fully stocked on home tests. We suggest that everyone have some FREE at home tests on hand.

The Pandemic Team continues to check-in with those individuals that are experiencing symptoms, tested positive, as well as responding to COVID related issues.

Remember to practice regular handwashing and/or use hand sanitizer.

We continue to encourage vaccination/boosters.

Stay Safe!

The DEC Pandemic Team

Email: pandemicteam@dec.edu

Phone: 724-653-2232 M-F 8:30AM-5PM

COVID-19 Vaccinations are FREE and Walk-In Vaccinations are available at:

Rite Aid, 10 Donner Ave, Monessen, PA

• (724) 684-0153

COVID-19 TESTING LOCATIONS

If you ever feel that you need to be tested for COVID-19 we have listed free local testing locations below:

Rite Aid, 10 Donner Ave, Monessen, PA

• (724) 684-0153 https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19-testing
• Drive-up testing
• Make an appointment online

Med Express, Belle Vernon, PA  (3 miles from DEC)

• 724-929-3278  https://www.medexpress.com/location/pa/belle-vernon/blp/

CVS, Belle Vernon, PA (3 miles from DEC)

• 724-929-9155 https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator/pa/bellevernon/specialty/covid-19-testing-4077.html

The Pandemic Team does not require anyone to use these locations.

To receive notifications from the Pandemic Team download the DEC Mobile App in your app store by searching Douglas Education Center. 

You can also contact the Pandemic Team directly from the app by pressing the Pandemic Team button.

Effective 2/4/2022

The DEC Pandemic Team has revised our COVID policies and procedures due to the evolution of COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant. Due to the less severe and less symptomatic Omicron Variant, declining cases in our area over the past few weeks, and higher vaccination rates, we have decided to adopt a “free to choose” mask policy. This means that it will now be up to the individual student, employee, or guest to decide if they want to wear a mask or not.  

On Monday 2/7/2022 the following COVID policies will be in effect:

• There will be NO requirement to wear a mask. It is now a personal choice at DEC. 

• We will still require anyone that has symptoms to stay home/go home and report their illness to the Pandemic Team.    

• There will still be a quarantine period for anyone that shows symptoms or tests positive.   
• The Pandemic Team will still be monitoring those individuals that are ill and responding to COVID related issues.   
• We will still encourage everyone that passes by a temperature kiosk to self-check their temperature daily.

• We would encourage anyone that is immunocompromised or is around anyone that is immunocompromised to continue to wear a mask.
• Electronic Entry Doors/Fobbed Doors will return to the pre-COVID configuration & schedule

The masks and temperature kiosks will remain at main entry doors of most of our buildings.  If you need a mask or wish to do a self-temperature check upon arriving at DEC, feel free to take a mask and/or scan your temperature.

Anyone showing symptoms or that tests positive must stay home/go home and report to the Pandemic Team. There will continue to be a 5-day quarantine period for those who test positive or who are symptomatic. We do not require quarantining or isolation for anyone that has been exposed and shows no symptoms.

We continue to encourage vaccination/boosters as they are your best defense against serious illness and death.

As the virus evolves so will our policies and procedures.

Stay Safe!

Sincerely,

The DEC Pandemic Team

Email: pandemicteam@dec.edu 

Phone: 724-653-2232 M-F 8:30AM-5PM

Effective Monday 6/28/2021

For the health and safety of the DEC campus, DEC’s mask policy for unvaccinated students, employees, and visitors will remain in effect until further notice. Although Pennsylvania is planning to discontinue the state mask mandate on June 28, 2021, DEC, as a private organization, out of an abundance of caution and safety, will continue to require that all unvaccinated students, employees, and visitors wear masks and follow all COVID-19 prevention policies.

The DEC Pandemic Team will regularly review our pandemic related policies, including the mask policy, by evaluating the vaccination progress of our student population and monitoring the spread of COVID variants. As vaccination rates increase on the DEC campus, the DEC Pandemic Team is hopeful that DEC’s mask mandate for unvaccinated individuals on campus can be lifted sometime this summer.

DEC understands that deciding to get the COVID-19 vaccine is a matter of personal choice, spiritual/religious beliefs, and medical concerns. DEC does not require anyone to be vaccinated. However, DEC is recommending that all eligible individuals get vaccinated.

All unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students, employees, and visitors must follow all COVID-19 prevention policies, which include:

• Wearing a mask at all times while in a DEC facility, following entry procedures, and following all pandemic prevention policies.

All FULLY vaccinated DEC students that have provided PROOF of FULL COVID-19 vaccination to the Pandemic Team and have received a DEC Vaccination ID Pass will not be required to wear masks.

If you are not vaccinated, Rite Aid in Monessen, PA is currently accepting walk-ins for vaccines. No appointment required.

Sincerely,

The DEC Pandemic Team

Email: pandemicteam@dec.edu 

Phone: 724-653-2232 M-F 8:30AM-5PM

Effective Wednesday 5/19/2021

DEC understands that deciding to get the COVID-19 vaccine is a matter of personal choice, spiritual/religious beliefs, and medical concerns. DEC does not require anyone to be vaccinated. However, DEC is recommending that all eligible individuals get vaccinated.

All FULLY vaccinated DEC students that have provided PROOF of FULL COVID-19 vaccination to the Pandemic Team will receive a DEC Vaccination ID Pass. (According to the CDC, fully vaccinated means two weeks have passed since your final vaccination shot).

• Students with a Vaccination ID pass will not be required to wear masks.
• Students must always keep the DEC Vaccination ID Pass with them while at DEC and must keep the card easily displayed.
• The Vaccination ID Pass must be shown at the door which will allow vaccinated students to bypass COVID-19 entry screening.
• If anyone forgets their Vaccination ID Pass they will be required to wear a mask and follow all COVID-19 procedures.

All unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students must follow all COVID-19 prevention policies, which include:

• Wearing a mask at all times while in a DEC facility.
• Having temperature checked at COVID-19 entry screening upon arrival.
• Receiving a color-coded wristband from entry screening staff.
• Follow social distancing guidelines.

If you are not vaccinated, Rite Aid in Monessen, PA  is currently accepting walk-ins for both the Pfizer and J&J Vaccines. No appointment required.

If you are vaccinated, please upload proof of vaccination using this link: http://studentcards.dec.edu or email a copy to: pandemicteam@dec.edu

Sincerely,

The DEC Pandemic Team

Email: pandemicteam@dec.edu 

Phone: 724-653-2232 M-F 8:30AM-5PM

12.14.20

Attention: Douglas Education Center Students and Staff

We want to remind everyone that the state of PA travel restrictions that were implemented a few weeks ago remain in effect until further notice. We are encouraging everyone not to travel over the holiday break. 

Anyone traveling to PA from another state (or returning after visiting another state) will be required to be tested for COVID-19 up to 72 hours prior to arrival in PA. If the person does not have test results before coming to PA, then they would need to quarantine until they get a negative test result. If they cannot get a test or are waiting for results, they must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. This is not applicable to anyone traveling outside of the state for less than 24 hours or commuters (example: commuter-someone lives in Morgantown WV, but commutes to PA (DEC) a few days per week). 

DEC will comply with PA’s travel restrictions and will require all students and staff to comply also.  

If you do decide to travel outside of PA, you will be required to submit a negative test result to the Pandemic Team prior to being permitted to return to DEC. If you choose to travel and choose not to get tested or are unable to get tested your education/employment could be disrupted by a mandatory 10-day quarantine. COVID-19 testing is free at many testing locations.  

On New Year’s weekend DEC will send an electronic signature document to each student and employee via email and text requiring that they e-sign and report if they have traveled outside of PA during the holiday break.   

• If you report that you have not traveled outside of PA you will be permitted to return to DEC.  
• If you report that you have traveled outside of PA for 24 hours or less you will be permitted to return to DEC without quarantine or testing 
• If you report that you have traveled outside of PA for 24 hours or longer you must provide the Pandemic Team with a negative COVID-19 test as outlined above 
• If you do not report/submit the electronic signature document, you will not be permitted to return on-ground until you report your travel status and meet the criteria outlined above

STUDENTS: If you choose to travel, please consider how PA’s travel order requiring testing and quarantining for out of state travel will impact you upon returning to PA. After we return from holiday break on January 4, we only have a few weeks until the end of the semester. If you travel out of state and then are waiting for test results or must quarantine, you may miss critical days leading up to the end of the semester. This could impact your attendance, final grades, or graduation.  

The DEC Pandemic Team is asking that everyone consider modifying their holiday celebrations and travel plans this year.  We are suggesting that you celebrate with only the people in your household (the people that live in your house), the people that live in your residential household grouping, or celebrate virtually. 

DEC must comply with all federal, state, and local COVID-19 regulations. We continue to be committed to providing safe and healthy facilities for our students, employees, and visitors to ensure the lowest likelihood of COVID-19 exposure.  

Sincerely,

The DEC Pandemic Team

Email: pandemicteam@dec.edu 

Phone: 724-653-2232 M-F 8:30AM-5PM

11.19.20

Attention: Douglas Education Center Students and Staff

Ahead of the holiday season the state of PA has implemented new travel restrictions that take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, November 20, 2020.

Anyone traveling to PA from another state (or returning after visiting another state) will now be required to be tested for COVID-19 up to 72 hours prior to arrival in PA. If the person does not have test results before coming to PA, then they would need to quarantine until they get a negative test result. If they cannot get a test or are waiting for results, they must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. This is not applicable to commuters (example: someone lives in Morgantown WV, but commutes to PA (DEC) a few days per week).

DEC will comply with PA’s new travel restrictions and will require all students and staff to be in compliance also.

Before you decide to travel outside of PA please consider what will be required before you return.

If you do decide to travel outside of PA, you will be required to submit a negative test result to the Pandemic Team prior to being permitted to return to DEC. If you choose not to get tested your education would be disrupted by a mandatory 14-day quarantine. COVID-19 testing is free at many testing locations.

Following Thanksgiving Day DEC will send an electronic signature document to each student and employee via email requiring that they e-sign and report if they have traveled outside of PA during the holiday break.   

• If you report that you have not traveled outside of PA you will be permitted to return to DEC.
• If you report that you have traveled outside of PA you must provide the Pandemic Team with a negative COVID-19 test as outlined above.
• If you do not report/submit the electronic signature document, you will not be permitted to return on-ground until you report your travel status and meet the criteria outlined above.

DEC must comply with all federal, state, and local COVID-19 regulations. We continue to be committed to providing safe and healthy facilities for our students, employees, and visitors to ensure the lowest likelihood of COVID-19 exposure.

More information to follow.

Sincerely,

The DEC Pandemic Team

Email: pandemicteam@dec.edu 

Phone: 724-653-2232 M-F 8:30AM-5PM

9.30.20

We would like to welcome everyone to the start of our fall 2020 semester!

As you may already know, Douglas Education Center had a successful on ground summer semester by strictly following COVID-19 prevention procedures and strictly enforcing COVID-19 prevention policies and we would like to continue that success into the next semester.

As we begin the fall 2020 semester, we will continue to follow the COVID-19 prevention practices that allowed us to have a successful summer.

Listed below are some key infection prevention practices:

• Upon entering a DEC facility everyone is required to wear a mask, have their temperature taken via temperature verification kiosk or no contact thermometer and asked if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms 
• Once a person is cleared to enter a DEC facility, they will be provided and must wear a color-coded wrist band
• Everyone must wear a mask throughout the day while in a DEC facility
• If you are sick, please stay home. Notify the Pandemic Team, notify your instructors & visit a healthcare provider
• Everyone is required to social distance both inside DEC facilities and outside while on DEC property
• Resolve matters with DEC Administration over the phone or online
• Please download the DEC Mobile App – Search Douglas Education Center in your app store
• We encourage everyone to get their flu-shot to prevent a twin-demic: COVID-19+Flu

By following CDC and PA Department of Health Guidelines, Douglas Education Center remains committed to providing safe and healthy facilities for our students, employees, and visitors to ensure the lowest likelihood of COVID-19 exposure while maintaining the highest level of educational capability.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us: pandemicteam@dec.edu

We look forward to seeing you at the start of the fall 2020 semester.

Sincerely,

The DEC Pandemic Team