Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,  

Welcome back. We hope you enjoyed your break and were able to relax and recharge.   

Since many of you traveled home or elsewhere, please be vigilant about masking and monitoring for COVID symptoms. If you were with large groups, consider getting tested as many parts of our region continue to have high transmission rates.   

The CDC has updated its guidance for testing after COVID exposure.  

  • If you are fully vaccinated: Testing should now be done 5-7 days after last exposure, rather than 3-5 days. 
  • If you are not fully vaccinated: Get tested immediately after being notified as a close contact. If the test is negative, get retested 5-7 days after exposure.  

The Moorhead community testing site now offers rapid testing in addition to saliva tests. The link includes several other testing locations.   

We do need to be notified if you test positive. Students should contact the COVID Student Helpline at 701.730.8304 or COVID19Helpline@cord.edu. Employees need to call Human Resources at 218.299.3339.  

STUDENT EXEMPTION DEADLINE 

Today is the deadline for requesting an exemption for the COVID vaccine requirement, which goes into effect on January 6th. Unless you have filed your vaccination status (through the online form or by contacting the Student Helpline directly) or have been granted an exemption by December 14, 2021, you will be unenrolled from your Spring 2022 courses.  

Members of the Student Helpline have been reaching out via phone calls, emails, and text messages. It is important to respond. They can help if you need assistance.  

For employees, we are waiting for federal regulations on a COVID vaccine requirement to be finalized. We will then identify and implement a strategy to comply.   

As a reminder, our messages will now be every two weeks unless there is an important update to share.  

Thank you,  

COVID Response Group