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Finlandia University moving to remote instruction

Photo provided by Finlandia University Finlandia Nursing students assist Upper Great Lakes Family Health doctors with baseline testing at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Finlandia baseline tested all students and employees prior to the start of classes this Fall.

HANCOCK — In response to rising COVID-19 cases on campus, Finlandia University will move to remote instruction starting Nov. 16, the Monday before Thanksgiving break.

Finlandia has 14 active student cases and one active employee case, according to its COVID dashboard. All of its isolation suite space is filled.

Most new cases have been off-campus, Finlandia President Philip Johnson said in a letter to campus. However, contract tracing has determined many residential students have been in situations where they could have been exposed. As of Monday, fifty-five students and 12 staff are quarantined.

Face-to-face instruction will conclude Nov. 13, with the exception of clinicals and lab sciences, Johnson said. Athletics practices and workouts are also suspended through Nov. 20.

Students who can go home safely may start to do so by the end of the week. Students who are quarantined or who show even mild symptoms are asked to follow

“We realize you may be anxious to get home or to leave quarantine, but it is imperative for the health and safety of this community and others, that we do everything in our power to discourage additional transmission of the virus,” Johnson said.

Students are asked to take whatever belongings they will need until the start of spring semester, such as books, notes and mobile devices. Residence halls will stay open until Nov. 21.

“Now, more than ever, preventative measures must be taken seriously prior to traveling home, such as avoiding social gatherings, wearing face masks, and distancing,” Johnson said. “We need to ensure that we are doing all we can to protect ourselves and others when traveling.”

Houghton County reported a seven-day average of 286.8 new cases per million, with a seven-day average positive test rate of 6.8%. The lowest case average since school resumed was 180.7 on Oct. 19. It reached as high as 813.3 on Sept. 26, right before the county’s K-12 schools, Michigan Technological University and Finlandia paused all or most live instruction.

The percentage of positive tests falls in the state’s risk level B, the third-lowest. The cases per million is still at the state’s highest risk level — E, or above 150 per million.

K-12 schools in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties are also extending their remote instruction period, which started Oct. 26 and had been set to expire at the start of this week. In-person instruction will stay closed in Ontonagon County through Nov. 13 and Gogebic County through Nov. 20. The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department recommended the closure due to rising case levels over the past two weeks, Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District Superintendent Alan Tulppo said in a release.

As of Thursday, Ontonagon County was reporting record highs in average cases per million and positive tests. Cases per million have risen to 1,412.3; the positive rate is at 34.4%. The positive rate is at Level E — the state’s highest risk level, for 20% or above.

“The decision to extend the closure was not easy and our schools are being forced to make this decision because of the amount of spread in our communities as a result of individuals not following the recommendations of our public health experts,” Tulppo said. “The best way to ensure that schools are able to resume in-person instruction is for every member of our communities to follow the recommendations of public health experts. Wear a mask, wash your hands, avoid large events, stay home if you are not feeling well, clean and disinfect surfaces daily. Following these guidelines protects yourself and others.”

As of Oct. 26, Ontonagon Area Schools had reported two positive and three probable cases. Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated School District reported none on its website.

Baraga Area Schools will continue its two-week pause of virtual instruction until Nov. 16, also instituted due to community spread. Six staff or visitors had tested positive, while three students were probable, according to the district’s website.

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