As of January 30, 2023, Belmont Abbey College’s institutional COVID (coronavirus) protocols have followed those consistent with other infectious diseases (influenza, RSV, gastroenteritis).

COVID Update January 2023

January 30, 2023

As of January 30, 2023, Belmont Abbey College’s institutional protocols for COVID (coronavirus) will follow those consistent with other infectious diseases (influenza, RSV, gastroenteritis).

COVID Update Fall 2022

August, 16, 2022

Quarantine (from exposure): Belmont Abbey College follows the newly released guidelines from the CDC that suggest no quarantine after exposure to a known positive. Students who have been exposed to a known positive should continue normal campus functions while masking for 10 days post-exposure. If you develop symptoms, please contact the Wellness Center and email baccovid19@bac.edu.

Masks: Masks remain optional in all areas of campus. The only populations that should mask are those who have been exposed (see above) or are returning to normal campus functions following an isolation period in accord with CDC recommendations.

Occupancy: There are currently no occupancy restrictions in campus buildings or events.

Testing: As has been the case for some time, we have testing capabilities in our Wellness Center for symptomatic students. We will not be testing asymptomatic students for purposes of athletic participation and competition.

Isolation (5-day duration with a COVID positive test result): Students that test positive will need to isolate off campus either at home, in a hotel, or other accommodations for five (5) days at their own expense and will be responsible for other factors during the isolation period (dining, transportation, communicating with professors, etc.). After the isolation period – if you are fever-free for at least 24 hours, and your symptoms have cleared or significantly reduced, you may return to normal campus activities. However, you must wear a medical mask when you are with other students, staff, or faculty, for an additional five (5) days.

We strongly encourage students to come to campus with a plan on how they will isolate off campus, should the need arise.

There are three changes to our COVID management protocols and procedures. These are the result of a changing context of COVID in our region, a reduced number of cases on our campus, and a large percentage of our campus community (>80%) who are vaccinated or have been positive in the last 90 days. This is our initial move to manage COVID as an endemic (rather than a pandemic) disease.

To that end, the following changes will go into effect immediately:

• There will no longer be an indoor mask mandate for activities. Instead we will move to a mask optional environment unless prescribed by some external authority. Two important pieces remain in place for this new policy:
  • Per CDC guidance, we would continue to encourage those who have recently tested positive to wear a mask around others in days 6-10 following isolation.
  • Second – and most importantly – as a community, we will honor the request of others to mask in their presence if requested. This includes classes, office spaces, meetings, and other gatherings on our campus. As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been a community that has proven time and time again that we respect and look out for one another. We ask and expect that this ethos and level of common care will continue in this new phase.
• The College will no longer conduct detailed contact tracing for exposures to a positive case. We will continue to honor voluntary exposure disclosure as before, but will now limit our contact tracing to roommates or other living environment exposures. We encourage those who have tested positive to reach out to others who may have had close contact. In this, positive cases will continue to isolate away from campus.
• We will move to full capacity for on-campus events.

We will continue our testing efforts as suggested and required by local partners, Conference Carolinas, and the NCAA. If you are not feeling well, please contact the Wellness Center and baccovid19@bac.edu for further direction and instruction.

Again, these changes will have immediate effect and will be reviewed no later than March 1.