DCC COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Updates

DCC supports the campus community and its sense of wellness. To support students, faculty, and staff, information has been provided that can assist in prevention and response.

What Should I Do if I have COVID-19?

  1. Get Tested | If you have not already done so, you should get tested. Dawson County Health Department, Urgent Care Clinics, and the Glendive Medical Center may assist with this. Free at-home tests are available at COVID.gov.
  2. Isolate | It is recommended by the CDC that you isolate for 5 days. The CDC also recommends you wear a mask 5 days after you've ended your isolation.
  3. Inform Your RA | Be sure to email or call your Resident Advisor in Housing & Residence Life. They should be made aware to assist with isolation and any issues that may arise from your illness.
  4. Inform Your faculty | Send an email to each of your faculty explaining your absence, and request their advice of how to proceed in class.
  5. Tell Loved Ones | Be sure the people who care about you know that you are ill. A simple phone call, text message, social media post, or email can be very helpful.
  6. Tell Your Employer | Be sure to tell your employer that you are ill. Communicating with your employment ensures effective communication.

Vaccination Requirements

DCC joins other Montana colleges in encouraging employees and students to receive the vaccine for COVID-19 to protect themselves, the DCC learning environment, and our communities at large. Likewise, we join the majority of Montana community colleges in not mandating vaccines for employees or students. As a learning institution, we will continue to share resources and information about the vaccine's availability and efficacy.

Masks

The topic that generates the most questions is whether masks will be required. In accordance with the current guidance from the state and OCHE, masks are not required. However, DCC will encourage wearing a mask indoors in accordance with guidance from the CDC for anyone who is not fully vaccinated and boosted, has recently tested positive for COVID and has been instructed to do so by a health official and/or knows he/she has been exposed. 

DCC will continue to support those who choose to wear a mask regardless of the reason. Getting vaccinated is a personal decision. A number of our students and employees either cannot receive the vaccination for a number of reasons, choose not to receive the vaccination, and/or have been vaccinated and prefer to continue to wear a mask out of caution.

DCC will respect the decisions of all members of our campus community in regards to vaccination status and/or use or non-use of masks, and will expect every person on campus to respect the decisions of others as well. If you need help or support feeling comfortable on campus or need to discuss any concerns you may have please contact Joshua Engle (Dean of Students).

Quarantine and Isolation

The CDC has available resources that provide helpful guidance to those who have have contracted COVID-19. These resources can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html

The CDC offers the following guidance to individuals who tested positive for COVID-19:

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.

You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.

  • Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
  • Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.
  • Do not travel.
  • Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
  • Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
  • Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
  • Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
  • Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
  • Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.

If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.

Signage and Sanitizing

In order to support the continued commitment to the safety of our entire DCC community, DCC will continue to:

  • Provide hand sanitizer in campus common spaces and classrooms;
  • Post specific signage that is related to hand washing; and
  • Provide updates and notifications regarding significant health risks to the campus community

If you have any questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 precautions on DCC campuses, please reach out to Daisy Nyberg at dnyberg@dawson.edu or Joshua Engle at jengle@dawson.edu