WINONA Minn. – The president of Winona State University, Scott Olson, asked all campus people to self-quarantine immediately. His message: Stay quarantined until January 11 when spring semester begins. “The intent of this self-imposed quarantine is to limit all non-essential activities for those two weeks.” Olson acknowledged, however that in-person classes, work, and obtaining food are essential. Olson also said that the new semester would kick off with a “soft launch” rather than a grand opening. The idea, he said, is to dial back on certain activities and lay low for the first few weeks.
Earlier: WSU’s COVID presence inches better
About orange
Olson minimized the seriousness of Winona State moving from a yellow pandemic risk level level to the more serious orange level. The change, he said, didn’t reflect campus infection data, which actually have been mostly steady. Why the elevated rating? Olson: Governor Tim Walz’ mid-December executive order triggered a statewide recalculation of state Health Department guidance.
