WINONA, Minn. – The state Health Department instructed all colleges to elevate their COVID safety practices to orange on a green-yellow-orange-red scale. Winona State made the change but said its infection data have been mostly stable in recent weeks. The statewide shift to orange reflected statewide data, the university said. During the most recent weekly reporting period, Winona State listed 18 new positive cases, which, added to previously reported active cases, made for a total of 27. Since tracking began in August, the university has had 600 positive cases. The university said the shift does not change its mitigation policies, which already were enhanced as a precautionary measure.
GREEN
YELLOW
ORANGE
RED
> Transmission levels are manageable
> Isolation and quarantines: Less than 50%
> Contacts are being identified at time of case interviews.
> Isolation and quarantine: 50-75% full.
> Fewer than1% of students infected within 14-day period.
> Number of infections growing over seven-day period in county.
>More than 5% of campus cases have link to another case over seven-day period.
With two or more indicators, extra mitigation efforts should be considered: canceling events, limiting social gatherings; reinforcing health etiquette expectations; shifting classrooms for safer social distancing.
> More than 3% of students infected in 14-day period.
> Isolation and quarantine: 50-75% full.
> Infections increasing over two weeks after yellow mitigation has been in place.
With two or more indicators, scale back in-person student supports services; cancel specific class sections or events; impose curfew; increase cleaning, disinfecting; restrict dorm access; move to grab-and-go meals.
If additional mitigation efforts don’t improve over 24 days, suspend in-person activities; shift to remote-only operations.