Local health department impressed with campus safety measures

Health DepartmentWhen Shelby County Health Department Public Health Coordinator Josephine Burks visited the Macon Cove Campus Sept. 9, she was impressed by what she saw.  “From the beginning, my team and I observed excellent standards with regards to adhering to COVID-19 protocols,” Burks wrote in an email to Southwest officials. “Upon entering the campus, we were directed to take the health survey/questionnaire with COVID-19 appropriate questions as well as having our temperature checks. This process was smooth and one of the main challenges we have faced with our school facilities in implementing. Your school displayed to us, that this process can not only be implemented effectively, but also efficiently. Fantastic job.”

She went on to praise the campus environment: “Our observations of the classrooms were positive. We witnessed adequate signage around the school and classrooms as well as compliance with social distancing. Additionally, class sizes are small enough to adhere to social distancing within classroom settings. This is another aspect that we are finding other schools have been non-compliant with. So, this was pleasing to see. Excellent work. Proper cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces was excellent as was your process of cleaning should a positive COVID-19 case occur. Again, this was terrific.”

Congratulations to Director of Physical Plant Jonathan Welden, Police Services/Public Safety Director L.A. Webb, the COVID-19 Task Force and all the staff who contributed to the success of the assessment. 

For more information on the College’s Coronavirus response, visit https://www.southwest.tn.edu/coronavirus/.  To learn more about Southwest’s Back to Campus Plan, visit the Back to Campus Plan website.