It was good while it lasted—if only too short. After starting fall classes September 2nd with options including face-to face instruction, UW-River Falls has a new normal this fall—at least for the next two weeks. The campus which spread outward from modest beginnings was built in 1874 has gone all virtual, after a rise in COVID cases led to a shelter in place order, “Aggressive testing has enabled us to identify increases here on campus,” Chancellor Connie Foster said in explanation of the move. “To contain the spread, we will be moving to all online courses and implementing a shelter-in-place order within our campus community.” If things go well, the university plans to return to a mix of online, face-to-face and hybrid instruction on October 3.

Symptoms of COVID-19 listed at the CDC website include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, a new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, although this is not an exhaustive list. An outbreak, meanwhile, is defined as two or more active cases in a given area.

Those students or others who may wish to be tested for COVID may do so with a screening first at Allina Health in River Falls and Hastings, Hudson Physicians in Hudson Mayo Clinic in Red Wing, Stillwater Medical Group in Stillwater, Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin, and Westfield Hospital & Clinic in New Richmond. A virtual visit is required for Vibrant Health in River Falls. For more information including facility phone numbers, please visit www.co.pierce.wi.us/index.htm and click the COVID emergency alert to be directed to relevant Public Health information.