COVID-19

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is a highly infectious, life-threatening disease declared by the World Health Organization to be a global pandemic. There is no current vaccine for COVID-19. COVID-19’s highly contagious nature means that contact with others, or contact with surfaces that have been exposed to the virus, can lead to infection. Additionally, individuals who may have been infected with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic for a period of time, or may never become symptomatic at all. Because of its highly contagious and sometimes “hidden” nature, it is currently very difficult to control the spread of COVID- 19 or to determine whether, where, or how a specific individual may have been exposed to the disease. Therefore, the College has put in place a new set of policies and expectations, introduced as the Garnet Pledge, which is designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at Swarthmore College. All students are expected to abide by the Garnet Pledge and this COVID-19 policy.