Governor Northam Announces New Mitigation Measures to Slow COVID-19 Spread
At a press conference on December 10, Governor Ralph Northam announced new, targeted measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 as new cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in all areas of the Commonwealth. Executive Order 72 will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, December 14 and remain in place through January 31, 2021, unless rescinded or amended.
The following mitigation measures were announced:
- Modified stay at home order: All individuals in Virginia must remain at their place of residence between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Exceptions include obtaining food and goods, traveling to and from work, and seeking medical attention.
- Universal mask requirement: All Virginians aged five and over are required to wear face coverings in indoor settings shared with others and when outdoors within six feet of another person. This order expands the current statewide mask mandate, which has been in place since May 29, and requires all individuals aged five and over to wear face coverings in indoor and outdoor public settings outside of their own household. These changes are consistent with new CDC guidelines, released December 4, which recommend universal wearing of face coverings.
- Reduction in social gatherings: All social gatherings must be limited to 10 individuals, down from the current cap of 25 people. Social gatherings include, but are not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, regardless of whether they occur indoors or outdoors. This does not apply to religious services, employment settings, or educational settings. Restaurants and retail stores are already governed by strict social distancing requirements, and are not included in this limit.
- Teleworking: Employees that can telework are strongly encouraged to do so.
Spring 2021 at DCC
DCC plans to continue with a partially reopened campus to students who are enrolled in technical/workforce programs that require face-to-face instruction. Spring 2021 classes begin on January 11, with lecture-based classes remaining online, and technical/workforce lab experiences being held on-campus.
Program List
Only students who are enrolled in the following programs will be allowed to attend in-person lab sessions on the DCC campus in the spring:
• Dental Hygiene
• Cosmetology
• Welding
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Precision Machining Technology
• Automotive Analysis and Repair
• Graphic Imaging
• Electrical/Electronics
• Industrial Maintenance/Mechanical
• Dimensional Inspection (Metrology)
• Integrated Machining Technology
• Nursing (Offsite Clinicals)
• Nurse Aid
• Pharmacy Tech
• Cyber Security
Student-serving Offices
The following offices will be staffed on campus Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. to assist students:
• Financial Aid
• Student Services
• Admissions
• Library
• Business Office
These offices will continue to operate remotely on Fridays.
Face Coverings Required
In accordance with the mandate set forth by Governor Ralph Northam’s office, DCC will require that all students, faculty, and staff wear a mask or face covering while indoors on campus. We ask that all returning students bring and wear your own mask to campus for scheduled labs or any business you may have to conduct with student-serving offices. DCC will have limited quantities of face coverings available for those who do not own a mask.
DCC's Reopening Plan
As articulated by Governor Ralph Northam on June 11, 2020, in anticipation that conditions at the state, regional and local levels are conducive to an institution of higher education conducting in-person instruction and on-campus educational operations in academic year 2020-21, that institution must, by July 6, 2020, submit a campus reopening plan for state compliance review. Danville Community College submitted its reopening plan on June 23, 2020.
As of Friday, July 24, 2020, the plan has been reviewed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and has been found to be compliant in containing the required components of the 'Higher Education Reopening Guidance,' which was developed in consultation with the Virginia Department of Health.
CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or, CARES Act, was passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on March 27th, 2020. This bill allotted $2.2 trillion to provide fast and direct economic aid to the American people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that money, approximately $14 billion was given to the Office of Postsecondary Education as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF.
CARES Act Emergency Funds - DCC Information
- Students
- Faculty
- Positive Tests for COVID-19
- Messages from the President
- Government Announcements
Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the Governor
Executive Order 72 (December 10, 2020)
Executive Order 67, 6th Amended (November 13, 2020)
Executive Order 65, Amended (June 9, 2020)
Virginia Receives Major Disaster Declaration from Federal Government for COVID-19
Executive Order 55 (March 30, 2020)
Executive Order 53, Amended (May 4, 2020)
Executive Order 51, Amended (May 26, 2020)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
City of Danville
Danville City Council Urges Businesses to Practice Social Distancing, Adopts Resolution
Virginia Department of Health
COVID-19 IS WIDESPREAD, PRECAUTIONS PROVIDE THE BEST PROTECTION
United States of America Office of the President
