Our staff is paying close attention to resident concerns, Washington state guidelines, and Cornish leadership as we cope with the current pandemic. We are continually evaluating our options and considering what is necessary to ensure the safety of our residents and our communities.
To keep you informed on our current status and progress, please watch this page and pay close attention to any emails we may send you. Thank you!
LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our building follows higher education and school housing guidelines, which may differ from guidelines for other housing or local businesses. We will continue to take any necessary measures to ensure healthy and safe communities for our residents and staff. Our team is tracking and evaluating local King County updates on a regular basis, and we will inform residents directly when our protocols change.
For Cornish College of the Arts residents, please expect to follow the College’s vaccination policies before moving into the building. Please note that the city of Seattle no longer requires proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, indoor entertainment venues, and outdoor events, but some venues may still maintain that requirement independently.
All of our facilities are open, with some additional rules for community safety. Please wear surgical or N95-grade face masks in all parts of the building other than your residential room. Eating and drinking in public spaces is not permitted. Please follow occupancy guidelines in lounges and other rooms.
For more detail on our currently implemented measures, please continue to read below.
GUEST POLICIES
Please contact us to learn more about our current guest restrictions. These policies are fluid and dictated by our building’s need for the safety of our community. They may include restriction of all guests, limited guest access with required proof of vaccination, or other limitations.
Additionally, residents are not allowed to have more than one resident visit them in their rooms. If a resident visits another room, all occupants must wear face coverings for the full duration of the visit.
INFORMATION & GUIDELINES
CDC COVID-19 Quick Facts
Download for some quick information from the Center for Disease Control about Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) that is relevant to you and our community.
coronavirus info sheet.pdf
Adobe Acrobat Document – 324.8 KB
HANDWASHING
Cornish Commons strongly recommends following handwashing guidelines as a primary way of preventing the transmission of illness. Handwashing should be performed frequently, especially after being in public or touching shared surfaces.
For more information about handwashing, please visit this CDC webpage.
FACE COVERAGE
The Center for Disease Control currently recommends the use of washable cloth face coverings for the protection of yourself and others.
- You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities. Our common spaces in the building count as “public” for the purposes of this guideline.
- Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
- Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
- Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
Face coverings can be made by hand, whether sewn or made from a common item such as a handkerchief or t-shirt. If possible, Cornish Commons recommends using one to the best of your ability.
For more information on using and making face coverings, please visit this CDC webpage.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Our staff is following social distancing measures for the protection of our community, and we encourage our residents to do the same. Social distancing means:
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people
- Do not gather in groups
- Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings
Activities and areas of the building which encourage social gathering are currently being closed or restricted at this time. The building is equipped with strong Wi-Fi that will support remote work and remote study needs, such as teleconferencing.
We thank all of you who are doing your best to prevent the potential transmission of illness within our community.
WELCOME DESK SERVICES
To continue monitoring building access, our security team is currently staffing our building entrance 24/7 from the Welcome Desk. Our regular Welcome Desk services have transitioned to remote access for the safety of our student and professional staff, but help is still available.
Please contact us for your regular residential concerns, or any services that would normally be performed by Welcome Desk staff. Email us any time at housing@cornish.edu. You can always call us at 206.315.5852 or use the on-call phone number provided to you at move-in.
STRATEGIES TO CLEAN AND PROTECT
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Handwash regularly (see above guidelines)
- Practice social distancing
- Consistently wear surgical or N95-grade face masks
- Test yourself for COVID-19 when appropriate
- Run laundry as needed to clean and remove germs
- When handwashing is unavailable, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content
- Take care of yourself
- Keep OTC medication on hand
- Monitor yourself for symptoms and report them if needed
- Check in with friends, family and loved ones through remote means
WHAT WE ARE DOING:
- Practicing handwashing, social distancing, and other CDC recommendations
- Waiting at least 7 days before entering and cleaning vacant rooms
- Practicing good masking, testing, and hygiene techniques
- Cleaning and disinfecting resources and high-touch surfaces
- Creating move-out and move-in protocols that encourage social distancing and prevent crowding
- Providing single-occupancy rooms
- Working remotely where possible
CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS RESPONSE
Cornish has been staying on top of all the most asked questions about this year. Cornish Commons and Cornish staff are committed to assuring your health and safety on our campus. For questions about your day-to-day school life, your classes, your labs and performances, and all your other concerns, start here!
