Oct. 23 started as a regular day for Tate Durand ’23. They woke up, attended a friend’s birthday breakfast, then returned to their on-campus residence for a nap. However, when they rose to several missed calls from the health services center, they immediately had a strong suspicion that they had tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Durand, when they returned the missed calls, they were told that, due to the fact that they live in close proximity to the College, they were offered the chance to pack their belongings and quarantine at home. Alternatively, they could choose to stay in Mount Holyoke’s designated student isolation housing.