Clackamas Community College Oregon City campus during the pandemic. Photo provided by Jonathan Villagomez.

A Clackamas Community College employee tested positive for the coronavirus, the college announced Friday. The employee is currently following self-isolation protocols.

In an email sent to CCC staff, Lori Hall, Executive Director of College Relations and Marketing said, “The employee was exposed after the last time they were on campus, and there is no indication they were in contact with any students or employees.”  CCC is completing a thorough cleaning of the buildings and classes where the employee visited.

Like most formal in-person education in the state of Oregon, the college basically shut down in March. Almost all classes went online for the spring term that started in April.

Most classes have remained online except for a few programs that have had some in-personal instruction.

Instructors who wanted to meet on campus in person had to have their courses approved by administrators. Courses that have had some in-person instruction include nursing, automotive and welding. The testing center has also had limited appointments available in person, and the college student government has been giving away food boxes outside, in masks and by appointment only. But most of the college campus is quiet.

College representatives did not say in their email whether the employee was an instructor, custodian or other employee, or whether the employee worked at the Oregon City, Wilsonville or Harmony campus.

All positive COVID-19 cases in the college community are reported to the Clackamas County Public Health, according to the email to employees sent Friday morning. The college will work with the Public Health Authority to identify those with whom the individual has been in close contact and assess the significance of the exposure.

The college asked the community to continue to follow safe practices that include basic health and cleaning habits to help prevent spreading illnesses.

“We greatly appreciate our community’s continued care for each other, and your willingness to navigate the many disruptions to protect the health and safety of our college” wrote Hall, who did not immediately return a call for comment. 

The college referred people to its Return to Campus webpage, which has information and updates relevant for all community members. 

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.