MSU Billings administrators say the best way to handle COVID is communication among students, staff and parents.
The MSUB COVID Emergency Team held its first town hall meeting, which was also available online on Webex, on Thursday afternoon.
The meeting provided a chance for questions and concerns from faculty and students.
The leader of the team said COVID-19 protocols have gone well at MSUB's main and City College campuses.
Part of the advice is for everyone to stay away from the campuses if they have symptoms.
"The message I want to get across to everybody is if you're sick, stay home," said Dr. Kurt Toenjes, MSUB co-incident COVID commander and dean of the College of Heath Professions and Science. "If you have symptoms, stay home. Don't wait for a COVID-positive analysis before you take the self-initiative to quarantine. That's the most important thing."
"If you can communicate effectively and give people the appropriate information, what's happening, what they need to do, what we're doing, it calms people's anxieties and fear," said David Nordel, MSUB COVID-19 Emergency Planner. "And it gives them an inlet or outlet for any type of concerns and then we can focus on what we do best here, and that's education."
The plan is to hold the town hall-style meetings in person and online every week.
