COVID-19 Information and Support

[Work in Progress : check back frequently for more updates]

With the rapidly evolving situation surrounding the novel coronavirus and number of confirmed cases continuing to rise, this page was created as an additional channel of information for members of the MSU SHC to stay up-to-date with how our community is responding to this health crisis and to provide our members with the information and resources to mitigate the impact of this outbreak, both in general and specific to cooperative living.

Disclaimer: Staff and leadership of the Co-op are not health professionals. Discretion is advised. All resources listed below may not apply to every member or house.

House-level Preparations

If your house hasn’t already done so, we strongly advise that you hold a meeting with your housemates to establish policies and protocols in response to this virus.

Individual Precautions

How to prevent the spread of the disease, care for the mental and physical well-being of yourself and your housemates, what to do if you start showing symptoms of COVID-19, and how to support a housemate who may be positive for the virus.

Financial Hardship

There are resources that the MSU SHC, the local community, the State level, and Federal level have in concerns surrounding COVID-19. Some of these resources may not apply to every member.

Additional Resources

There are a number of reliable sources for information about this ever-evolving situation available. In addition, through cooperation among cooperatives across the continent, we now have plenty of resources specific to co-op living that can aid each of us during these unique circumstances.

What you should expect at MSU SHC houses should you decide to stay

Sanitation & Risk Reduction

House-level Plans of Action

Formed under the authority of the Co-op Bylaws, Board of Directors’ Policies, and Executive Leadership, the MSU SHC’s COVID-19 Response Team has been meeting since early-August 2020 to make recommendations and decisions about house-level procedures & protocols as they relate to ongoing safety & health concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Response Team asks each House to quaranteam as a household until Tuesday, September 8, 2020. During this time, Houses are asked to limit non-essential guests, visitors, travel and involvement in high risk activities.

During this time, each House must draft and submit three plans addressing:

Guest & Visitation Policy (must be unanimously approved)
Communication & Notification about COVID-19 exposure Protocols. A designated House Officer or staff person must be notified immediately if a member tests positive for COVID-19.
Sanitation & Safety Practices

All three policies must be submitted to covidteam@spartan.coop no later than Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Until these three plans are approved by your House and the COVID-19 Action Team, it is required that Houses follow MSU SHC default policies and CDC guidance for shared housing situations.

The MSU SHC is not enforcing a unilateral plan, as we are hoping houses will make plans tailored to their specific needs. However, should a house plan fail to adequately serve and protect its members, the COVID-19 Action Team reserves the right to implement their own recommendations, with consequences for non-compliance.

Additional Information

To facilitate cooperation amongst our houses, the COVID-19 Action Team will be facilitating a House Mutual Aid program. Should a house be unable to shop for essentials due to following COVID-19 procedures, they can use the link below to fill out a shopping request. The spreadsheet with the google form results will be available to each house. It is highly encouraged that you offer to help a house if you are able. If your neighbor needs food, or if you’re already going to the store for your house, please help out. This system only works if people participate!

We are also implementing a COVID-19 Reporting Form. Please incorporate timely completing this form in your house’s Communication & Notification Plan, so that the action team can actively monitor for any areas of concern. No identifying information needs to be reported.