CCCB Resumes In-Person Classes after COVID-19 Cases Subside

By Jim Nieman

Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Mo., resumed in-person classes Monday, two weeks after switching to virtual/remote learning due to a spike in COVID-19 cases that saw nearly half of its residential student population either test positive for the virus, isolate with symptoms, or quarantine due to exposure.

“We’re down to two active cases—one student and one employee—with five [people] in quarantine,” college president David Fincher reported Monday. Of the five people who remained in quarantine, four are employees. The student with COVID-19 and the quarantined student both were off-campus, he said.

“Some of the employees in quarantine are because a family member tested positive,” said Fincher, adding that no one has become seriously ill or been hospitalized.

“It’s definitely heading in the right direction,” Fincher said. “We feel better about it today than we did two weeks ago.”

School offices remained open during the past two weeks, but some buildings were closed. Students were asked to be vigilant about mask-wearing and hygiene. Residential students were encouraged to remain on campus to reduce exposure to others in outlying areas. Chapel services were online-only.

“Video chapel was well attended—we took attendance,” Fincher said. In-person chapel services resume this week.

CCCB’s food service delivered boxed meals to all residential students for 10 days to eliminate possible transmission of COVID-19 in the dining hall. That ended on Friday.

 “It seemed like people stayed calm and followed the rules,” Fincher said. “We were pleased with their responses.”

Jim Nieman serves as managing editor of Christian Standard.