(KAIR)--Benedictine College in Atchison and the Atchison County Health Department have announced a joint agreement for enhanced COVID-19 mitigation efforts at the college, which will be in effect from September 5 until September 18.

The agreement was announced Friday in a joint news release following a full day of negotiations.

The plan, dubbed “Atchison and Benedictine: Stronger Together,” addresses on-campus learning, off-campus students, and athletics.

Under provisions of agreement, students who reside on the Benedictine College campus are not to leave campus, except for scheduled or emergency medical or mental health appointments; to fulfill academic requirements; to work or to obtain essential goods for an outside pick-up order at a local business.

The release says this avoids a quarantine order restricting students to their dorm rooms and allows for the continuation of in-person classes.

Off-campus students are not permitted on campus except for authorized athletic practices, religious services, work study, labs, or other necessary academic purposes.

Athletic teams that maintain no active cases may hold practice in smaller groups, determined on a team by team basis and authorized by the Athletic Director. Teams with members who are in isolation due to active COVID cases are prohibited from practicing until Sept. 12.

The release says the steps are in addition to the Raven Safety Plan and the updated mitigation protocols already in place at the college.

On Friday, Benedictine College reported 23 active COVID-19 cases on campus, 0.9% of the campus population. The active cases and new positive cases have been trending downward for the past week.