Dear Colleagues:
We continue to closely monitor global public health concerns involving the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Dr. David Worley (Director, UMD Health Services), UMD Marketing and Public Relations, the Office of Student Life, and the Chancellor’s Office are working in collaboration with offices on the Twin Cities campus and the Minnesota Department of Health. We are also monitoring CDC and State Department guidelines.
We continue to closely monitor global public health concerns involving the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Dr. David Worley (Director, UMD Health Services), UMD Marketing and Public Relations, the Office of Student Life, and the Chancellor’s Office are working in collaboration with offices on the Twin Cities campus and the Minnesota Department of Health. We are also monitoring CDC and State Department guidelines.
Members of the University community—students, faculty, or staff—may be concerned about the spread of illness in their classroom or work space. The following resource can help guide appropriate responses should you hear concerns.
Things to know and share:
This is an opportunity to employ the lens of UMD Strategic Plan Goal 2 (Advance equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice within the campus community). This virus is a serious concern globally, but we cannot spread suspicion, panic, or fear. In addition, you have the opportunity as a member of the UMD community to address profiling if you see it occur. It is peak season for respiratory illnesses, so there are many members of our community with common colds, influenza, or other illnesses. Presently Minnesota and the rest of the United States are experiencing high levels of influenza activity. Thus far this flu season, at least 22 million cases of flu illness have been reported nationwide with over 12,000 deaths nationally from influenza.
Please encourage students, faculty, and staff to remember that illnesses are no one’s fault. Anyone can get ill and deserves compassion. It is common in many cultures, including in the U.S., for individuals to choose to wear masks as a way to minimize direct contact with airborne pathogens. The wearing of a mask is voluntary and should not be interpreted as an indication that the wearer is ill, but that the individual is both cautious and courteous in a public environment.
Here are a number of other resources you may find helpful.
- Good health practices for everyone on campus are essential. It’s cold and influenza season in Minnesota. If members of the campus community are sick, they should stay home for at least 24 hours after fever resolves without the use of fever lowering medication. If you receive questions about studying or working from home, you are encouraged to work with students and staff to determine if that is feasible. If a student misses class due to illness, please review the policy on make up work for legitimate absences. For employees, the Employee Work-Life and Personal Leave Policy provides guidance on these questions.
- Students, staff, and faculty recently returning from China should carefully follow public health guidelines. Those who have returned from China from January 20 through February 2 (5 p.m.), should carefully watch for symptoms of 2019 novel Coronavirus for 14 days following their return. Symptoms include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. If these symptoms occur, individuals should stay home and call their healthcare provider immediately to discuss next steps. This is a vitally important step to ensure proper care and avoid exposure to others.
- There are new procedures at U.S. airports. As of February 2 (5 p.m.), all travelers returning from China are being assessed at the airport. Travelers who have fever, cough, or shortness of breath will be evaluated immediately at a medical facility near the airport of arrival. Most travelers, without active symptoms, nor known exposure to a person with 2019 novel Coronavirus, and have not traveled to Hubei province will be asked to self-monitor for symptoms and many will be required to limit activities for 14 days (self isolation). If symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath occur, travelers will be required to stay at home, and call their health provider immediately to discuss next steps (same as above). Based on the assessment completed at the airport (travel history to Hubei province, symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath, or exposure to 2019 novel Coronavirus) some travelers may be placed in isolation immediately, may have requirements to limit their activities, and/or may be monitored by public health officials for 14 days.
- There is an easy way for travelers from China to review their travel history with a health professional. Consult with your preferred healthcare provider to review travel history questions and symptoms to watch for during the 14 day period. As noted above, travelers developing symptoms should immediately contact their primary health care provider.
- The risk to the general public and campus community is low. View the University of Minnesota’s Coronavirus FAQ and remember that the best defenses against any virus include thorough, frequent hand washing, covering your cough or sneeze, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. Flu vaccine is also still available at Health Services and local primary care clinics. If you have not been vaccinated, please consider doing so to protect yourself and others from influenza.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
David Worley, MD
Director, UMD Health Services
