Each of us needs to consider our own health and that of others as we make decisions about travel during the upcoming break. Our individual decisions have a direct impact on the health of our campus community. Please carefully reconsider travel plans if they will take you to areas of significant COVID-19 outbreak.
Remember to continue robust prevention practices, including:
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, sneezing, or coughing.
- If you are unable to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer with at least a 60% alcohol content.
- Cough and sneeze into tissue, or into your sleeve. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Consider “elbow bumping” in lieu of shaking hands or fist bumping.
- Stay home and away from others when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
We urge you to pay close attention to information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and the United States Department of State, especially if you plan to travel internationally.
Domestic and international travel may be impacted by the spread of the virus. Please stay actively alert to changes and developments that may affect your plans. Again, information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and the United States Department of State will be especially helpful. Some countries have restricted entry to individuals. Information resources include:
• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control
• Michigan Department of Public Health
If you plan to travel outside the U.S., monitor travel advisories daily:
· U.S. Department of State
· Government of Canada
· Government of México
Travel limitations within the U.S. may also come into play. You may encounter the following issues:
• Airlines may cancel/limit flights in or out of a country or region.
• Additional quarantine measures may be applied by the U.S. and other countries.
After Spring Break
Current CDC guidelines require you to self-isolate (i.e., stay away from others) if you are returning to the U.S. from China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea. This means that you are expected to self-isolate AWAY from campus for 14 days. This list may change during the course of spring break, so please monitor the situation via the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of State.
As of this date, we plan to resume courses on campus for Spring Quarter. Faculty and Academic Affairs staff members are working on options for alternative instruction if traditional classroom/lab/studio learning needs to change in response to the virus. Additional specific information to facilitate spring course planning will be sent to all faculty tomorrow morning.
In the event of a suspension of classes or a delayed start to Spring Quarter, students may wish to take appropriate class and study resources/supplies with them.
If you have underlying health issues that put you at risk in the event of a local COVID-19 outbreak, please consult your health care provider now to develop a plan. Employees should also consult with Human Resources staff as appropriate.
We encourage you to reach out to campus offices if you have questions or concerns about returning to campus Spring Quarter. The Center for International Programs, CIP@kzoo.edu, is monitoring COVID-19 information from around the world and is happy to answer any questions or direct you to resources. Human Resources, HR@kzoo.edu, can provide information for faculty and staff.
Please monitor campus email during the break, especially Hornet Hive announcements. This will continue to be a primary source of information.
We hope you have a safe and healthy spring break.
-Crisis Management Team