Coronavirus - Update 3

March 9, 2020, 8:57 a.m.

To: University Community
From: Cory Nomura, Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration; Kathy Ogren, Provost; and Donna Eddleman, University Dean of Student Affairs
Date: March 9, 2020
Subject: Coronavirus update

The University is monitoring the rapidly evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies. While as of today the University of Redlands has no identified cases at any of its campuses nor in any of its study away programs, we would like to keep you up to date on our latest policies and prevention measures.

TRAVEL

University-sponsored travel is prohibited to any country designated by the U.S. Department of State as a level three (“Reconsider Travel”) or four (“Do Not Travel”). This currently includes China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea. Five U of R students studying in Italy were recalled from their Study Away program last week.

Given the global nature of the epidemic, the University is currently discouraging all international travel. Scheduled academic programs involving international travel are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Note that any country’s public health status can change quickly, and anyone choosing to travel abroad may be subject to quarantine upon reentry. We continue to monitor recommendations from the U.S. Department of State, with particular attention to areas with U of R student and faculty activities, including Hong Kong, Austria, and Japan.

Domestic travel is currently at your discretion, however we encourage the reconsideration of planned trips involving air travel, large gatherings, or visits to areas with recorded outbreaks.

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

Our Information Technology Services (ITS) team has developed infrastructure to support teaching and learning continuity in the event of disruption to normal campus operations. A summary of resources is available at on the Academic Continuity Plan web page.

Faculty members are encouraged to prepare contingency plans that allow them to continue their teaching and research in the event of a range of scenarios, whether disruptions occur due to COVID-19 or other factors. Training is available to support planning and operations; an appointment can be booked through Instructional Support.

Resources such as WebEx, Teams, Sharepoint, One Drive, and VPN are also available to staff and administrators. For more information, please contact tech_support@redlands.edu.

OTHER MEASURES

The University and its Coronavirus Response Team is working with liaisons at the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and Marin County Health and Human Services Office, as well as following CDC guidance to provide up-to-date information and recommendations as they are released.

We ask that any member of the student body, faculty, or staff who has reason to believe they might have been exposed to the virus within the last few weeks and who has a fever with respiratory symptoms immediately contact the Student Health Center or a health care provider by phone and make arrangements to be evaluated. The Student Health Center can be reached at 909-748-8021, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.

We remind you that we must not single out, nor stigmatize anyone in our community based on national origin. Anyone with a cough or fever does not necessarily have coronavirus. While a flu shot will not prevent coronavirus, it will offer protection from the flu and help lessen the public health burden of infectious disease.

Many of the same standard health practices that protect against the seasonal flu can also be used to prevent coronavirus, including:

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing
  • Be meticulous about practicing good hand hygiene, especially after sneezing or coughing and before and after touching your face, being around a sick person, and eating; wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Avoid contact with others who are sick
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
  • Stay home when you are sick

U of R Custodial Services is taking extra care and will continue to give additional attention to sanitizing spaces.

For more information on COVID-19, see the FAQ from the CDC. Information on the University’s response is also available on the Redlands Coronavirus Resources web page.