A message from President Bateman regarding COVID-19 and travel
The following e-mail regarding Spring Break and travel was sent to students and faculty today.
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Dear Randolph students and faculty members,
I know all of you are eagerly looking forward to Spring Break and the chance to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.
However, as you prepare for the upcoming break, it is important to stay aware of the rapidly evolving situation related to the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) expects to see a rise in the number of reported cases, and it is warning that person-to-person spread will continue to occur in the United States.
As you embark on travels, we encourage you to remain informed and take precautions to keep yourself safe and healthy.
Right now, the CDC says the immediate health risk for COVID-19 is considered low for the general American public. However, the CDC has warned that current global circumstances suggest it is likely the virus will cause a pandemic, at which time risk levels will change.
These warnings are not reason to panic, but it is important that we do what is necessary to prepare for any impact this could have on our community. Staff from our health center as well members of our Critical Incident Management Team have been meeting and reviewing our plans for situations such as this. In addition, we are in frequent contact with local and state health department officials.
We have created a webpage with information and resources for our community.
The U.S. Department of State and the CDC have issued travel advisories for numerous countries due to increased activity, and they are urging caution for those planning travel outside of the United States.
If you are planning travel outside of the country, I encourage you to stay aware of these warnings and adhere to the travel guidance of the Department of State and CDC. Please note that the situation globally is changing rapidly, so it is important to check their websites for travel guidance regularly. The CDC is located here and the Department of State can be found here.
Whether you are traveling abroad or in the United States, it remains important to continue taking preventative actions to stop the spread of germs. Things like washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and staying home when you are sick are important and can make a real difference. If you do happen to symptoms of COVID-19 while you are on break, we ask that you remain at home until a physician clears your return to school. Students, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students if you have questions. Faculty members should contact the Office of the Provost.
I hope each of you has a wonderful and safe break. We look forward to seeing you back next week.
Bradley W. Bateman
President
