From: President <President@manchester.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 3:03 PM
To: All Colleagues <AllColleagues@manchester.edu>; FWStudents <FWStudents@manchester.edu>; NMStudents <NMStudents@manchester.edu>
Subject: Coronavirus information
Dear MU community,
As we continue to receive news reports about COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus, I wanted to share some information about Manchester’s response and tips that can help prevent infection.
I would also like to assure you that Manchester has a protocol that we follow in these situations and that we are prepared to handle illnesses, should they arise. We are closely monitoring updates and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American College Health Association.
If you have been following news reports, you probably know that COVID-19 is a recently identified coronavirus that was first identified in December in Wuhan, China. Its symptoms are typically flu-like, ranging from mild to serious and include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
Though the CDC says that the immediate health risk to the U.S. public is considered low at this time, COVID-19 is spreading from person to person. People can be infected for up to 14 days before they experience symptoms, if they experience symptoms. Like other respiratory illnesses, coronaviruses are most commonly spread from an infected person through:
- Droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes
- Close personal contact, such as caring for an infected person
How can we help protect others and ourselves from the spread of COVID-19?
If you are sick
- If you have symptoms, stay home and seek medical care. Before going to a health care provider, call ahead.
- Students on the North Manchester campus should call the Center for Health and Sports Medicine at 260-982-5306 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and, after hours, call University Safety at 260-982-5999. If you are at home or away from campus, contact your regular health care provider.
- Students on the Fort Wayne campus should contact their regular health care provider for care. Also, please contact Abby Van Vlerah, vice president for student life, at alvanvlerah@manchester.edu or 260-982-5132 to let her know of the situation.
- Avoid contact with others.
- Do not travel while sick – in particular, do not use public transportation.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
Limit the risk of getting sick
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your face with your hands.
- If you are in an area identified as being at risk, avoid close contact with others.
Unless circumstances change, Manchester will proceed with all regularly scheduled classes, athletic contests and other events on and off-campus. Currently, the U.S. Department of State is warning against travel in Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Italy, Mongolia, South Korea and China, but there are no restrictions for travel within the United States.
The situation is constantly changing, however, and it is wise to pay attention to updates and information regarding specific locations you may be visiting.
The CDC website has a wealth of good information about COVID-19 and is being updated regularly.
If we need to send to further information about Manchester specifically, we will use the regular channels, such as our website, email and social media, as well as the homepage of our Center for Health and Sports Medicine.
Dave McFadden
President Manchester University
(260) 982-5050
www.manchester.edu