Dear Adelphi Community,
I am writing today to update you on the novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since spread to other areas. To date, the number of confirmed cases in the United States remains at eight, with none confirmed in New York State.
At Adelphi University, your well-being is our top priority. To protect the health and well-being of our community members, people who are experiencing fever and/or lower respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or difficulty breathing, should not attend classes or come to work until they have been evaluated by a healthcare professional. This practical precaution will help us to contain both the flu, which is widespread in our area currently, and any other possible illnesses.
Individuals who have recently returned from China, particularly the city of Wuhan or Hubei Province, or who have been exposed to someone who recently traveled to Wuhan/Hubei and who may have been exposed to 2019-nCoV should contact Health Services before returning to classes or work on campus, and refrain from returning until they are deemed safe by a healthcare professional. In some cases, a two-week observation period may be determined to be the most prudent course of action.
Instructors in these categories should inform their department chairs or program directors immediately to make an alternative arrangement for teaching. Students should inform their instructors to make alternative arrangements for taking classes. Staff should inform their supervisors.
If you are unsure if you fit into an at-risk category, please call the Adelphi Health Services Center at 516.877.6000. All calls and visits are confidential, and your privacy will be protected.
We have communicated directly with students who are from regions where travel restrictions are in effect and who have informed us that they are presently unable to return to school. We are reaching out to faculty who have students registered in their classes who are or may be affected by the travel restrictions. In addition, we continue to be in touch with all community members known to have traveled recently to Wuhan or elsewhere in the Hubei Province of China, and we will continue to work with and follow the guidelines of local, state and federal health agencies.
You may notice the use of respiratory masks by individuals both on and off the Adelphi campus and centers. Please know that the use of respiratory masks is common in some cultures for a variety of reasons. Often masks are used to self-protect from allergens or illnesses, including the flu and the common cold; they do not indicate the person wearing the mask is ill. As a culturally diverse and welcoming community, we will continue to respect every individual’s customs. Additionally, while face masks can provide a temporary barrier against viruses, the things we would do to prevent against the coronavirus are the very same things we would do to protect ourselves against influenza as outlined below.
What You Can Do
- While the available flu vaccine will not protect you from the novel coronavirus, it will decrease your chance of contracting influenza type A and type B, which are widespread in New York at this time, with symptoms similar to novel coronavirus. If you have not had your flu vaccine, please contact the Health Services Center at 516.877.6000 to schedule an appointment.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have flu-like symptoms.
- Stay home and seek medical attention if you are symptomatic.
- Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Anyone who shows symptoms of the flu should get checked by a healthcare professional right away. To help your healthcare providers prepare for your visit and ask some screening questions, please call ahead to let the Health Services Center or your doctor’s office know you are coming.
If you have questions about this letter or any health-related matter, please contact the Health Services Center at 516.877.6000. And for more information about the novel coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the latest information.
Yours truly,
Nicole Gaudino, MS, AGNP-C
Interim Director, Health Services Center
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