To: The Wellesley Community
From: President Paula A. Johnson and Dr. Jennifer Schwartz
Re: Coronavirus Precautions and Policies
Date: February 4, 2020
We are continuing to closely monitor information and expert national and international recommendations regarding the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), first detected in Wuhan, China. Massachusetts reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus this weekend—a student from the University of Massachusetts Boston who had recently returned from Wuhan and is now reportedly recovering well at his off-campus home in Boston.
As various recommendations are changing rapidly, we would like to provide you with up-to-date and accurate information. This email includes very important, time-sensitive information for members of the Wellesley community who have returned from mainland China since January 19, 2020.
As you may have seen, the U.S. Department of State has elevated its China travel advisory to Level 4: Do Not Travel, and the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary announced that the United States is “temporarily suspending the entry into the United States of foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the 2019 novel coronavirus.” Further, effective February 2, any U.S. citizen who has been in Hubei province in the previous 14 days will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine after returning to the United States. U.S. citizens who have been in mainland China during the previous 14 days and are returning will undergo screening at their port of entry and will be subject to up to 14 days of self-monitoring.
Wellesley has prohibited all College-related travel to China for faculty, staff, and students as of January 29, 2020. In addition, we are taking proactive measures designed to protect the health of our community members and support those at greatest risk. Specifically, we are asking all Wellesley College students, faculty, or staff who have returned from mainland China since January 19, 2020, to complete this travel information form promptly so that the College can keep track of those most at risk and provide them with individualized assistance and support.
Per the most recent CDC guidance, any member of our community who returns from mainland China after February 2 will be required to self-isolate for two weeks and monitor for symptoms. The College will work with any students isolated on campus to minimize disruption, including helping them to order and receive meals.
The information you provide on the travel information form will be secure and will remain confidential. After reviewing this form, Health Services provided by Newton-Wellesley Collegiate Health (Health Services) will reach out directly to all affected students to provide guidance and recommendations. Faculty and staff members are asked to complete the form as well, and to consult with their primary care physicians if they are experiencing symptoms.
We ask all members of our community to follow some general guidance at this time:
With all the attention on the coronavirus, it is easy to forget that it is flu season—which makes it imperative that we all follow basic health and hygiene protocols, such as hand-washing and getting the flu vaccine. Health Services has flu vaccines available for students.
If you are a student and not feeling well—particularly if you are feeling feverish and have an accompanying cough, congestion, or difficulty breathing—please call Health Services at 781-283-2810. For faculty and staff, if you are having any of the above symptoms, please reach out to your health care provider.
Please review our previous communication for tips on how to stay healthy.
Our thoughts are with members of our community whose family and friends have been directly affected by the coronavirus. Students feeling anxious or worried should contact our College resources, including the Stone Counseling Center. Faculty and staff may make use of our Employee Assistance Program.
It is also important that we treat all members of our community with respect and do not discriminate out of a sense of fear. If anyone feels they have experienced mistreatment, hostile comments, or bias related to concerns about the virus—actions that contradict the core values of the College—please contact Slater International Center or the Office of Intercultural Education if you are a student, or Human Resources if you are a faculty or staff member.
This situation is evolving, and it is possible that we may need to revise our policies. We will continue to keep you informed of any changes and will be posting daily updates on the Health Services webpage. You can access the most up-to-date information from the CDC.
