Spring break travel update

The below message was shared to the OHIO community.

Dear University Community:

With spring break right around the corner, many members of our University community are making travel plans, and we wanted to take this opportunity to share important information to help keep you safe no matter where your travels may take you. Since our last University-wide communication on February 28, the number of national coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has continued to rise. While we are not aware of any cases in Ohio, the safety of our University community remains our primary concern. Ohio University has implemented some proactive measures help keep our students, faculty, and staff healthy and informed.  

International Travel and Study Away Programs
In accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ohio University has temporarily restricted University-sponsored travel to any countries that are under a CDC Warning Level 2 or Warning Level 3 related to the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This applies to all faculty, staff and students, until further notice. The University has also cancelled inbound programs and associated travel from Warning Level 2 and 3 countries until further notice.

Spring Break Travel
Currently, health officials advise that there is no cause for concern when traveling domestically; however, we strongly advise all students, faculty and staff to follow travel alerts from the CDC and the U.S. Department of State (DOS). Please remember that the situation is changing quickly, and the CDC is constantly monitoring the spread of COVID-19 across the country and re-evaluating its recommendations accordingly. 

Precautions on Campus
Please remember it is far more likely that members of our University community will contract seasonal flu than the coronavirus, and it is not too late to get your flu vaccine. 

We continue to ask all members of our University community to employ preventive measures that will help curtail the spread of all respiratory viruses. These measures include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

There is no vaccine for any human coronavirus. The CDC reports that although carriers with no symptoms can be transmitters, human coronaviruses are most commonly spread by an infected person coughing and sneezing, or by close personal contact like touching or shaking hands, touching a surface with a virus on it, followed by touching the mouth, nose or eyes before washing hands, or in rare cases, fecal contamination.

Remember how COVID-19 is Spread
When a public health concern arises, it’s important to stay informed of the facts and not only tune out the rumors, but ensure those rumors aren’t shared more broadly. Here are important facts to keep in mind:

• Diseases such as coronavirus don’t discriminate. Anyone can get sick, regardless of their race or ethnicity. For example, people of Asian descent are no more likely to get COVID-19 than anyone else. One challenge in instances of a public health concern such as this is to take prudent steps while not stereotyping individuals. We are confident in our community’s compassion and concern for others as we continue to navigate this troubling situation.
• The risk of getting COVID-19 in the United States is currently low. While people who have traveled to places where many people have gotten sick with COVID-19 may be monitored by health officials to protect their health and others, the disease is not widespread in the United States.
• Someone released from quarantine or isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.
• Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19: fever, cough and shortness of breath. You should seek medical attention if you develop these symptoms and have been in close contact with COVID-19 or live in or have recently traveled to an area with an ongoing spread of COVID-19. Call ahead before going to a doctor’s office or emergency room and tell them about your recent travel and symptoms.
• Take precautions to stay healthy. Wash your hands often, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, using the restroom, and before eating or preparing food. Stay home while sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will continue to provide updates through the University’s Health Alert Page. You can also email Coronavirus@ohio.edu with any questions or concerns.