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Springfield College: COVID-19 FAQs 3/7/20
What do I need to know?
The novel coronavirus is a newly identified strain of a known virus family
called coronaviruses. The common cold is an example of another strain
of a coronavirus. The novel coronavirus strain in this outbreak causes a
disease called COVID-19.
As of March 7th 2020, there are NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 in
Western Massachusetts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
your risk of infection is low, unless you have recently traveled to
affected areas or have been in close contact with an individual with
COVID-19.
If you do experience symptoms, contact Student Health Services at
413-748-3175 BEFORE going to work, attending class, or other group
gatherings.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19, and how can I stay safe?
Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath and may
appear 2-14 days after exposure.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure and to follow
everyday preventative actions to reduce the spread of respiratory
diseases, including:
o
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
o
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
o
Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds.
o
Regular cleaning and disinfection of household surfaces, including
your cell phone and computer.
The CDC does not recommend the use of facemasks to protect healthy
individuals.
You can help protect others by staying home when you are sick, and
coughing or sneezing into a tissue (rather than your hand or elbow) and
throwing the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue handy, cough or
sneeze into your elbow. Avoid coughing or sneezing near other people.
Springfield College: COVID-19 FAQs 3/7/20
Is it safe to travel?
The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to
China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Japan, and Hong Kong.
As of March 7th, there are no domestic travel warnings for US residents.
The most up-to-date travel information from the CDC can be found at
CDC Travel - FAQ and Answers and CDC COVID-19 Information for
Travel.
Are study abroad programs and international travel affected?
Springfield College is carefully monitoring all international locations
where members of the campus community are studying and traveling
this semester.
As of February 28th, all students studying abroad in Italy have been
withdrawn. Students returning from affected regions should self-monitor
for symptoms and not visit campus for a period of 14 days. No other
students studying abroad have been withdrawn.
As of March 3rd, all upcoming college sponsored international travel is
suspended.
As of March 3rd, Springfield College advises all students currently
studying abroad to cancel unnecessary travel outside of their host
community.
How is Springfield College responding and preparing?
Springfield College is following guidance from the CDC and the World
Health Organization (WHO), and is working closely with state and local
public health authorities to develop protocols and to reduce the
possibility of exposure to COVID-19, including recommending a 14-day
self-quarantine for any person deemed at risk of exposure.
Springfield College has a plan to care for members of the campus
community who need to observe the 14-day self-quarantine period,
including a care plan for the affected persons, a prepared location
removed from other community members for affected persons who
cannot return home, and a communication plan to get information to
those affected.
Springfield College: COVID-19 FAQs 3/7/20
The most up-to-date information from Springfield College can be found
at http://springfield.edu/coronavirus.
Springfield College’s Health Center staff are available to answer
additional questions.
What do quarantine and isolation mean?
Self-quarantine is voluntary, and means that healthy people who
suspect potential exposure do not go to work, school, or public
areas, and avoid other members of their household, including using a
separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
Mandatory quarantine could be enforced and involves the same
instructions to affected persons.
Isolation occurs when confirmed cases of COVID-19 are separated from
others for the duration of their illness (until they test negative for the
virus twice 24-hours apart).
The CDC recommends anyone with potential exposure (including
returning home from an affected area) self-quarantine for 14 days.
Where can I learn more about COVID-19?
The CDC and the WHO are both excellent resources for comprehensive
and up-to-the-minute information.
If needed, updates specific to Springfield and Massachusetts will be
posted on the following websites:
o Springfield Department of Health and Human Services
o Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Johns Hopkins University is maintaining a live map of the COVID-19
outbreak, including global distribution of cases and information on the
outcome of confirmed cases.
What do I need to know?
The novel coronavirus is a newly identified strain of a known virus family
called coronaviruses. The common cold is an example of another strain
of a coronavirus. The novel coronavirus strain in this outbreak causes a
disease called COVID-19.
As of March 7th 2020, there are NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 in
Western Massachusetts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
your risk of infection is low, unless you have recently traveled to
affected areas or have been in close contact with an individual with
COVID-19.
If you do experience symptoms, contact Student Health Services at
413-748-3175 BEFORE going to work, attending class, or other group
gatherings.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19, and how can I stay safe?
Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath and may
appear 2-14 days after exposure.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure and to follow
everyday preventative actions to reduce the spread of respiratory
diseases, including:
o
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
o
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
o
Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds.
o
Regular cleaning and disinfection of household surfaces, including
your cell phone and computer.
The CDC does not recommend the use of facemasks to protect healthy
individuals.
You can help protect others by staying home when you are sick, and
coughing or sneezing into a tissue (rather than your hand or elbow) and
throwing the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue handy, cough or
sneeze into your elbow. Avoid coughing or sneezing near other people.
Springfield College: COVID-19 FAQs 3/7/20
Is it safe to travel?
The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to
China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Japan, and Hong Kong.
As of March 7th, there are no domestic travel warnings for US residents.
The most up-to-date travel information from the CDC can be found at
CDC Travel - FAQ and Answers and CDC COVID-19 Information for
Travel.
Are study abroad programs and international travel affected?
Springfield College is carefully monitoring all international locations
where members of the campus community are studying and traveling
this semester.
As of February 28th, all students studying abroad in Italy have been
withdrawn. Students returning from affected regions should self-monitor
for symptoms and not visit campus for a period of 14 days. No other
students studying abroad have been withdrawn.
As of March 3rd, all upcoming college sponsored international travel is
suspended.
As of March 3rd, Springfield College advises all students currently
studying abroad to cancel unnecessary travel outside of their host
community.
How is Springfield College responding and preparing?
Springfield College is following guidance from the CDC and the World
Health Organization (WHO), and is working closely with state and local
public health authorities to develop protocols and to reduce the
possibility of exposure to COVID-19, including recommending a 14-day
self-quarantine for any person deemed at risk of exposure.
Springfield College has a plan to care for members of the campus
community who need to observe the 14-day self-quarantine period,
including a care plan for the affected persons, a prepared location
removed from other community members for affected persons who
cannot return home, and a communication plan to get information to
those affected.
Springfield College: COVID-19 FAQs 3/7/20
The most up-to-date information from Springfield College can be found
at http://springfield.edu/coronavirus.
Springfield College’s Health Center staff are available to answer
additional questions.
What do quarantine and isolation mean?
Self-quarantine is voluntary, and means that healthy people who
suspect potential exposure do not go to work, school, or public
areas, and avoid other members of their household, including using a
separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
Mandatory quarantine could be enforced and involves the same
instructions to affected persons.
Isolation occurs when confirmed cases of COVID-19 are separated from
others for the duration of their illness (until they test negative for the
virus twice 24-hours apart).
The CDC recommends anyone with potential exposure (including
returning home from an affected area) self-quarantine for 14 days.
Where can I learn more about COVID-19?
The CDC and the WHO are both excellent resources for comprehensive
and up-to-the-minute information.
If needed, updates specific to Springfield and Massachusetts will be
posted on the following websites:
o Springfield Department of Health and Human Services
o Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Johns Hopkins University is maintaining a live map of the COVID-19
outbreak, including global distribution of cases and information on the
outcome of confirmed cases.