Dear Pace Community,
While there is still much we don’t know about COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus disease 2019), what we do know is that we must be prepared and ready if our community is impacted.
As Director of Emergency Management and Environmental Health and Safety at Pace University, it is my job to make sure that we are ready to minimize any potential impact to our community. I work with a great group of professionals to make sure that we have all the pieces in place for a minor or major incident. In addition to keeping people safe and healthy, our work also intersects with the coordination of academic planning and contingencies should they be needed.
Currently there are no confirmed cases in New York and none that has impacted anyone in our community, however, we must be prepared should that change. We continue to actively monitor the situation. You can review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest updates
here
. As a reminder, here are their prevention recommendations (which also apply for the flu and other respiratory illnesses):
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- 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 using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
If you have been in areas impacted by COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you might face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions of health officials during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow the spread of this virus. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, please contact
University Health Care
or your healthcare provider, and tell them about your symptoms and your travel or exposure to a COVID-19 patient.
Additionally, I want to remind everyone that Pace University still has a moratorium on University-related travel to China and are aligned with the US Department of State and the CDC on all travel recommendations.
Thankfully the risk in New York is currently very low and we work with great partners at the local and New York State Departments of Health to make sure we have the latest information and plans. However, this can be stressful, so please remember that students have access to counseling
24 hours a day, seven days a week
.
Sincerely,
