This communication was sent campuswide on March 6, 2020.

Dear Weber State students, faculty and staff:

On March 6, 2020, the Utah Department of Health reported the first confirmed case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Utah. Public health officials report this case involves a resident of Davis County, and that the risk to the general population remains low.

Weber State University continues to work closely with state and local health departments to ensure we are taking appropriate steps to keep our campus populations safe.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to monitor an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, I wanted to update you on the latest steps Weber State is taking in response to this fluid situation.

The university has created a COVID-19 response team to review and implement sections of the university’s pandemic response plan in preparation for a potential outbreak in Utah. 

As part of this response, the university has created a dedicated web page, weber.edu/coronavirus, which will provide the latest information and updates on the university’s response to COVID-19. This page will be updated every 48 hours, or more frequently if developments warrant.

Weber State University is adhering to CDC recommended protocols for colleges and universities that do not have COVID-19 identified in their community.

Travel Guidelines

Outbound Travel

The university has currently canceled all university-sanctioned student trips to countries with a CDC level three travel health notice (based on COVID-19). This decision will affect all trips scheduled to leave through April 20.

These decisions are being made in accordance with CDC recommendations for students’ international travel.

The university will continue to monitor international and domestic travel advisories and evaluate other planned trips on a case-by-case basis.

Faculty and staff who are scheduled to travel on behalf of the university should consult with their supervisors, department chairs or deans.

We recommend faculty and staff should not travel to any level 3 countries until further notice.  

Inbound Travel

The CDC is asking all individuals who have traveled to level 3 countries to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time they left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread. (See CDC after-travel guidelines.) People who have been in impacted areas are asked to practice social distancing upon their return.

The Utah Department of Health Coronavirus FAQ defines social distancing as “staying away from mass gatherings (e.g., stadiums, theaters, shopping centers, schools, community events, church), avoiding local public transportation (e.g., bus, taxi, TRAX, ride share), and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet) from others. This is a strategy public health uses often for other respiratory diseases such as influenza.”

Students returning from one of these regions should contact their professors or deans about how to continue coursework remotely.

Faculty and staff returning from these countries should contact their department chair, dean or supervisor to address how they will fulfill their professional obligations.

Individuals returning from all other destinations are encouraged to self monitor. “Self-monitoring means people should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twice a day and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing. If they feel feverish or develop measured fever, cough, or difficulty breathing during the self-monitoring period, they should self-isolate, limit contact with others, and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider or their local
health department to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.”

Protecting Your Health

You can take simple steps to limit the spread of this or any virus:

CDC Recommendations to Prevent Spread of Disease

• Stay home when you are sick (and until your symptoms are gone).
• 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.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If a tissue is unavailable, use the inside of your elbow, never your hand.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you have a fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), cough or have trouble breathing:

• Seek medical care. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.
• Tell your doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.
   

Caring for Others

As new information emerges, please remember the risk of COVID-19 is not connected with race, ethnicity or nationality. Do not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin, and be sure to maintain confidentiality of those who may be tested for or have confirmed coronavirus infection. Sharing accurate information from only reliable sources is the best thing community members can do to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading. 

Additional Resources

For the latest coronavirus summary, see the CDC website, cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html.
WSU’s Student Health Center and the Utah Department of Health are excellent resources for more information. The state has also set up a hotline at 1-800-456-7707.

Depending on where you call home, you may also want to consult with local resources such as the following:
Davis County Health Department
Weber Morgan Health Department
Bear River Health Department
Salt Lake County Health Department

We care about the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff both here and abroad.

This is an evolving situation. We will continue to monitor developments and follow the recommendations of the CDC, Utah Department of Health and our local health departments.

Dane LeBlanc
Director of Public Safety
dleblanc@weber.edu