GSC Spring Break Travel 2020 COVID Update

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

For a Life Threatening Emergency:
Call Public Safety at 678-359-5111 or
Emergency Medical Services at 911

Updated: 3/10/2020

At Highlander Nation, the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority. Gordon State College is closely following all Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) developments. Leadership is coordinating our response efforts closely with the University System of Georgia (USG) and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

As of March 7, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed five cases of COVID-19 in Georgia. Three cases have been confirmed in Fulton County, one case in Floyd County and one case in Cobb County. There are no reported cases of exposure to COVID-19 at Gordon State College, or within the university system. Both DPH and CDC stress that the risk to the American public is low. The state and the university system also have systems in place to monitor and address possible infectious diseases. In addition, Gordon State College has comprehensive plans to address emergencies, including infectious diseases, plus a working task force in place to monitor and plan appropriately.

On March 5th, the CDC updated their guidance for any traveler who is returning to the U.S. from a country with a Level 3 travel warning. China, Italy, Iran and South Korea are all currently designated as Level 3.

The CDC said that those individuals returning to the U.S. should self-quarantine for 14 days from the time they left a Level 3 country. The links below give additional guidance about what the person should do.

Gordon State College does not have any study abroad programs for spring and summer for these countries in 2020.

Spring Break

If you are planning to travel during Spring Break, in light of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), here are a few important things to keep in mind:

Check the travel information on the CDC and State Department websites and talk with your family and travel companions to make a wise decision about travel plans.
- China, South Korea, Iran and Italy — all Level 3 or higher countries on the State Department and CDC websites. The CDC strongly advises that you should not travel to a location with a Level 3 or higher Travel Health Notice.
- In an abundance of caution and consistent with guidelines from the CDC and Georgia Department of Health, all travelers originating from, returning from, or connecting through a CDC Warning Level 3 or higher travel notice area MUST NOT return to a Gordon State College campus or facility until they have been asymptomatic for a period of 14 days from the date of entering/reentering the United States. Travelers should self-quarantine and follow CDC and local health authority guidelines.
- Guidelines for self-quarantine from the CDC include:
  - Restricting activities outside the home except for appointments with a medical professional for evaluation.
  - Limited contact with others in the home, including pets.
  - Frequent hand washing.
  - Regular cleaning of all high-touch surfaces including tables, countertops, doorknobs, keyboards, tablets, bathroom fixtures, television remotes, and phones.
  - Limiting the sharing of household items like drinking glasses, plates, utensils, bedding, towels, and clothing.
  - Washing dishes, clothing, and bedding regularly.
Remember, the status of countries or regions regarding coronavirus may change while you are traveling and affect airport or other travel processes. Stay connected to the CDC and State Department websites to ensure you have the latest information. We want you to return to Georgia safely.
Until further notice, for all faculty and staff, if you are traveling internationally in any capacity -- through Gordon State or on personal travel – we request that you consider reporting your travel to the Office of Human Resources.
Until further notice, for all students, if you are traveling internationally in any capacity -- through Gordon State or on personal travel – we request that you consider reporting your travel to the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs: http://falcon.gordonstate.edu/scripts/survey/rws5.pl?FORM=GSCTravelSurvey
If, at any time, you experience symptoms similar to COVID-19, take precautions by self-isolating, and call ahead to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or other appropriate health care facility.

We need Highlander Nation safe and healthy in order to finish the semester well. As a reminder, we have COVID-19 information and resources available at https://www.gordonstate.edu/corona-virus/index.html and will be updating the site regularly. Thank you for staying informed and working to stay healthy -- for yourself and our entire community.

Enjoy your Spring Break. We look forward to having everyone back on campus on March 23.

Prevention

Prevention is a key strategy with any virus, such as influenza or this coronavirus, so it is important to both protect yourself and take measures against spread to others:

Cough or sneeze into your elbow or cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, not your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Stay home if you’re sick, especially with a fever.
Avoid people who are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.

Resources

We want to share tips on how to stay healthy and inform our community as we receive communication to help minimize the spread of illness. Gordon State College relies on information and guidance from:

· The University System of Georgia: https://www.usg.edu/coronavirus

· The Georgia Department of Public Health: https://dph.georgia.gov/

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/

For more information click here.