February 27, 2020 | College Communications

North Central College is continuing to closely monitor the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The College has been in contact with local health officials and is following the guidance of public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With the College’s Spring Break starting this weekend, we would like to make the campus community aware of the following information and action items:

• All students, faculty and staff who have recently or are planning to travel internationally for any reason—personal or College-related— are asked to complete the College’s online travel reporting form. Individuals who have had close contact with someone who has or is planning to travel internationally should also complete the travel reporting form. Please complete this form even if you have already reported your travel plans through Presence or have otherwise notified the College of your travel plans. The information gathered via this form will be used by the Dyson Wellness, the Center for Global Education, and/or the Office of Human Resources to proactively communicate with individuals or groups in the event that public health agencies indicate a need for particular precautions as it relates to the health of our campus community.
• As of February 27, 2020, the CDC has issued the following travel guidance related to COVID-19:
  • China – Avoid nonessential travel
  • South Korea – Avoid nonessential travel
  • Japan – Practice enhanced precautions
  • Iran – Practice enhanced precautions
  • Italy – Practice enhanced precautions
  • Hong Kong – Practice usual cautions
  • Other destinations with risk of community spread currently include Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam
  • The CDC also recommends travelers reconsider cruise ship travel into or within Asia
  • Visit the CDC’s website for up-to-date information and travel guidance
• Faculty, staff, or students who travel to the countries listed above, as well as other countries that may be added to the CDC travel guidance, could be required by the College to self-quarantine prior to returning to campus. In the event this occurs, the information gathered through the above-mentioned Travel Reporting Form will help the College to work with individual students and/or employees to plan accordingly.

While COVID-19 has been detected in the U.S., including a limited number of cases in the Chicago area, there have been no known cases at North Central College or within the City of Naperville. The CDC continues to rate the immediate risk of this virus within the U.S. as low; however, the CDC is also calling for all individuals to do their part in response to this emerging public threat.

For a reminder of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, as well as ways to prevent the spread of infectious disease, please refer to the College’s previous message below:

Distributed via email January 28, 2020

Recently there has been significant news coverage regarding the coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which is a virus that was first diagnosed in China and has since spread to the United States, including one confirmed case in Chicago and five nation-wide. The College is monitoring the situation closely and is taking precautions to detect and treat any potential cases of the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirmed cases of the coronavirus have experienced mild to severe respiratory illness symptoms consisting of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The CDC reports that the symptoms have appeared between 2 to 14 days after exposure to an infected person.

While there has been a case recently reported in Chicago, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has reassured the public that the risk of the virus remains low. However, the Dyson Wellness Center would like campus community members to take precautions to protect themselves and others within the community.

The CDC suggest the following ways to protect yourself:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick (i.e., within 6 feet).

If you experience symptoms such as a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, or if you have been to Wuhan, China within the last 2 weeks or feel you may be at risk for the coronavirus, please call the Dyson Wellness Center immediately at (630) 637-5550 or contact your primary healthcare provider for further recommendations.

For further information about the virus, please refer to the Illinois Department of Public Health website http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus/faq) and the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html).

For campus community members who are planning international travel, please visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/china#travel-notices for up-to-date notices related to this virus.

The Dyson Wellness Center will continue to work with state and local departments of public health to ensure that the College is prepared to respond and will notify the campus of any potential increased risk to the community.