Dear TU community,
As many of you are aware, the COVID-19 coronavirus respiratory illness has sickened more than 80,000 people worldwide and claimed more than 2,700 lives. Our hearts go out to everyone suffering from the disease, especially those in the TU community whose families and friends have been affected.
The outbreak has spread from China to many other countries. The most recent impact has been in South Korea and northern Italy, although other areas have reported cases and death. At least 14 cases have been confirmed in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a Level 3 warning that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea. This alert means TU’s Center for Global Engagement must cancel the 2020 spring break program to South Korea. The center plans to offer the program in spring 2021.
If you need assistance or have a medical or security emergency while traveling as part of a TU-sponsored program, please contact the university’s travel assistance provider, AIG Travel, at 1-877-244-6871 within the U.S./Canada or 1-715-346-0859 collect outside the U.S./Canada, or email assistance@aig.com. The TU policy number is 9156730.
University staff are monitoring this rapidly changing situation closely – at home and overseas – and will keep the campus updated as needed. At this time, no other study-abroad programs have been canceled.
In the meantime, we are still in the midst of cold and flu season. We ask all students, faculty and staff to practice healthy habits (frequent hand-washing, covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, etc.). If you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, body/muscle aches, headache, chills or fatigue, please do not go to class/work and instead seek medical attention.
Students may call the Alexander Health Center at 918-631-2241 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment. (The center is closed from 12 to 1 p.m. for lunch.)
Faculty and staff should call their primary care provider or the Hurricane Health Clinic at 918-631-2974 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment. (The clinic is closed from 12 to 1 p.m. for lunch.)
After hours or on weekends, please visit an urgent care center or, if necessary, a hospital emergency room for further evaluation and treatment. If you have traveled from China 14 days prior to becoming ill or have been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, you should not visit any clinic or hospital without calling ahead for triage instructions. Medical staff will send you to an appropriate location that is prepared to treat you without risking exposure to others.
The wellbeing of TU students, faculty and staff is always at the forefront of our decisions. Thank you for doing your part to keep our campus safe and healthy.
Sheri Burson, APRN-CNP
Laurie Paul, APRN-CNP
Alexander Health Center and Hurricane Health Clinic