COVID-19 Incident Response Team Update, March 5, 2020

COVID-19 Incident Response Team Update, March 5, 2020

Dear students, staff and faculty:

On behalf of the COVID-19 Incident Response Team, I write to share several important updates.

To support the health of our community in the context of the rapidly spreading coronavirus:

  • Travel Registry
    Students, staff and faculty are required to register any Smith-related travel, both domestic and international, through the end of the spring semester using this form.

    Registering personal travel is strongly encouraged but not required. The data collected will only be used by CIRT team members to provide community assistance and plan responses to emerging developments. No identifying data will be shared publicly.

    As a reminder, the college prohibits the use of institutional funds to travel to any country with a CDC alert-level 3 status until further notice. All nonessential international business travel is strongly discouraged.
  • Event Planning
    At this time, the college is not mandating that any on-campus events be canceled. However, due to how rapidly the COVID-19 situation is evolving, the college is asking event organizers to prepare contingency plans including cancelation and potential online program delivery methods. Additionally, event organizers are asked to communicate the following information to attendees:
     
    • Individuals considering attending events on Smith’s campus should stay home if they have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Should symptoms appear while they are already on campus, visitors are asked to self-isolate and contact their primary health-care provider.
  • Campus Visitors
    Individuals who have traveled to CDC alert-level 3 countries are not permitted on Smith’s campus until they have self-isolated and remained symptom-free for a minimum of 14 days.
  • Health Services Over Spring Recess
    Plans are underway for the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness to provide essential health services to students remaining on campus for spring recess. Further information, including hours of operation, will be on the center’s website shortly.
  • Fall 2020 Study Abroad
    The college is no longer approving applications for fall 2020 study-abroad programs in any CDC alert-level 3 country until further notice.
  • COVID-19 Information
    The college has created a central email address for all questions relating to Smith’s response to COVID-19. Students, staff or faculty with questions not answered in this FAQ may contact covid19info@smith.edu.

We appreciate your continued partnership in ensuring the health and safety of the Smith community.

David DeSwert
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Chair, COVID-19 Incident Response Team (CIRT)