Dear Members of the Barnard Community:
Barnard continues to closely monitor the information and expert national and international recommendations regarding the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), first detected in Wuhan, China. As various recommendations are changing rapidly, we would like to provide you with up-to-date and accurate information. This email includes very important, time-sensitive information for members of the Barnard community who are currently in mainland China, have returned from mainland China in the past 14 days, or have plans to travel to China.
As you may have seen, the U.S. Department of State has elevated its China travel advisory to Level 4 - Do Not Travel, and the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary announced that the United States is “temporarily suspending the entry into the United States of foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the 2019 novel coronavirus.” Further, effective February 2, any U.S. citizen who has been in Hubei province in the previous 14 days will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine after returning to the United States. U.S. citizens who have been in mainland China during the previous 14 days and are returning will undergo screening at their port of entry and will be subject to up to 14 days of self-monitoring. At this time, details about exactly how these government policies will be implemented are limited. Barnard has prohibited all college related travel to China for faculty, staff and students as of January 29, 2020.
All Barnard College affiliates who are currently in China or have returned from mainland China since January 19, 2020, are expected to complete this registration form promptly so that the College can provide you with assistance, instructions, and recommendations regarding self-isolation. Health Services will monitor your responses and answer your questions as quickly as possible. The information you provide on the registration form will be secure and will remain confidential. If you have traveled in and returned to the U.S. from China on January 19, 2020, or earlier, no further action is needed. Please also know that Barnard has already contacted our students from Hubei.
We ask our faculty colleagues to be prepared to accommodate, to whatever reasonable extent possible, students who are affected by this outbreak, including, but not limited to, permitting makeup exams and extending due dates of assignments and projects.
Note that the restrictions for travel to China already announced remain in place.
If you are a student and not feeling well — particularly if you are feeling feverish and have an accompanying cough, congestion, or difficulty breathing — please call Primary Care Health Service at 212-854-2091. For faculty and staff, if you are having any of the above symptoms, please reach out to your health care provider. Students feeling anxious or are worried about friends and family because of the news about the coronavirus should contact our College resources. Students may contact Furman Counseling Center. Faculty and staff may make use of our Employee Assistance Program. All Barnard affiliates may contact the Office of the University Chaplain. If you have experienced mistreatment, hostile comments, or bias related to concerns about the virus — actions that contradict the core values of the College — please contact your Class Dean if you are a student or Human Resources if you are faculty or staff.
We will continue to share more information as needed. Additional information can be found on Columbia University’s Preparedness website and you can return here: Barnard’s Information and Updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Sincerely,
MJ Murphy
Executive Director of Student Health and Wellness
Barnard College