Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
I am writing today to provide an update regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
Following the release of new federal guidance for those who have recently traveled to the United States from China, we are asking all members of the Georgetown University community to read the following message and respond to two brief surveys if they are applicable to you.
In accordance with this new guidance, we request that all faculty, staff and students who have been in China within the past 14 days (since January 21) complete the following brief survey. The results will be confidential and shared only with our emergency response team and public health officials, as appropriate. The information will be used to connect community members to individualized support and resources that ensure the health, safety and well-being of everyone in our community.
As a global institution, Georgetown regularly hosts students and scholars from around the world. If you are expecting guests or visitors from China in the coming weeks, I request that you complete this separate, brief survey.
As a reminder, all university-sponsored travel to mainland China has been suspended for faculty, staff and students until further notice. On Sunday, February 2, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel advisory for China to “do not travel.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also placed a temporary ban on entry into the United States for foreign nationals (other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents) who have been to mainland China in the last 14 days.
The university is in regular contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DC Health to ensure we are acting in accord with their guidance and recommendations. You can find university updates, answers to frequently asked questions and other university resources on the Georgetown University website.
We know that we have many members of our community with friends and family members who may be impacted by the virus. We encourage anyone who might need support to reach out to university resources, including the Office of Campus Ministry, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) and Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP).
Thank you for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Vince WinklerPrins, MD, FAAFP
Chief Public Health Officer