This message was sent to the Yale Community by the Office of the Provost. Also a forum on novel coronavirus is scheduled for February 6, 6pm at the Yale School of Public Health (event link)
Dear Members of the Yale Community:
Yale University continues to closely monitor the outbreak of coronavirus 2019-nCoV. The number of cases in China has been rising dramatically; for now, there has been limited spread to other countries, including the United States. We reported on January 31 that a high school student from China who was participating in the annual Yale Model United Nations conference tested negative for 2019-nCoV.
The U.S. government has implemented measures to better detect and contain the coronavirus. These measures include a “Level 4-Do Not Travel to China” advisory from the U.S. Department of State, and a declaration of a public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In keeping with intensifying public health measures, all Yale University faculty, staff, students, visitors and other members of the Yale community who have returned from mainland China since January 20, 2020, should complete this registration form. Yale Health will then contact you to provide assistance and further instructions. The information you provide will be kept secure and confidential. Consistent with U.S. Government advice, we also ask you to self-isolate for 14 days after returning from mainland China. Guidelines for self-isolation may be found at this website.
If you have traveled in China and returned to the U.S. on or before January 19, 2020, and are not showing disease symptoms, then no further action is needed.
We are working closely with the Connecticut Department of Public Health to track the overall situation regarding the coronavirus and to protect the health and wellbeing of the Yale community. Yale Health and Yale Medicine are maintaining information on their webpages.
A reminder about influenza:
We are now nearing the peak of seasonal influenza (flu). Influenza and 2019-nCoV infections have similar symptoms including fever, cough, congestion and shortness of breath. At this time, influenza poses a greater risk to our community than coronavirus. Public health authorities strongly advise unimmunized members of the community to get the flu shot.
Members of the Yale community can obtain the influenza vaccine free of charge at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Please check the Yale Health website for updated information about 2019-nCoV including 2019 Novel Coronavirus FAQ’s.
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Scott Strobel
Provost and Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry
Janet Lindner
Vice President for Human Resources & Administration
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health