Attention: Health Advisory

Health Advisory
 
The Center For Disease Control (CDC) has reported an ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness that is caused by a new coronavirus. First identified in Wuhan, China, one confirmed case of coronavirus has recently been identified in the United States.  Coronavirus infections are spread the same way as other respiratory viruses, through infected people coughing and sneezing, by touching an infected person’s hands or face, or by touching things such as doorknobs that infected people have touched.

The Rhode Island Department of Health notes that at this time, the level of concern for people in the U.S. is very low.  However, they are advising people with recent travel to or through Wuhan, China who develop acute onset of a fever and respiratory illness (e.g. runny nose, cough, shortness of breath), and/or have been in direct contact with a person known to have coronavirus to seek medical attention for further evaluation.
 
Roger Williams University is working closely with the Rhode Island Department of Health in implementing safety precaution measures to ensure our campus and the surrounding community is safe.
 
Following CDC guidance, Health Services will screen all students presenting with respiratory illness.  All appropriate students will be asked to wear a face mask and those of particular concern will be evaluated in an isolation room.  These are precautionary measures to reduce the risk of transmission.
 
To help prevent coronavirus, do the same things you do to avoid the common cold:

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Keep your hands and fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid close contact with people who are infected.

If a student feels they may be at risk for coronavirus infection, they should call Health Services at (401) 254-3156.
 
Other members of the Roger Williams community should contact their health care provider.