Update: March 7, 2020, 5:44 p.m.
Fellow Bengals,
As many of you may know, the State University of New York has announced plans to bring back all SUNY and CUNY students currently studying in countries most affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)—Italy, Japan, and South Korea.
SUNY officials have been arranging chartered flights to New York State for these individuals from airports in Italy, Japan, and South Korea. All passengers will be screened before boarding flights. Upon arrival, and in accordance with New York State Department of Health guidelines, local and state health representatives will again screen those passengers for symptoms.
All students not showing symptoms will be given the choice either to self-quarantine at home or, if needed, be provided temporary housing in a SUNY dormitory for a 14-day precautionary quarantine period in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For those asymptomatic (that is, not showing symptoms) students who request temporary housing, SUNY will coordinate transportation to designated SUNY campus dormitories to begin their 14-day precautionary quarantines.
Earlier this week, SUNY officials informed us of tentative plans to designate a vacant dormitory—Tower 2—on the Buffalo State College campus as a possible facility for the precautionary quarantine. Stony Brook University and SUNY Brockport have also been under consideration as possible precautionary quarantine sites.
This afternoon, we learned from SUNY that we will not be hosting any students returning from Italy this weekend.
As a reminder, as of Saturday, March 7, there were no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Erie County or among any members of the Buffalo State community. Our best protection from the novel coronavirus remains to practice simple good-health habits, such as washing our hands often and thoroughly, coughing or sneezing into the crooks of our arms, avoiding touching our faces, and staying home when we are sick.
Additionally, if you have any questions about the novel coronavirus, I urge you to call the New York State coronavirus hotline at (888) 364-3065, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website or the New York State Department of Health website.
Information about campus coronavirus preparedness, updates, and links to important resources are now available on my website: https://president.buffalostate.edu/coronavirus-updates. As a reminder, if you are a Buffalo State student and suspect that you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, isolate yourself and call the Weigel Wellness Center immediately at (716) 878-6711. Please call before going to the clinic. If you are a faculty or staff member and are experiencing symptoms, stay home and contact your personal health-care provider. Please call before going to the provider’s office or clinic.
Thank you for your continued attention to this important matter. We will continue to keep you updated as information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Katherine Conway-Turner
President
Buffalo State College
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