Coronavirus Update
Posted March 6, 2020 and sent to all employees and all students, all campuses
Union University holds the health and safety of our campus community as a top priority, and we want to ensure that all of our community members have access to information about the evolving novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We are closely monitoring the situation with the Jackson-Madison County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The purpose of this communication is to provide information about prevention measures as well as the efforts we are taking at Union University to ensure that we are able to have continuity in providing Christ-centered, excellence-driven education while simultaneously doing our best to prevent the spread of infectious disease. We also want to prevent the spread of misinformation.
The CDC considers the immediate risk of coronavirus within the U.S. to be low. As of today, there have been no members of the Union University community who have been identified as being potentially exposed.
As with any infectious disease, prevention is key. We encourage all community members to become familiar with the CDC recommendations for prevention, which are the same as those to prevent flu, including:
- Frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid contact with people who are sick and stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then discard of the tissue in the trash
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Get a flu vaccine (Union University Health Services still has a limited number of free flu vaccines available for members of the Union community.)
This situation is evolving daily. We will continue to monitor the impact of the coronavirus world-wide as well as the impact to our community. As part of this process, we are evaluating future GO Trips and study abroad trips, and students will be contacted in the event of cancellation or postponement. We will continue to follow the prevention measures as advised by the CDC. Should something change, we will alert you immediately. For more information about coronavirus, please visit the CDC website.
While we continue to refine our emergency preparedness plans, we also pray for those who have been affected by this disease and those who are working to treat it and prevent its further spread.
If you have additional questions, please contact Paul Mayer, Director for Health Services, at 731-661-5284, clinic@uu.edu, or Dr. Bryan Carrier, Vice President for Student Life, at 731-661-5090, bcarrier@uu.edu.
Blessings,
Dr. Bryan L. Carrier
Vice President for Student Life