Coronavirus Update: Students Returning to Campus from Abroad

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Middlebury College continues to closely monitor developments concerning coronavirus, which began in Wuhan, China. The College is following CDC guidance, and College health officials are not aware of any active coronavirus cases on our campus at this time.

The College is also actively engaging with individuals who are expected to arrive at the Middlebury, Vermont, campus from China. Parton Health Center staff are advising individuals experiencing fever, cough, or shortness of breath not to come to campus and to contact their personal physician or the nearest hospital. College health staff will also screen individuals arriving from China who feel well and ask them to delay arrival if there is an elevated risk of coronavirus exposure. At this time, health center staff are directly contacting a small number of students known to be traveling from China for spring semester. Middlebury is asking other individuals, who may have visited China in the past few weeks or had close contact with a coronavirus patient*, to notify the College by sending an email to healthcenter@middlebury.edu. College health officials will do a brief screening and, in rare instances where elevated risk of exposure to coronavirus exists, may advise delaying arrival in Middlebury on a case-by-case basis.  

The coronavirus situation continues to evolve. Individuals are encouraged to visit the following websites for the most accurate and up-to-date information:

https://www.middlebury.edu/office/announcements

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

*Close contact is defined as

a) being within approximately six feet (two meters), or within the room or care area, of a confirmed case for a prolonged period of time (such as caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a confirmed case) while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment or PPE (e.g., gowns, gloves, NIOSH-certified disposable N95 respirator, eye protection); or

b) having direct contact with infectious secretions of a confirmed case (e.g., being coughed on) while not wearing recommended PPE.  Transient interactions, such as walking by an infected person, are not thought to constitute an exposure; however, final determination should be made in consultation with public health authorities. 

Sincerely, 

Mark Peluso

College Physician

Baishakhi Taylor

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students