COVID-19 Update and Guidance, 3/8/2020
| by Jeff Cason and Mark Peluso
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Late yesterday, the Vermont Department of Health announced the state’s first case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Officials are awaiting confirmation of the presumptive positive test result by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Middlebury College health officials are not aware of any exposures or immediate risk to the College community at this time.
- It is reasonable to expect that there will be reports of more cases in Vermont and possibly Middlebury in the coming weeks.
- Middlebury College is following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, has emergency plans for infectious disease situations, and will be working with the Vermont Department of Health on measures to maintain health and safety.
- While over 80 percent of individuals with confirmed COVID-19 experience mild to moderate illness, older individuals and those who have underlying illness or are taking medications that can affect the immune system (such as steroids or immune modulator therapies for chronic health conditions) can experience more severe illness.
We are aware that students will be traveling to and from spring break, and that staff and faculty regularly commute from different areas of Vermont, New Hampshire, and upstate New York. College health officials are advising the following:
- Stay informed by checking your email daily and keeping up to date with announcements posted here.
- Be aware that 80 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases have been mild. Many individuals with COVID-19 are recovering.
- Individuals at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should follow CDC guidance. Specific instructions and options, such as staying at home or in a dorm room or leaving campus, will be provided after consultation with the Vermont Department of Health.
- Middlebury officials are not planning to suspend classes or events at this time. We are constantly monitoring this evolving situation and will continue to keep you apprised of new developments and decision making.
- Focus on maintaining your health. See specific CDC recommendations here.
Jeff Cason
Provost
Mark Peluso
Director of Health Services and College Physician