Important Health and Safety Guidance

Dear Colleagues,

Like most of us, you’re probably feeling pent up and tired of not getting out to socialize with friends and family, especially as the weather gets nicer. We’re all missing many things we love these days. But we also hope you’re aware that the social distancing so many of us have been practicing is starting to produce glimmers of hope that we may be flattening the curve.

Vermont’s extension of a stay-at-home order until May 15—which was announced today—and California’s continuation of Governor Newsom’s March 19 policy remind us that we are not out of the woods yet. It’s important that we don’t reverse the benefits we’ve achieved over the last several weeks by easing up too soon on behaviors that brought us the improvement.

Today we’re writing to ask you to continue to be extremely vigilant in everything you do to ensure that you’re not inadvertently spreading coronavirus or putting yourself at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Please remember the following:

• There is no substitute for social distancing. Please continue to do so.
• Hygiene is critical—keep washing hands and avoid touching your face.
• In addition to social distancing, wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended whenever you go out in public—which should be rarely. There are several ways to achieve this (see link below).
• People with no symptoms can still carry—and transmit—the virus, which makes social distancing absolutely essential.

We understand how overwhelming this information can seem. To help you narrow down what you need to know, Middlebury’s Office of Environmental Safety and Parton Health Center have provided detailed guidance for your work at Middlebury, and for when you are off campus, to help you understand what to do and what to avoid.

Please take a few minutes to review these new safety guidelines.

Thanks for all you’re doing to keep our campuses and communities safe, and please keep it up!

Sincerely,

Mark Peluso, M.D.

Director of Health Services

Jennifer Kazmierczak

Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator