Important Resources and Health Guidance

Dear Students,

We’re writing today with two important resources for you:

• The new Student Life Remote Resources Guide—PDF attached—which we revised after receiving your good feedback.
• And a reminder that social distancing is essential.

Keep Social Distancing

We’re seeing glimmers of hope that the social distancing we’ve all been practicing is beginning to pay off.  We’re writing to ask that you continue to follow these measures so that we don’t reverse all of our gains by causing new outbreaks of COVID-19.

We realize this is difficult and stressful, especially as weather starts to improve and we all want to socialize with friends. But keep in mind that it’s possible for someone to be carrying the coronavirus and be asymptomatic, which means they could unknowingly transmit it to others who will eventually transmit it to a high-risk person. We know you want to see each other, but please keep doing so virtually for now.

By now, you’ve probably heard health officials say that staying home saves lives. Please consider the following: With coronavirus, it’s estimated that without social distancing one infected person could infect more than 400 other peoplein 30 days. With social distancing, that infected person would likely infect, on average, just 2 to 3 people during the same time period. You can learn more about the benefits of social distancing on this page from the University of Vermont Health Network.

You may feel like you want to return to campus for a quick visit or gather with your friends off-campus in Middlebury. Please don’t do this as it may jeopardize the health of students still living on campus as well as the staff who are working hard to take care of them. We’re all very eager to have you return to campus when conditions safely permit you to do so. Unfortunately, that time hasn’t arrived yet.

For now, we ask that you continue following preventive behaviors, including:

• Practice social distancing, keeping at least six feet away from others in public.
• In addition to social distancing, wear a cloth face covering when you are out in public.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. 
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

If you need advice about whether it’s safe to take a trip, please call us at the Parton Health Center nurse line (802-443-3290) so we can help. We also encourage you to review the information we’ve posted on our COVID-19 resources website and review the health and counseling services available to you through Middlebury, whether you’re on or off campus.

Thank you for doing your part to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe.

Sincerely,

Mark Peluso, M.D.

Director of Health Services

Baishakhi Taylor

VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students