Common signs of infection include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

In severe cases, particularly in people with underlying severe and chronic health conditions, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and death.

Since it is cold and flu season, and the virus has similar symptoms, do not make assumptions. If you feel unwell, contact the Wellness Center at 856-256-4333 or your family health provider.

If you have to miss class due to illness, please report your absence to the Dean of Students at go.rowan.edu/absence.

Based on what is known about similar coronaviruses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person:

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet).
• From respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Possibly from touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes. (This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.)

The incubation period is the time between exposure to a pathogen and the appearance of first symptoms.

The CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days after exposure. This is based on the incubation periods for similar viruses.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, and disinfect your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• If you haven’t already been immunized against the flu, get a flu shot.

The CDC does not recommend the routine use of respirators or face masks among the general public.

If you see someone wearing a mask, do not assume that they are at risk. There are reasons for wearing a mask that have nothing to do with COVID-19. 

Stigma is associated with a lack of knowledge about how COVID-19 spreads, a need to blame someone, fears about disease and death, and gossip that spreads rumors and myths.

People can fight stigma and help others by providing social support. Counter stigma by learning and sharing facts. Communicating the facts that viruses do not target specific racial or ethnic groups and how COVID-19 actually spreads can help stop stigma.

Rowan University suspended some University-related international travel through May 31, and may extend that date if necessary.

Student groups that are scheduled to take a University-related trip, and have already purchased tickets and made financial commitments, should contact the Dean of Students Office, 856-256-4283, to discuss the status of the trip. The University will provide financial assistance to students who may experience monetary losses if their trip is affected.

The University requests that students and employees report their plans for international travel to mytravelplans@rowan.edu, especially if traveling to countries with any risk-level designation related to the outbreak. The Wellness Center will provide additional information about travel warnings and precautions individuals should take before leaving and before returning.

Students currently studying abroad should contact Gokhan Alkanat, director of the International Center, 856-256-5191, alkanat@rowan.edu, with questions or concerns. The University will provide financial assistance to those individuals who are studying in high-risk areas and who want to return home.

Rowan University may recommend 14 days of self-isolation for any community member returning from countries with a risk-level designation. If you recently arrived in the United States after traveling abroad, please contact the Wellness Center at 856-256-4333.

For up-to-date information, please check the following websites:

• New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES)
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• World Health Organization
• NJ Department of Health

Some employees have asked whether they must attend University-related trips already scheduled for this semester here in the United States. The simple answer is no. Employees do not need to attend the conference or visit scheduled. 

Rowan, as consistent with CDC guidelines, is not restricting domestic travel if employees choose to travel. The University, however, does not want to force attendance to events by individuals concerned about COVID-19 and its potential to spread throughout the country.

Anyone who wants to cancel their University-related travel plans must notify their managers and division heads in writing, as soon as possible. They should also show proof of their cancellations so to avoid unnecessary losses of university funds. 

If you have any questions, please contact Terri Drye, vice president for Human Resources at 856-256-5236.

Over the past few days, there has been a surge of new Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) cases reported across the globe. Although the immediate risk for the U.S. remains low, our students and faculty travel broadly for such things as conferences, study abroad experiences, competitions, research, and so on. 

Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students and broader University community, Rowan University is immediately suspending some planned University-related international travel through May 31, and may extend that date if necessary.

Student Guidelines
Students currently studying abroad do not have to return at this time, but should contact Gokhan Alkanat, director of the International Center, 856-256-5191, alkanat@rowan.edu, with questions or concerns. The University will provide financial assistance to those individuals who are studying in areas with risk level designations and who want to return home.

Student groups that are scheduled to take a University-related trip to a destination designated as Level 1 or higher, and have already purchased tickets and made other financial commitments, should contact the Dean of Students Office, 856-256-4283, for directions on how to cancel their trips. The University will provide financial assistance to students who may suffer financial losses as a result of this temporary suspension. For destinations that are not currently designated, monitoring will continue.

Employee Guidelines
Faculty who have already been approved for University-related international travel should immediately contact the Office of the Provost for a review of their itinerary. University funds cannot be used for trips to COVID-19 Level 1 or higher designated areas. All travel previously approved to other countries will be allowed but the situation will be regularly monitored. The University is suspending approvals of international travel requests.

Personal Trips
The University requests that students and employees report their plans for international travel to mytravelplans@rowan.edu, especially if traveling to countries with any risk level designation. The Wellness Center will provide additional information about travel warnings and precautions individuals should take before leaving and before returning. 

The University understands that the decision to suspend international travel will inconvenience many across our institution. We appreciate your patience on this matter and commit to helping individuals avoid personal losses.

Dear University Community:

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) yesterday issued an update about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

We want to assure the University community that our team of medical experts is monitoring developments on a daily basis, and administrators are using state and federal resources to ensure that we have the latest information and advice about the spread of the virus. Department heads also are reviewing and updating emergency protocols to implement if the situation escalates and the CDC recommends further measures.

Below is important information to consider, particularly for those who plan to travel over spring break:

• Stay alert to changes and developments that may affect your plans. Travel warnings are being issued and updated every week.
• Avoid personal non-essential travel to China and South Korea, countries categorized as Level 3. If traveling to Japan, Iran and Italy — Level 2 countries — the CDC encourages the use of enhanced precautions. The CDC also recommends that all travelers reconsider cruise ship voyages into or within Asia at this time.
• Popular U.S. destinations experience a surge of visitors this time of year. Health and safety precautions are encouraged, such as avoiding contact with sick people and cleaning hands often by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60% to 95% alcohol.

University-Sponsored Travel

Rowan is currently reviewing all university-sponsored international travel on a case-by-case basis. Students and parents with questions should contact Gokhan Alkanat, director of the International Center, 856-256-5191, alkanat@rowan.edu. Faculty should contact the Office of the Provost at 856-256-4108. If you have not been contacted about planned travel, please notify the appropriate office of your university-sponsored international travel plan.

Special precautions

If you are taking a trip or are in close contact with someone who has returned from China or a country with a Level 2 or 3 classification, we ask that you please notify the Wellness Center, at 856-256-4333, to receive the latest instructions and guidelines as provided by the CDC.

If you feel ill with flu-like respiratory symptoms after traveling abroad, please self-quarantine and immediately contact your primary care physician.

Although the CDC has said the risk here in the U.S. still remains low, the University encourages everyone to practice good hygiene such as avoiding contact with sick people and cleaning hands often by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60% to 95% alcohol. Additional disinfectant stations will be installed throughout our campuses over the next several weeks.

Staying Informed

Rowan University’s health and wellness officials are in constant contact with the local and state health departments and are proceeding according to CDC guidance.

If you have questions about the recommendations relating to travel, please contact the International Center for proposed student travel the Office of the Provost for faculty-related travel.  

For more information:

• N.J. Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• The Wellness Center, 856-256-4333