Subject: Return guidance to friends and family of students studying in Ghana
Sent: March 14, 2020
Dear parents and students of the Spain off campus program,
It is hard to keep up on the events transpiring in our world regarding COVID-19. It is also challenging keeping up with the developments in the Spain group and how they related to the return of students to the U.S.!
All students in the Spain program will be returning on Tuesday, March 17. We are working with the program director to get students to the airport and on the flight with a minimum amount of time at Madrid airport.
The CDC has released new guidelines for travelers from foreign countries. These guidelines are updated regularly, so you’ll want to check this website frequently to have the most current information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html.
At the time of writing, these are the current CDC guidelines that apply to Level 3 countries (which covers all of the countries where Calvin has had off-campus programs):
Overview: Travelers returning from the specified countries in Europe must stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing.
Take these steps to monitor your health. Stay home and practice social distancing:
- Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also, watch for a cough or trouble breathing.
- Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for 14 days. Discuss your work situation with your employer before returning to work.
- Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares during the time you are practicing social distancing.
- Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
- Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).
Note: Your local health department should be consulted to verify these steps apply in your local jurisdiction. Quarantine at home could soon become the standard for those returning from Level 3 countries, and would require more stringent restrictions like not leaving home, separate bedrooms (and bathroom if possible) etc.
Dr. Laura Champion, our medical director at Calvin, confirms that this advice is important to follow. According to Annals of Internal Medicine, the early signs of COVID-19 in younger healthy people include chills, with a dry throat, then a sore throat. Young adults may not get a fever. Remain isolated once these early symptoms begin. Call Calvin Health Services for advice. If you are not in Grand Rapids, your local health department will advise you about further steps to take, which may include quarantine for close contacts or family members, particularly if the steps above were not followed carefully.
We have included a helpful information sheet from Calvin’s Health Services, which we ask that you use to self-monitor upon your return. It provides contact information for Calvin Health Services.
We are grateful for your patience over the last few days as all the details of returning our students from abroad have been coordinated. With so many moving parts and an ever-changing world situation, we know this has been a stressful time for many. May God continue to show us grace and care.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Slagter
Off-Campus Programs Director
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