February 13, 2020

2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Update 9 [COVID-19]

The Los Angeles Department of Public Health (Public Health) recently confirmed a new case of Coronavirus in Texas, bringing the total number of cases in the U.S. to 15. No new cases have been diagnosed in California and there remains only one documented case in L.A. County. New cases in the U.S. have been identified through a series of proactive measures, including quarantine protocols, risk management and self-monitoring.

However, public health officials are stressing continued vigilance to ensure the outbreak doesn’t get any worse. As such, we remind you of the following:

• Stay home when you are sick
  Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
  Wash your hands
  Self-monitor your own health and wellness
  See a doctor as soon as you feel any flu-like or cold symptoms

Encouraging individuals to stay home when they are sick is not intended to be punitive. Instead, it helps avoid the spread of any illness and aids in your own recuperation. Students, faculty and Chairs should all be prepared to offer alternative lesson plans in the event someone is unable to attend class.

For anyone dealing with anxiety or uncertainty caused by the coronavirus outbreak, The Center for the Student Experience (CSE) recently surfaced an article from PsychCentral titled "Coronavirus Anxiety: 4 Ways to Cope with Fear."

Separately, you may begin seeing references to Covid-19 as WHO attempts to differentiate between the virus and the disease.

• 2019 Novel Coronavirus, also referred to as 2019-nCoV, is the name of the virus that infects people and makes them ill.
  Coronavirus Disease 2019, also referred to as Covid-19, is the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Covid-19 is not a different strain or new outbreak
  Note: It is likely that you will see both continue to be referred to as coronavirus.

As a reminder, you should always check verified news sources to obtain accurate and up-to-date information, and avoid rumor and speculation which can be especially misleading.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the office of Environmental Health and Safety at ehs@artcenter.edu with any specific questions or concerns.