(Image courtesy of the CDC)On Feb. 11, the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease causing the current outbreak of coronavirus, COVID-19. The university has been monitoring the situation, will continue to do so and is sharing the following information to raise awareness and inform the campus community.
The university would like to continue to ensure all members of our DePaul family who are from or have personal ties to east and southeast Asia feel supported. You are important and valued members of our community.
On a local level, the Chicago Department of Public Health has reassured the general public the risk of the virus spreading still remains low.
On Jan. 30, CDPH announced the second case of the COVID-19 in Chicagoland – the sixth in the country. The first case was a woman who had traveled to Wuhan, China. The was her spouse, the first case of human-to-human transmission in the United States. On Feb. 15, CDPH announced the two Chicago-area patients have recovered and were released from home isolation.
Read more.
CDPH recommends any student, faculty or staff member returning from mainland China on Feb. 3 and onward should NOT attend school or work for 14 days after the return date.
If you are traveling or returned from mainland China on or after Feb. 3, please contact the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness at
hpw@depaul.edu or 773-325-7129 as soon as possible. Absences for this purpose will be excused and alternate arrangements will be made for teleworking and online school assignments, if possible.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes symptoms of COVID-19 - including fever, cough, and shortness of breath - may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. If you have been in mainland China in the last two weeks or know someone who may have COVID-19
and you have symptoms, please call your health care provider so they can make arrangements for you to be assessed. As soon as you are able, CDPH also recommends you inform the university at
hpw@depaul.edu or 773-325-7129.
Read more.
For those who plan to travel, please note that the CDC has issued a
travel warning of level 3 - avoid non-essential travel - for the entire country of China. The United States Department of State issued a
travel warning of level 4 - do not travel - for China.
While the university continues to do disinfectant cleaning as a matter of routine, there are simple everyday preventive actions to help
prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as the flu. These include:
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
If you have questions or concerns please email the
Office of Health Promotion and Wellness at
hpw@depaul.edu. The university will continue to update the community on any developments.