March 4 Coronavirus update

Information from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is guiding the College’s planning should COVID-19 or Novel Coronavirus have a direct impact within our learning community.

The College’s emergency preparedness and response groups are meeting regularly, including the President’s Cabinet, the Community Emergency Response Team, the Infrastructure Emergency Response Team and the Pandemic Response Team, among others.

Senior leaders are communicating with students, faculty and staff to provide updates and recommendations.

At this time, the College has decided not to cancel or cut short any current study abroad programs unless the student’s location reaches a Level 3 designation in the Centers for Disease Control “risk levels.” Future study abroad programs, scheduled for later this month and through the end of this semester, are “on hold” and are being evaluated. Decisions to continue or to cancel  will be made as more information is known, and will be communicated as promptly as possible.

The College’s primary concern is the health and safety of our people. We are committed to students’ learning and the value of the education we provide, so in the event of the College canceling in-person class gatherings, our faculty members are expected to find alternate ways to meet with the students while decreasing the need to gather in person.

Currently, MDH assesses the risk of becoming sick with COVID-19, including for people in Minnesota schools, as low, and is not recommending that events or extracurricular activities be canceled. To date, there have been no positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Minnesota.

We encourage students and employees to

• Stay at home when sick
• Practice respiratory (coughing and sneezing) etiquette and hand hygiene
• Offer flexibility to employees and students who are sick, expressing symptoms of respiratory issues or caring for family members to the maximum extent possible
• Be aware that anyone in the United States who has not traveled to China or been in contact with someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days is at low risk of becoming sick with the virus
• Be mindful and respectful; avoid all actions and language against anyone based on race, ethnicity or religion based on the origins of COVID-19

Other informational resources

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH):
COVID-19 Home

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
COVID-19 Home
Travel information

State Department:
Travel Information

Johns Hopkins University:
World map of Coronavirus confirmed cases

On the College’s website, css.edu/coronavirus will be updated as new information becomes available.