Coronavirus Information

This is an archived message. Please check the most recent updates to ensure you have the most current information.

Released: February 28, 2020 at 3:42 p.m.

Dear members of the Whitman Community,

As we follow news around the world about the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, I wanted to update you on steps being taken here on campus and for our students who are studying abroad. The college is following the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington State Department of Health. There are currently no confirmed cases at Whitman College or in the Walla Walla region, and no Whitman students abroad have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Off-Campus Studies

Whitman Off-Campus Studies is working closely with our students who are studying overseas this semester. At least one program has been suspended due to coronavirus concerns and staff is working with those students and their families to make other arrangements for them to finish their courses. Off-Campus Studies has also made the decision to cancel the Whitman Crossroads faculty-led China course that was scheduled to take place this summer. As the coronavirus situation develops overseas, our Off-Campus Studies staff will continue to communicate with our students in affected countries and help them make other arrangements as necessary.

College-sponsored travel

Moving forward the college will stop all business travel to countries that the CDC has identified as Alert Level 2 or Warning Level 3. If you have travel plans, I encourage you to check the CDC website frequently as the situation is changing quickly and more countries could be added at any time.

For any student, faculty or staff member who returns from countries on these CDC lists, we are asking that you self-isolate for the recommended timeframe (currently 14 days) when you return. If you need a place to stay during your self-isolation, the college is prepared to provide a location. Self-isolation means refraining from going to class and campus activities, as well as refraining from moving about campus as you normally would. We will work on a plan for remote work for any students, faculty or staff who need to self-isolate.

Spring Break

As you make plans to enjoy the upcoming spring break, we highly recommend that you do not travel to the countries identified as having widespread or sustained community transmission. If you are traveling, especially overseas, it’s good practice to check any CDC travel alerts and travel bans before you leave. It’s also important to note that these notices may change several times between now and the end of break. Flight restrictions in and out of some countries are also changing rapidly so there is the possibility of being unable to leave once you arrive. If you do travel to one of these locations, we will ask you to self-isolate upon return as mentioned above.

College Planning

Here on campus we are closely following developments in the spread of the virus and are preparing for a range of possible scenarios should it reach our campus. We are working with our city, county and state officials and have put together a campus task force to meet regularly to make sure we are as prepared as possible. If any further action is needed here on campus, we are well-positioned to react quickly.

Prevention

At this stage, the best way to stay healthy is to adopt the same preventive actions that help prevent the spread of any respiratory disease:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

If you have had contact with individuals who have been diagnosed with coronavirus and become ill afterward, it’s important that you contact the emergency department at the nearest hospital for medical treatment. Always call before you show up to minimize the spread of illness. If you become ill once you return to campus, alert the Health Center by phone at 509-527-5281 and they will advise you of next steps.

We are actively taking preventative steps to keep our campus community as healthy as possible and we are here to support those affected by the coronavirus outbreak. We will be communicating with you as the situation changes and more information becomes available. We have added a coronavirus page to the Whitman website that we will be updating as needed. You can find that at whitman.edu/coronavirus.

Best,

Kazi Joshua

Dean of Students