March 5, 2020
Dear CIA Community,
Since the first reports of outbreaks of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Cleveland Institute of Art has been monitoring the spread of the illness. As of today, the state of Ohio has no reported cases of the virus and we do not believe the illness has had a direct impact on our campus. We are, however, taking precautions to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.
This letter addresses issues that have arisen out of discussions with CIA leaders. We will archive this information, along with other communications, on the
Health Alerts page of our website.
Spring travel
A number of you are about to embark on spring break trips to New Orleans, Chicago and New York, and others may be taking personal trips. At the moment, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has not issued travel warnings for any domestic locations, and CIA has not placed any restrictions on travel within the United States.
The CDC recommends canceling non-essential travel to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and all cruise ship travel to Asia, because of COVID-19 outbreaks. Please visit the
CDC website if you have plans or concerns about international travel.
I ask that all of us—but especially those who are traveling or find themselves among large gatherings—be vigilant about observing CDC advice for avoiding spread of COVID-19 and flu.
What we’re doing at CIA
Because health officials have predicted that the spread of COVID-19 is likely, I have set up a task force to prepare for and react to potential impact of the disease on our students, faculty and staff, academic programs, facilities and business affairs. The task force will meet regularly, and is in communication with Ohio state health authorities and Case Western Reserve University, which provides CIA with student health services.
The facilities cleaning staff is taking extra care to wipe down surfaces, door handles and push buttons with anti-bacterial cleaning products.
We will continue to update you as we have news to share.
What you can do
The most important actions you can take right now are to protect yourself from getting or spreading illness and to stay informed as we update you on important information.
- If you haven’t had a flu shot yet this season, please do so.
- Be the steward of your own health and protect others. If you’re sick, stay home.
- Avoid crowds when possible.
- When coughing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue; dispose of the tissue in a waste receptacle and wash your hands.
- Students who are exhibiting symptoms of concern should call 216.368.2450 before visiting CWRU Health Services. A nurse will speak with you and determine what your next steps should be. A nurse is also available to students on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 216.368.2450.
- Faculty or staff members who are exhibiting symptoms of concern should contact their health-care providers.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wipe down all frequently touched surfaces, including counters, door handles and railings, and phones.
- If you’re exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus, contact your physician.
- Watch your email and the Health Alerts page under Safety + Security on cia.edu for the most up-to-date information.
Sign up for CIA text alerts
If you don’t already receive CIA safety alerts directly to your phone,
sign up here to receive them. Text alerts are used for emergency situations, school closings and weather notifications.
Finally, I hope you will feel free to bring us your questions or concerns about how CIA is responding to this situation. Students are encouraged to speak to
Nancy Neville, Dean of Student Affairs, 216.421.7427. Faculty and staff should speak to their supervisors or to me at 216.421.7410 or by
email. We will continue to monitor the situation and send updates as needed.
Thank you.
Grafton
