To the UMass Boston community,
With the significant attention being paid to COVID-19 domestically and abroad, we are continuing our efforts to keep the campus community informed about the university’s response to this public health challenge.
As Health Services Executive Director Robert Pomales indicated in his message last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) assesses the immediate health risk from COVID-19 to the general American public as low, but cautions that we should all prepare for the possibility of broader exposure to the virus in the United States. Accordingly, the university administration is expediting planning for appropriate responses should the risk of COVID-19 present a greater threat to the safety of our campus community.
Study Abroad
Based on CDC and State Department advisories for China, the Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy, the UMass Boston Office of Global Programs is suspending all study abroad and faculty led programs to China and South Korea, through the summer of 2020. We will continue to monitor the situation in the other countries that are the subject of the federal advisories. Students affected by these changes will need to make alternative arrangements and the Office of Global Programs will help them do so.
Spring Break Travel
With Spring Break approaching, questions have been raised about the risk of traveling outside of the United States. Since its discovery, COVID-19 has spread to 60 countries, and more are being added to the list almost daily. As noted, the CDC advises against nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea.
Ultimately, it is a personal decision as to whether you travel at this time. If you plan to do so, you should consider the following factors:
- If you find yourself in an affected area, it may become difficult to return to the United States
- You may be required to complete a 14-day quarantine if you are considered a person at risk—e.g., if you find out you were sitting near a newly discovered COVID-19 case on an airplane.
- If you become ill overseas, some countries affected may have limited access to medical care.
- Older adults, and anyone with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and immunocompromised states, may be at risk of developing severe disease if exposed to the virus.
- Emergency evacuation travel insurance may not apply.
If you become ill overseas or upon return, it is important that you monitor your temperature, avoid contact with others, and consult with a health care provider, indicating where you have traveled. Additional travel information is available on the
CDC’s travel website.
Teaching and Learning
Recognizing that we cannot rule out the possibility that we might, at some point, need to close the campus, the university is working to ensure that critical functions could continue remotely. The provost
will be sending out a notice to faculty, students, and staff regarding preparations for this possibility later this week. At this time, we do not expect to invoke these provisions, but prudence dictates that we prepare just in case.
