Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

March 4, 2020
Coronavirus

Dear Harvard College Students,

My name is Mike Burke, and in addition to serving as the Registrar of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, I am also the Co-Director of the Harvard College Emergency Management team. It is in that capacity in which I am writing to you today.

Working with various partners from across the College and the University, we are closely monitoring the evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and making sure that contingency plans are in place for various possible outcomes and developments. Your well-being is our absolute highest priority, and we are doing everything we can to ensure your health and safety.

We will be sending you regular updates regarding COVID-19, and starting next week next  these updates will be sent every Monday and Thursday afternoon. The updates will include everything from new guidelines regarding travel; hygiene and safety tips; academic impacts; the status of major events, and other important notices. In some cases, there may not be significant updates from one e-mail to the next. Other times, things may change significantly. Regardless, you can expect to be hearing from me every Monday and Thursday beginning next week. (Please note that additional messages may be sent at other times depending on the time-sensitivity of the situation.)

I would also like to draw your attention to www.harvard.edu/coronavirus. This new University website will serve as the central resource for the latest information regarding COVID-19.

Latest as of this afternoon:

 

Travel

  • As you may have seen in a message sent earlier today by the Office of the Executive Vice President, Harvard is prohibiting University travel to all countries with a Level 3 travel warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) Currently, this list consists of mainland China, Iran, Italy and South Korea. Please visit the link above to see the current list of countries with Level 3 travel warnings. It can change at any time.
  • The University is also discouraging all non-essential international travel at this time.
  • Given the evolving status of COVID-19 in the United States, exercising judgment and caution when traveling domestically is strongly encouraged, and please be sure that you are checking the latest advisories before you make plans.
  • Please note that a region’s status might change unexpectedly while you are visiting, complicating your ability to return to campus.

Spring Break

  • As we approach Spring Break, we know that some of you may choose to alter your plans and not travel. In order to accommodate students who will be staying on campus during Spring Break, we will be keeping four dining halls open throughout the break.
  • If you would like to remain in residence on campus during spring break please be sure to complete the Spring Recess housing application.
  • If you travel internationally or to a part of the United States experiencing a reported significant outbreak (Level 3 or Level 3 warning status), you are advised to report your travel to Harvard University Health Services.

Summer International Funding

  • As we approach Spring Break, we know that some of you may choose to alter your plans and not travel. In order to accommodate students who will be staying on campus during Spring Break, we will be keeping four dining halls open throughout the break.
  • If you would like to remain in residence on campus during spring break please be sure to complete the Spring Recess housing application.
  • If you travel internationally or to a part of the United States experiencing a reported significant outbreak (Level 3 or Level 3 warning status), you are advised to report your travel to Harvard University Health Services.

Study Abroad

  • For students currently studying abroad, it is important to be mindful of the following guidance which has been issued by the Office of International Education (OIE):
  • If your program is canceled and you choose to return home, we strongly advise you to pursue the program's alternate academic accommodations to ensure that you can stay on track academically. 
  • If Harvard does not impose restrictions on the country in which you are studying, and your respective program or university continues to be in operation, we encourage you to stay in-country and adhere to the recommendations provided to you as this situation evolves. If you choose to voluntarily leave a program in this situation, you should contact Camila Nardozzi immediately. She will work with our partners abroad to try to support the completion of your work to the extent possible, but awarding of academic credit will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. 
  • For more information, please visit the OIE website.

Academics

  • At the present time, all classes are continuing to be held as regularly scheduled.
  • However, in the event that we entered a situation in which classes were being held remotely, it is likely that you would be asked to use either Zoom or Canvas. It may be wise to familiarize yourself with these platforms so that you are prepared in the event that you need them. Again, all courses are taking place as regularly scheduled and we hope that will continue, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Hygiene

  • The most important thing you can do to help prevent the spread of any communicable disease is to practice good hygiene. This includes frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water; avoiding the sharing of bottles, glasses, eating utensils, or smoking material; avoiding others who are currently sick; and avoiding touching your eyes, face, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. These common sense practices can make a big difference.
  • HUHS has posted a series of FAQ’s which you may find helpful. They can be found on the HUHS COVID-19 page.
  • If you are feeling ill and have reason to suspect exposure to COVID-19 please call Harvard University Health Services at 1-617-495-5711 before visiting so they can be prepared to receive you appropriately.
  • The most important thing you can do to help prevent the spread of any communicable disease is to practice good hygiene. This includes frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water; avoiding the sharing of bottles, glasses, eating utensils, or smoking material; avoiding others who are currently sick; and avoiding touching your eyes, face, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. These common sense practices can make a big difference.
  • HUHS has posted a series of FAQ’s which you may find helpful. They can be found on the HUHS COVID-19 page.
  • If you are feeling ill and have reason to suspect exposure to COVID-19 please call Harvard University Health Services at 1-617-495-5711 before visiting so they can be prepared to receive you appropriately.

Lastly, I ask that you please take a moment to re-read the closing paragraph from Dean Khurana’s message this past weekend. In it, he offers a reminder of the critically important role that each of us plays in creating the most welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that we possibly can for every single student on campus. Please join me in doing everything you can to make sure that no one on our campus feels stigmatized during this difficult time. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mike Burke

Registrar of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Co-Director, Harvard College Emergency Management

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