More Virus

Email circulated yesterday evening:

To the Campus Community:

We are writing to share updated travel guidance, given that the prevalence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States and internationally is changing rapidly.

For international travel:

• UCLA prohibits official university travel to all regions with Level 3 Travel Warnings for coronavirus from the CDC: mainland China, South Korea, Italy and Iran.
• We strongly discourage personal travel to jurisdictions with Level 3 Travel Warnings.
• Any traveler arriving from these areas must self-isolate for 14 days from the time they left that country, in accordance with new guidance from the CDC. (This provision is retroactive to the last 14 days.)
• These requirements will also be imposed for any region the CDC raises to Level 3 for the coronavirus in the coming weeks.
• UCLA discourages all other nonessential international travel for now. If you decide to travel, be aware that other countries could change travel restrictions without notice, flights may be canceled or new re-entry restrictions could be imposed when returning to the United States.
• If you need to travel internationally:
  • Consider obtaining travel insurance through the UC Office of the President Travel Insurance website or the provider of your choice.
  • Stay informed about developments in your destination by monitoring the travel guidance provided by the CDC.
  • Make sure your family and friends are aware of your plans and how to reach you.

For domestic travelers:

• Use caution and judgment before any domestic travel, and check for the latest information before your trip.

For large conferences and events:

• We are following the guidance of health officials and there is currently no recommendation to avoid attending large conferences on campus. However, we still urge you to use caution and judgment if you decide to attend large conferences.

For incoming visitors to campus:

• Any visitor arriving to campus from a Level 3 jurisdiction (currently mainland China, South Korea, Italy and Iran), must also follow the CDC guidelines to self-isolate for 14 days since the date they left that country.
• This also applies to visitors who have been invited to campus by UCLA groups and programs.

UCLA is taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Examples include:

• Installing hand sanitizer stations across campus, and in university-provided housing and dining area entries and on BruinBuses
• Cleaning restrooms and public areas with anti-viral, anti-bacterial chemical solutions
• Increasing frequency of cleaning in residential and dining area high-touch surfaces
• Employing electrostatic sprayer systems in high-use areas to disinfect around curved and hard-to-reach surfaces

We want to reiterate that you can prevent the spread of COVID-19 by taking other precautions like washing your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds, containing coughs into a tissue or sleeve, and staying home if you are sick, especially if you have a respiratory illness and fever. If you develop flu-like symptoms — fever, cough and difficulty breathing — and are concerned that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, seek medical attention. Students should call the Ashe Center Infection Control Line at 310-206-6217 and faculty and staff should call their health care providers. Please always call ahead before arriving.

We encourage you to visit the COVID-19 information page on UCLA Newsroom, which is frequently updated with the latest guidance and resources. As always, emergency preparedness information and resources can be found at Bruins Safe Online. We will continue to work closely with public health officials and provide updates and community information sessions.

Please also remember that UCLA is an inclusive and welcoming community, and we must not stigmatize anyone based on appearance or national origin. We recognize that there are concerns among the campus community and we remain grateful for the calm and thoughtful manner in which Bruins are caring for themselves and each other.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Beck Administrative Vice Chancellor Monroe Gorden, Jr. Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs