An update from Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19)March 4, 2020
Concerns about a possible epidemic, pandemic or local outbreak of the Coronavirus have transferred our attentions from national politics and the plummeting stock market to how best to keep ourselves safe from a menace we cannot even see! At yesterday’s Senior staff meeting, therefore, the vice presidents and I reviewed and updated CCBC’s Pandemic-Epidemic Plan, a strategy model for dealing with such events, in place but unused since the prior threats of Avian and Swine Flus.
Although no verified case of Coronavirus has yet been identified in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Health has stated that it believes such is imminent. Therefore, while we at CCBC cannot control what happens in the world outside of our little corner of the globe, we can in fact influence the level of comfort and security we feel within our personal and collective spheres. Understanding the nature of the situation, remaining calm in the face of the flurry of negative headlines and second guesses, and practicing good common sense in personal and community hygiene will go a long way towards keeping our college community healthy and productive.
Please refer to the useful information below about the Coronavirus; strategies for individual protection; and the college’s response to keeping us all as safe as possible from the onslaught of the offending germ.
- CCBC’s COVID-10 Frequently Asked Questions
- “COVID-19: Stop the Spread of Germs”
- Maryland’s Weekly Influenza Surveillance Activity Report
Although our College Communications Web Team is working to place Coronavirus information in high visibility on the CCBC website, I would encourage faculty and other staff in frequent contact with students to share this message broadly. We will share additional information as we receive it over the next few weeks. As is our habit at CCBC, we will face this challenge as we have most others, collaboratively, collegially, and with a sense of optimism. In the best spirit of “Everybody Helps,” we will be ready to deal with this potential health concern as effectively as any institution possibly can.