As the potential impact of COVID-19 to our local region and community continues to develop, we want to reinforce our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, and the importance of keeping everyone informed as the situation unfolds.
Our Safety and Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) chaired by Bill Senter, Interim VP for Administration and member of the President’s Cabinet, is monitoring the coronavirus on a daily basis and is providing regular updates to Dr. Cottrell and the Cabinet. The SEMC continues to work with local agencies to ensure the safety of our campus and has created a web page at www.tlu.edu/semc for COVID-19 information and ongoing updates.
While there have been no reported cases of coronavirus in Seguin or on the TLU campus, we remain committed to keeping our campus and community informed with the latest information and recommendations issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services as well as local health entities for Guadalupe County (Public Health Region 8) and Bexar County (San Antonio Metropolitan Health District). The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has set up a COVID-19 hotline at 210-207-5779 for specific questions that may arise.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services is reminding all of us to take simple actions to slow the spread of respiratory infections and protect our community members who are at higher risk, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. They include:
- Wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, cover your cough with your arm or a tissue, and disinfect surfaces.
- Avoid shaking hands and practice social distancing by keeping a 3-foot distance from each other.
- If you are sick, please stay home.
- Know the symptoms of novel coronavirus infection: fever (100.4F or more) and a dry cough; not a runny nose, typically. Over time, shortness of breath. Only people who are seriously ill are candidates for COVID-19 testing at this time. Remember that we are in cold and flu season. COVID-19 symptoms are similar to these more common infections—it is far more likely that anyone with respiratory symptoms is suffering from a cold or flu.
- Avoid non-essential travel to Level 3 areas: China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea. If you are planning on traveling internationally, visit the CDC website at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel for updated travel advisories and necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy during travels.
We recognize there are several athletic and university events as well as study abroad trips that may be impacted in the next several weeks or months, but we have not canceled any TLU events or trips at this time. Please continue to check your email and www.tlu.edu/semc for updates on events and trips.
Any recommendations and decisions regarding classes will come from the President and VPAA in consultation with the faculty association. Rodrick Shao or Bill Senter can provide some virtual recommendations if faculty want to explore various options for their classes.
As news develops that affects citizens in Guadalupe and neighboring counties, we will share what we know as well as any potential impacts to TLU faculty, staff, and students.
Thank you for your attention and interest in keeping our community healthy and safe.
Thank you,
TLU Safety and Emergency Management Committee
www.tlu.edu/semc