March 3, 2020
Dear CIM Faculty and Staff:
I am writing to share some updates with you about the evolving situation regarding the new coronavirus, now known as COVID-19. CIM is working closely with our campus partners at Case Western Reserve University, as well as following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to ensure the health and safety of the CIM community. As a result, we have some updates and requests of you:
Confirmed cases
At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Ohio, in Cleveland or on campus.
There are confirmed cases in the United States, however, and experts believe the virus will continue to spread throughout the country, despite the best efforts to contain it.
Travel
CIM is tracking international travel alerts and advisories closely, and expect that some members of the CIM community may need to adjust travel plans in light of the current situation. Please pay close attention to the
current travel restrictions and advisories
, as they are updated regularly.
Keep in mind that, as the global situation evolves, travelers may be stranded outside of the US as a result of flight changes, entry rules and/or quarantine requirements, with little or no notice. It is your responsibility to understand the inherent risks of travel.
All employees are strongly encouraged to voluntarily report travel plans (both inside the US and internationally)
using this form
.
Knowing your plans will help CIM assist you in determining the safety of your travel.
Per the protocol CWRU announced on February 1, all members of the campus community who are returning from a country under Level 3 warning status are required to
submit this form
at least three business days prior to returning to campus. A University Health Services staff member will follow up with information safety measures to follow upon your return.
CIM is reviewing all university-related international travel on a case by case basis. Please be in touch with the Dean’s Office (faculty) or your supervisor (staff) if you have international travel planned.
Next Steps
President’s Council and several others are working to ensure the continuity of education, building operations and business processes. While we are all hopeful that these plans will not be needed, we also understand this is a rapidly changing situation, so a combination of planning and agility is needed.
We are also working on contingency planning for CIM international students who may be affected if travel limitations continue into the summer.
Reminders
Please remember to use the hand sanitizer and hard surface wipes stationed throughout the building, and wash your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap. These simple steps can help you stay healthy throughout cold and flu season.
CWRU Health Services has an excellent set of resources, including answers to common questions and copies of all communications they’ve sent to the campus community, available
on their website
.
Finally, please keep in mind that all in our community are here to support one another. Some of our CIM family may have close relationships and family members who are more directly affected by this health crisis. Please lend support to those who may need it.
Tammie Belton
Senior Director of Human Resources
