March 5, 2020
Dear University of Oregon community,
We are writing to share updated information about how the University of Oregon is monitoring, preparing for, and responding to the potential impacts of the coronavirus known as COVID-19. We know this situation can and is changing quickly as COVID-19 spreads and that there is a lot of concern about how it might impact our campus. This email contains information on the current situation and the UO’s planning and preparation. Students have also received an email addressing some of their specific concerns.
Current situation
All UO facilities — including the Eugene and Portland campuses — are operating under normal schedules. As of this writing, we do not have any known cases of COVID-19 in Lane County, though there are a handful of cases in other parts of the state. Any decisions about campus closures will come at the direction of and in coordination with the Oregon Health Authority, working through county health departments and in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Oregon Health Authority has the legal authority to mandate class cancellations and other necessary mitigation strategies.
Preparation and Planning
The UO has fully activated the Incident Management Team (IMT), which is reviewing and updating the UO's pandemic plan and developing strategies to address the rapidly evolving situation. To assist this process, the UO took the step over the last few days of formally declaring an emergency, which allows the institution to waive some procurement regulations so that we can quickly access equipment and services the UO will need to prepare for the potential impact of COVID-19 on our campuses.
An updated coronavirus webpage has been launched at https://www.uoregon.edu/coronavirus. It contains FAQs and many links to additional information about COVID-19. This is the place we will post all information — including the latest news and campus messages — related to the university’s preparation and response. We will not always have all the answers, but we will communicate as frequently as is needed, so please visit this page often and pay attention to your university email for updates, direction, or alerts related to the university’s response.
If you think that something is missing from the webpage or if you have general questions or concerns about anything related to the UO’s COVID-19 response, please submit them using this web form. The questions, concerns, and suggestions will go to the IMT, which will ensure the questions are routed to the appropriate people on campus. We’ll try to respond as quickly as we can, and we will continue to do our best to get the latest information out quickly to those who need it.
Preventing Illness and Seeking Treatment
The most pressing questions we are receiving relate to how people can stay healthy and what to do if they experience respiratory symptoms or feel sick. Health officials say the best way to prevent illness is to:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently;
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- Stay home if you feel sick; and
- Follow other tips for prevention from the CDC.
If you or someone you know thinks they may have been exposed to COVID-19, then you or they should call a healthcare provider immediately. Additional guidance about what to do if you feel sick is available here.
Classes, Activities and Events
We are also thinking about what would happen if classes or research activities are disrupted due to the virus. Provost Patrick Phillips has sent an email to faculty to address the prospect that classes may experience increased absences. He provided guidance to consider how to adjust attendance policies, provide alternative participation points, allow remote submission for classwork, provide options for missed assignment or exams, and to communicate course policies. The Academic Council is beginning to meet to discuss additional measures that could be taken to mitigate any virus-related impacts on academic activity. We are also working with our researchers to plan if their work were to be disrupted for any reason.
Travel and Study Abroad
There are many questions about travel. At this point, the UO has suspended and/or limited travel and study abroad programs in regions heavily impacted by the outbreak. Current travel restrictions are posted on the UO’s coronavirus webpage. If you had plans to travel on university business to a country that has restricted travel, please reach out to travelsafe@uoregon.edu for guidance and information about a travel waiver process, if applicable. If you are planning personal travel to an overseas location, please refer to the CDC’s current guidance for travelers.
Human Resources
Human Resources is monitoring and planning for if the COVID-19 outbreak interrupts campus operations. For now, given that there are no changes to university operations, please utilize our normal HR policies related to flexible work and leave for employees. Employees are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with options available for healthcare under their healthcare plan and the resources available through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Show Compassion, Don’t Stereotype
This can be a time of uncertainty and may cause some people concern. Please treat everyone around you with compassion and kindness. It is important to remember that viruses don’t discriminate, and COVID-19 is not associated with any racial group, ethnicity, or nationality. As members of the UO community, we must categorically reject any messages claiming otherwise. There is no place at the UO for racism, harassment, or xenophobia. Misinformation about COVID-19 can further create fear and hostility that hurts people and makes it harder to keep our community healthy. Please only share accurate, unbiased information, and speak up when you hear, see, or read misinformation or harassment.
Additional Resources
We expect there will be many more questions and concerns emerging daily. Again, we do not at this time have all the answers, but we’re working to provide as much information as is available. Please visit the UO’s COVID-19 website for the latest information about the situation, the UO’s response and links to public health resources.
Thank you,
André Le Duc
Associate Vice President and Chief Resilience Officer
Jamie Moffitt
Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Patrick Phillips
Provost and Senior Vice President