By Thomas Gibbons
UPDATE: Dr. Price has an update on the DU student who was in contact with a patient who is being treated for the coronavirus.
The Dominican University student exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) at a local suburban hospital did not test positive for the virus. The test approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health confirms the student did not contract coronavirus (COVID-19). The institution will continue to walk alongside the student and is thankful to the campus community for the collective response and outpouring of care.
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UPDATE: As of Tuesday afternoon, there is no update on the nonresidential student. Elizabeth Ritzman, Director of the Wellness Center, provided information on the plan in place. ” If the person is not positive [for the coronavirus], then they are just going to remain in quarantine until after spring break,” she said.” If it turns back positive, the Illinois and the Cook County Public Health Department are in charge of telling us what happens next.”
“Decisions will be made once we have more information if indeed it is a positive for the coronavirus,” she said. “But right now, people are just working on their contingency plans to make sure there is the least amount of interference with students to be able to access their education.
Ritzman added that if the school would have to be shut down, classes can be conducted remotely. The Wellness Center would remain available over the phone to advise students if they need to reach out to their doctor or visit the emergency room.
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On Monday afternoon, Dr. Barrington Price, Vice President of Student Success and Engagement, informed the Dominican community that a nonresidential student was exposed to a patient being treated for the coronavirus. This student is not experiencing any symptoms, but will be quarantined at home and remain quarantined for another week.
The university has consulted with the Cook County Department of Public Health’s communicable diseases unit for guidance on managing care for our community. At this point, the department does not recommend further restrictions for our campus community. Campus is currently operating as usual and classes are meeting. Out of an abundance of caution, the university is sanitizing specific classrooms and campus spaces which may have been visited by the student. -Dr. Price in a statement to DU
In a way to inform students about the virus, Dominican has posted a Coronavirus FAQ sheet on their website.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there are 108 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States.
In Washington D.C., Vice President Mike Pence has been assigned by President Trump to head up a task force to tackle the Coronavirus.
Part of Vice President Pence’s press conference Monday at the White House:
“Despite today’s sad news, let’s be clear, the risk to the American people of the coronavirus remains low according to all of the experts that we’re working with across the government. And as the President has said, we’re ready for anything, but this is an all hands on deck effort. Today’s activity really reflects the President’s effort to bring the best minds of private industry together, the best leadership from around the country at every level.”
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) continues their effort to inform the public about the Coronavirus.
Outside of campus, Dominican is closely monitoring the spread of the coronavirus in Europe due to students studying abroad in the United Kingdom. Vice Provost Roberto Curci sent an email to students last Saturday.
We encourage you to consult with your family to assess the risk and benefits of completing your study abroad semester, and determine whether or not you may want to remain in United Kingdom. If you decide to return to the U.S., Dominican University will support you in your decision. We will work with you, and your host institution in United Kingdom in an effort to help you complete your spring course work successfully. Dominican University will also cover, if needed, the cost associated with changing your flight itinerary for an earlier return. We will continue to monitor new developments of the coronavirus. While we hope that you will be able to complete your study abroad program successfully, if at any point during this semester, the CDC Watch or the State Department Travel Advisory for Ireland reaches level 3, Dominican University’s travel policy will require us to cancel your program. If this were to happen, we will work with you to bring you home expeditiously.
This story will be updated.
