Health Advisory: 2019 Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV

Posted on January 27, 2020, 6:26 PM Updated on March 24, 2020, 2:00 PM

Pepperdine University is closely monitoring the evolving novel coronavirus outbreak in China and around the globe. As with any public health risk, Pepperdine community members are encouraged to take all necessary precautions to ensure their personal safety and health. 

What is the current situation?

• There is an ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness first identified in Wuhan, China, caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Thousands of cases are reported in Wuhan and severe illness, including death, have been reported. This outbreak began in December 2019 and continues to expand in scope and magnitude, now involving cases in a number of other countries, including several cases in the US.  
• Symptoms of this coronavirus include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
• Person-to-person spread is occurring. Details of the virus, such as how it spreads and its incubation period, are still being investigated.  
• The US State Department updated its Travel Advisory for China to a Level 3 Reconsider Travel designation today as Chinese authorities continue to impose quarantines and restrict travel throughout the country. The State Department also issued a Level 4 Do Not Travel designation for Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, due to the outbreak. 
  • Due to the elevated State Department Travel Advisory, all University-related travel to China must be vetted prior to departure in accordance with Pepperdine’s International Travel Policy. 
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) currently advises avoiding all non-essential travel to China. 
• Seaver College students participating in the Shanghai international program can expect to receive additional information from the University tomorrow.
  

What can we do to decrease our risk of illness? 

• Travelers should take precautions such as avoiding contact with sick people, animal markets, and products from animals such as uncooked meat. 
• All Pepperdine community members should wash their hands frequently, get adequate sleep/fluids/nutrition, not share food and drinks, and ensure immunizations are up to date. 

If you traveled to China (or any other area with ongoing transmission of the virus as reported by the CDC) in the last 14 days OR have had close contact (such as with a roommate or family member) who has traveled to Asia in the last four weeks and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, take the following actions: 

• Seek medical care right away, but CALL THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE OR EMERGENCY ROOM before going and tell them of your recent travel and symptoms. If you are an enrolled student, call the Student Health Center at 310.506.4316 and select option 3. 
• Avoid contact with others and DO NOT GO TO CLASS OR WORK until you have been evaluated by a medical professional. 
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (and not your hands) when you cough or sneeze. 
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. 
• If someone reports to you that they are feeling sick with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and they have recently traveled to China or any other area with ongoing transmission of the virus reported by the CDC, encourage them to seek medical care using the steps listed above.

University officials will continue to monitor the coronavirus outbreak and will update the community if conditions significantly change.