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Mark Parisi, the College’s director of counseling and health services, sent out the following email to Saint Rose students and employees today:

Dear students and employees,

As we prepare to resume classes next week, I thought as the College’s director of counseling and health services, I should provide you with an update about the steps the College is taking in regard to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). I will be sharing updates with the community weekly – and more often if needed – while the virus remains a public health concern.

Since late January, College administration has been meeting frequently to formulate short- and long-term plans, and I am working closely with the Albany County Department of Health and New York State Department of Health.

A protocol has been established for students and College employees returning from areas identified as Level 2 and Level 3 Travel Health Notices – including self-identification and self-isolation (meaning staying away from campus) for a period of 14 days – and those details can be found here.

Recently, Saint Rose students who were in semester-long study abroad programs in areas that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified as Level 3 travel notices left their placements and will resume studies remotely. None of the Faculty-Led Programs held over mid-winter break were to areas on the CDC travel advisory list, and they continued as planned, though students were given the ability to opt out of their trips with a full refund of any expense they had incurred.

The College is preparing to address the possible spread of COVID-19, following all protocols of our county and state departments of health.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect yourself, you should follow these tips, which apply to many viruses, including influenza:
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home if you’re ill, and isolate yourself from others in your household, except for seeking medical care.

As of now, the Albany County Department of Health says the risk of coronavirus to Albany County residents is low. To stay up-to-date on the situation, please look for my weekly emails, follow the College’s social media, read reliable sources of information, and in case of emergency, be sure that you are signed up for the College’s RAVE Alerts, which will send text alerts to your phone with critical information. (You can do so by logging into the secure area of bannerweb.strose.edu, clicking on the “Personal Information” link and then clicking “RAVE Alert – Emergency Communication System.”

Health Services is available to answer questions and can be reached at 518.454.5244 or healthservices@strose.edu.

Sincerely,

Mark Parisi
Director of counseling and health services