Message sent from Brigitte Lossing, Director of Recreation & Wellbeing, to participants on March 5, 2020
Dear Recreation & Wellbeing members, participants, parents and families,
This week, local public health officials have confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the City of Berkeley. The individual is not affiliated with the campus and, at this time, there is no obvious connection. This was a travel-related transmission of the virus; there remains currently no evidence of local transmission within Berkeley.
University Health Services continues to work closely with public health officials and UC leaders throughout the system to guide campus policy, educate the campus about best prevention practices, and assist those concerned about possible exposure.
Recreation & Wellbeing leadership continues to meet regularly to address prevention and response efforts, which includes enacting additional measures such as expanded distribution and placement of hand sanitizers, and enhanced disinfection and cleaning procedures of common areas.
Additionally, Recreation & Wellbeing is working in coordination with campus efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on campus by asking staff and instructors to increase their cleaning routines and services during this period, and encouraging participants to properly clean contact surfaces and equipment before and after use.
How do we protect ourselves from COVID-19?
- Keep your immune system healthy by getting plenty of sleep, nutrition, stress-relief, and exercise.
- Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (contains at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water are not available. Wash your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds, and certainly after sneezing or before/after touching your face or a sick person.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing, if you are ill.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid contact with others who are sick.
- Do not travel while sick.
While it is very difficult to predict exactly how this situation will evolve over the next few weeks, it is certain that more cases will be reported and that many people are impacted either directly or indirectly by this virus. We encourage all members of the campus community to support each other and look out for each other during this time.
For additional information, please visit the University Health Services web pages which contains an FAQ, and video with basic information about the virus. Also, be sure to follow the latest campus developments at Berkeley News.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Brigitte Lossing
Director, Recreational Sports
