Coronavirus Updates

UNF Alert: First confirmed case of COVID-19 at the University of North Florida

It was confirmed today that an employee has tested positive for the coronavirus. It is the first confirmed case at the University. The employee is self-isolating off campus. UNF officials are in communication with the staff member as well as reaching out individually to those who may have been in close contact with this person.

UNF Remote Learning Extended to Summer A and C Sessions

All courses for UNF Summer Sessions A and C will be conducted remotely in adherence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social distancing protocols and guidance from the State University System of Florida. Summer Sessions A and C both begin on Monday, May 11. At this time, no decisions regarding Summer Session B have been made. Students should contact their academic advisors with questions about building their summer schedules. The University appreciates all your cooperation and assistance in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. We will continue to update you as future decisions are made.

Letter to Ospreys from President Szymanski

Dear Osprey Community:

As we confront the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all facing unprecedented challenges to our community and nation. I am extremely impressed by how the UNF community has stepped up to this challenge in countless ways. I am so proud of our team, the faculty, students and staff. We are all deeply committed to protecting the health and well-being of our Osprey family and mitigating the impact of this virus.

In close coordination with the Florida Department of Health and the State University System of Florida, and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among others, we have taken comprehensive steps to ensure the safety of our Osprey community. These include, but are not limited to, extending remote instruction through at least the end of the spring semester, suspending all university-related travel until further notice, limiting housing to only those who have nowhere else to go, and transitioning employees to remote work. We encourage all of you to continue monitoring alerts and following unf.edu/coronavirus for updates, resources and FAQs.

In addition, our faculty and administrators have been working tirelessly to ensure that students remain on track to complete all spring semester courses by the end of the regular semester. We remain student focused. Many UNF courses are already taught online. All through the spring break, faculty members have been preparing for the transition of remaining courses to online learning and contacting each of their students via Canvas and/or email to help them learn more about the remote nature of their respective courses. We encourage all students to review the latest helpful tips and resources available by visiting unf.edu/coronavirus.

Although the majority of UNF’s staff is working remotely, academic support such as tutoring and Supplemental Instruction, as well as academic advising services will continue through Zoom, email and phone. The Writing Center, Disability Resource Center, Library and the Counseling Center will also continue to offer services remotely to assist students during this challenging time.

As confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to increase regionally, nationally and globally, the number of residential students still living on campus has become a major concern for UNF. Although there are no presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus, we strongly encourage all students still living in university housing to return to their permanent home residences or a non-campus alternative housing arrangement as soon as possible. UNF will continue to work on an individual basis to accommodate those students with extenuating circumstances and those who are unable to return home during this time period. Although the campus is open, on-campus services – including dining options – will continue to become more limited over time in order to protect the health of our students and staff members.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to students currently living on campus, UNF is strongly encouraging all students who went away for spring break and/or are residing off campus to not return to campus until further notice. Personal items remaining in residence halls will be secured until such time that we can confidently determine it is safe for these students to return to campus and retrieve their belongings.

To our wonderful seniors and their families, we are truly disappointed that traditional on-campus UNF commencement ceremonies will not be held this spring. I know that our students are working incredibly hard to reach this milestone, and we passionately believe those who earn a UNF degree deserve to be celebrated. We are exploring opportunities for your commencement and will be communicating with you in the near future.

Finally, we know that many of you are anxious about financial matters. UNF is actively working with the Florida Board of Governors, as well as the state universities to determine options regarding potential refunds and credits, especially for housing and meal plans. There are a variety of factors to consider, such as student financial aid implications, and we want to ensure that decisions made do not negatively impact any student. We will communicate with you as soon as we have more information.

I am truly honored to serve this wonderful community. Together, we will get through these challenging times and continue to help our great students achieve their goals and dreams. Your support is absolutely critical to our staff and faculty members who are working extremely hard under unprecedented circumstances to ensure the success of all our students. The Osprey family is a strong family that will persevere and demonstrate the resilience necessary to ensure continuity and excellence in all we do. The Osprey family is a very special family!

I wish you and your family members and friends all the best for continued safety and health,

David M. Szymanski

Student Guidance and Resources for Remote Learning

As we begin remote learning on Monday, the following are some important tips and reminders:

• UNF instruction is now remote. No instruction will be in person. For courses involving experiential learning, such as internships, clinicals, etc., contact your professor or department to explore options.
• Students collaborating on group projects should do so by using virtual means and should not meet in person.
• Most remote instruction, including live sessions, will take place on Zoom and/or Canvas.
• Faculty have been advised to adhere to existing class schedule times for all live sessions.
• Professors have also been encouraged to record class sessions so that students have the option to review at alternate dates and times.
• For courses that conduct remote learning through alternate/additional online applications (beyond Zoom and Canvas), professors will reach out directly to those students via Canvas or e-mail for instructions.
• Please contact your professors directly through either Canvas or via e-mail for specific questions regarding coursework.
• In the event that you have difficulty with access to technology for any reason, please contact the Library information desk at (904) 620-2615 or ask@unf.libanswers.com and/or contact your professors to make alternative arrangements.
• The Library will be offering services remotely, and will only be open from 10-2 on March 23 and 24 for pickup of materials and equipment only. Please visit the Library web page for more information.
• If you need technology support (internet access, hardware, access to software, etc.) please contact the ITS Help Desk by phone at (904) 620-HELP (4357), by email at helpdesk@unf.edu, or by visiting the Help Desk webpage.
• Academic support such as tutoring and Supplemental Instruction, as well as academic advising services will continue through Zoom, email and phone. Please visit the Undergraduate Studies webpage for more information.
• Graduate students should visit the Graduate Studies webpage for answers to key questions.
• All students should also continue to monitor alerts and unf.edu/coronavirus for university-wide updates, including resources and FAQs.

Remote Instruction Extended Through End of Spring Semester

Your health and well-being are our primary concerns as we continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation. Currently, there are no presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the University of North Florida. However, as an abundance of caution, and in coordination with the Florida Department of Health and the State University System of Florida, UNF is extending remote instruction through at least the end of the spring semester.

All Students

We ask that students continue to monitor alerts and the unf.edu/coronavirus website for updates, resources and FAQs. Faculty will continue to contact each of their students via Canvas and/or email over spring break to help them learn more about the remote nature of their respective courses. Our goal is to ensure students remain on track to complete all spring semester courses by the end of the regular semester.

All Faculty & Staff

Per yesterday's message, UNF is transitioning to remote work starting today, March 17. With the exception of employees whose jobs cannot be performed remotely, all others should be ready to work remotely until further notice. More guidance from Human Resources about implementing remote work will be shared as information develops. We will also continue to add to our website and FAQ pages.

Residential Housing Students

Residence halls will begin closing over the next few days. We are asking all residential students still in housing to please prepare accordingly and relocate to your permanent place of residence or off-campus as soon as possible. For those students who have nowhere else to go, UNF will work with each of you on housing arrangements. More detailed updates on next steps will be communicated to residential students later today.

Commencement

Traditional on-campus UNF commencement ceremonies will not be held this spring. UNF is hoping to reschedule spring commencement to a later date. The University will provide more information when updates are available.

We ask that you continue monitoring alerts and the unf.edu/coronavirus website for updates, resources and FAQs.

University Transitioning to Temporary Remote Work

From: UNF Human Resources

To: All Faculty and Staff

Subject: University Transitioning to Temporary Remote Work

Although there are no presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the University of North Florida, out of care for the UNF community in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the University will transition to temporary remote work through at least April 5.

More guidance from Human Resources about implementing remote work will be shared as information develops. We will also continue to add to our HR website and FAQ pages. Those who are prepared to work remotely can begin doing so tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, with approval from their supervisor. With the exception of employees whose jobs cannot be performed remotely, all others should be ready to work remotely starting Wednesday, March 18.

Some employees will be required to be on campus because they support remote learning, campus operations, and other areas. It is the responsibility of supervisors to appropriately determine which employees have duties that don’t allow them to work remotely. Supervisors are encouraged to be supportive and flexible in making arrangements for remote work opportunities, and work with employees to identify regular job duties, special assignments, projects, or professional development that can be performed remotely. Hourly employees, including USPS, OPS, and student employees should record hours worked on their timesheets as per standard practice. Please review the Supervisor FAQs online for further guidance on remote working arrangements. We understand that there are questions concerning hourly employees, including OPS and student employees, whose job duties cannot be performed remotely. The University is working on guidance to address paying those employees for missed work and will communicate as it develops.

Following health officials’ guidance, high-risk employees also should work remotely starting as soon as possible. Those at high risk from COVID-19 include persons age 65 or older; those with chronic illnesses such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes; pregnancy; and/or immunodeficiency from medications or medical conditions.

Human Resources is developing a plan to hold New Employee Orientation remotely as scheduled on Monday, March 23, and will be in contact with the specific departments with information as to onboarding of new hires and changes to how New Employee Orientation be facilitated. Additional information on which University offices and buildings will be open, will be shared in future updates.

Because of UNF’s strategic depopulation of campus beginning tomorrow, this will leave a smaller number of employees reporting to work. This move aligns with guidelines for social distancing, which means avoiding mass gatherings and settings with large numbers of people and maintaining distance from others when possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your direct supervisor or UNF Human Resources at 904-620-2903.

Important Message to Students: Preparing for Remote Instruction

Dear Ospreys,

Your health and well-being are our primary concerns as we continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation. We have already made a number of adjustments to protect our campus community as President Szymanski communicated in his March 11 letter. This situation continues to change rapidly, so please watch your UNF email, and visit our website for updates: unf.edu/coronavirus. We know you likely will have many questions, so the website has a FAQ section and a list of people you can contact directly in key offices across campus.

Remote instruction will run from March 23-April 5. Your instructors should have already communicated with you how they plan to continue instruction. Please note, all on-campus services will be extremely limited during this time. Therefore, we strongly encourage all students to remain away from campus until we resume in-person instruction as this is one of the best ways to limit any potential spread of the virus.

Many of our offices are making their services available through technology so that students can access them remotely.

Academic support such as tutoring and Supplemental Instruction, as well as academic advising services will continue through Zoom, email and phone. Please visit the Undergraduate Studies webpage for more information.

The Writing Center is also using Zoom to provide support. Visit the Writing Center webpage for more information.

The Disability Resource Center, Library and the Counseling Center will offer remote services as well and have posted information on their webpages.

If you need technology support (internet access, hardware, access to software, etc.) please contact the ITS Help Desk by phone at 620-HELP (4357), by email at helpdesk@unf.edu, or by visiting the Help Desk webpage.

As a reminder, if you travel over spring break to any of the countries with CDC Level 2 and 3 rating (at present these include China, Iran, South Korea, most of Europe and Japan) at the time of arrival in the United States, regardless if the trip was related to university business or personal, you are required to observe the 14-day self-quarantine period and must produce a medical clearance prior to returning to UNF. If you travel to any country with over 100 cases of COVID-19 or return from a cruise, it is strongly recommended that you self-quarantine for 14 days as well.

If you need to self-quarantine, please call UNF Student Health Services at (904) 620-2900 immediately so that we can make sure you are healthy and safe. We are also asking all students who self-quarantine to please fill out UNF’s online Self-Reporting Form. You should also reach out to your professors to arrange ways to complete your academic obligations remotely.

Taking care of our Osprey family is our top priority. We will continue to send updates as new information becomes available and we will continue to add to our website and FAQ page. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any of the people on the contact list on the FAQ if there is something we can do to help.

Sincerely,

Daniel Moon

Associate Provost

dmoon@unf.edu

(904) 620-2700

Coronavirus HR Update

Your health and well-being are our primary concerns as we continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation. We have already made a number of adjustments to protect our campus community as President Szymanski communicated in his March 11 letter. This situation continues to change rapidly, so please watch your UNF email, and visit our website for updates: unf.edu/coronavirus. We know you likely will have many questions, so the website has a FAQ section and a list of people you can contact directly in key offices across campus. Please also take a moment to review the Human Resources web resources for supervisors and employees

The University is fully operational and as such, employees who are healthy are expected to report to work as normal in their regularly assigned work locations to continue the operations of the institution.

If individual employees have concerns about possible exposure to illness in their regular work location, they can request temporary remote work arrangements with their department chair or direct supervisor. Note that not all positions have job duties that can be performed remotely. Supervisors should be supportive and flexible in reviewing requests for remote work arrangements.

As the University has temporarily transitioned all in-person teaching to remote instruction for the two-week period following spring break, faculty have flexibility to determine how and where they will deliver course content to students.

UNF endeavors to create a positive working environment for all employees. It is the responsibility of University leadership and supervisors to ensure that the work of the University is accomplished in an environment in which disruptions by children and visitors, including other family members, are minimized. Bringing a dependent child to the workplace is strongly discouraged unless an employee has a dire emergency and only after approval of the employee’s supervisor and department head is received. In addition, frequent recurring or extended presence of children or visitors while employees are conducting University business is prohibited. Employees should not bring children on University premises in lieu of childcare arrangements. Children and visitors who exhibit symptoms of potentially contagious illnesses should not be brought into the workplace. University policies and collective bargaining agreements contain provisions that allow employees to use accrued leave time for the purpose of caring for family members. Supervisors should be liberal when granting the use of accrued annual or compensatory leave to the employee in such instances. This practice is not only for the welfare of employees’ children and family members, but for fellow employees as well. The University’s insurance may not provide coverage for children if they are injured while in the workplace, and the potential liability is significant, therefore UNF does not accept liability for injuries to children or visitors on University premises in violation of these guidelines.

As UNF strives to be proactive at preventing the spread of COVID-19 while continuing University operations, employees may experience unforeseen childcare needs including potential closures of K-12 school systems. Supervisors are encouraged to be supportive and flexible in making arrangements for remote work opportunities, and work with employees to identify regular job duties, special assignments, projects, or professional development that can be performed remotely. Hourly employees should record their hours worked on timesheets as per standard practice. Please review the Supervisor FAQs online for further guidance on remote working arrangements. 

As a reminder, if you travel over spring break to any of the countries with CDC Level 2 and 3 rating (at present these include China, Iran, South Korea, most of Europe and Japan) at the time of arrival in the United States, regardless if the trip was related to university business or personal, you are required to observe the 14-day self-quarantine period and must produce a medical clearance prior to returning to UNF. If you travel to any country with over 100 cases of COVID-19 or return from a cruise, it is strongly recommended that you self-quarantine for 14 days as well.

If you need to self-quarantine, please contact your direct supervisor and then Human Resources at (904) 620-2903 immediately so that we can make sure you are healthy and safe. We are also asking all employees who self-quarantine to please fill out UNF’s online Self-Reporting Form. You should work with your direct supervisor to discuss what options are available for performing your job duties remotely.

We will continue to send updates as new information becomes available and we will continue to add to our website and FAQ page. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your direct supervisor or UNF Human Resources at 904-620-2903.

Coronavirus Update: Letter from President SzymanskiUNF Transitioning to Remote Instruction for Two Weeks After Spring Break

Dear Students, Parents, Faculty and Staff:

At the University of North Florida, we view the health and safety of our Osprey family as our top priority. Over the past two months, we have been actively monitoring the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and closely following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of State, World Health Organization, as well as state and local health officials. We have also undertaken extensive prevention efforts on campus and with respect to travel policies and our study-abroad programs to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 with the goal of protecting our UNF community.

At this time, we have no confirmed cases of coronavirus on the UNF campus. However, as we continue to focus on prevention, we are immediately taking the following proactive steps to keep our UNF community as safe as possible. Our goal as always is to minimize any possible health and safety risks to students, faculty, staff and our communities.

Transition to Remote Instruction

In response to the rapidly changing situation with the COVID-19 virus, and in coordination with the Florida Department of Health and the State University System of Florida, UNF is temporarily transitioning all in-person teaching to remote instruction for the two-week period following the completion of spring break week, March 15-22.

Following UNF’s scheduled spring break, students will be taught remotely (not in person) for two weeks, March 23 to April 5. UNF is currently planning to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday, April 6. However, that could change with the evolving situation.

During the two-week period following spring break the UNF campus will remain open, including all residence halls, dining services, the library, student health services and the counseling center.

However, students are strongly encouraged to travel home and remain away from campus, if possible, during this two-week time period. For the two weeks, course work will continue via virtual online teaching. We are investigating how to accommodate classroom activities that typically include laboratories or other in-person interactions, and specific guidance will be provided. Our faculty will be contacting each of their students via Canvas and/or email over spring break to help them learn more about the remote nature of their respective courses. Our goal is to ensure students remain on track to complete all spring semester courses by the end of the regular semester.

Students who leave campus should take with them any devices, textbooks and other materials they will need to continue their coursework remotely. They should also take any personal effects, valuables or other items they might need for an extended period of time away from campus.

Although the campus will remain open, UNF strongly encourages students to stay in their permanent homes away from campus while completing classes virtually, unless they are prevented from returning home because of travel restrictions or they do not have access to the technology at home, such as reliable internet access, to complete their classes remotely.

Faculty and staff will play an important role in helping transition coursework to online content and continuing the operations of the institution. As such, faculty and staff who are healthy are expected to report to work as normal in their regularly assigned work locations.

Travel Restrictions

All upcoming international university travel by UNF students for Spring and Summer 2020, including but not limited to faculty-led and third-party study abroad programs, exchange programs, conferences and field work, is suspended. In addition, all upcoming international university travel by UNF faculty and staff is suspended until further notice. For more details, including self-quarantine requirements and domestic travel restrictions, please review yesterday’s Coronavirus Update.

Visitors to Campus

Through April 5, visitors to UNF’s campus are strongly discouraged. Previously scheduled visits should be postponed. UNF looks forward to welcoming prospective visits again beginning April 6 unless conditions change.

Events on Campus

No new non-essential, large events should be scheduled through April 6. For events already scheduled through April 6, organizers are strongly encouraged to immediately consider canceling or rescheduling.

We understand that these actions will undoubtedly cause inconvenience and disruption, yet these steps are necessary to help ensure the continuing good health and safety of our students, our faculty, our staff and the UNF community. On behalf of UNF, I am grateful to all of you in advance for your patience, as well as your support and dedication, as we work as one team to protect the health and wellbeing of our community and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our Osprey family.

For additional information, including specific FAQs on post-spring break remote teaching, please visit unf.edu/coronavirus.

Sincerely,

David M. Szymanski

President

Coronavirus Update: UNF Suspends All Study Abroad Programs Through Summer 2020

UNF’s Crisis Management Team has been actively monitoring the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and is taking into consideration information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of State, World Health Organization (WHO) as well as our own experts.

Given the rapidly changing situation and the associated health and safety concerns, the following travel restrictions for students, faculty, staff and visitors to UNF will go into effect immediately:

Restriction I

All upcoming international university travel by UNF students for Spring and Summer 2020, including but not limited to faculty-led and third-party study abroad programs, exchange programs, conferences and field work, is suspended. The timing of this restriction is out of an abundance of caution and to give students the ability to plan and complete their academic requirements toward a timely graduation through alternate means.

Restriction II

All upcoming international university travel by UNF faculty and staff is suspended until further notice. Should a trip abroad during this period be considered essential (needed for job completion or is essential to the mission and priorities of the university), faculty and staff may submit a petition for exception explaining the critical importance of the trip (such as time-sensitive research) and send it via email to intlctr@unf.edu for evaluation by the UNF International Center. The Center will evaluate the risks associated with the particular trip and make a recommendation for the Provost's consideration.

Restriction III

All UNF students, faculty and staff currently abroad on university travel in countries with 100 or more confirmed cases as reported by the WHO are required to return immediately to the U.S. and recommended to self-quarantine for 14 days. This recommendation for self-quarantine also extends to anyone returning from personal trips, including any cruises. Further, students, faculty and staff who self-quarantine are expected to continue doing their work from home. Faculty who are affected should contact their department chairs immediately to coordinate and mitigate potential impact to students. Students who are affected should reach out to their professors to arrange ways to complete their academic obligations remotely during this time.

As a reminder, any members of the university community including visitors to UNF coming from countries with CDC Level 2 and 3 rating (at present these include China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea) at the time of arrival in the United States, regardless if the trip was related to university business or personal, are required to observe the 14-day self-quarantine period and must produce a medical clearance prior to returning to UNF.

Domestic Travel

For the next 30 days (until April 10), all university-sponsored domestic travel for students is suspended. In addition, members of the university community with any domestic travel plans should consider postponing or cancelling any trip that is nonessential (not needed for job completion or not essential to the mission and priorities of the university). Since here in the U.S. the spread of the coronavirus is increasingly affecting more states, we ask that members of the university community be proactive in avoiding the risk of exposure and closely follow CDC recommendations and health advisories concerning cases within the U.S.

As this situation develops, many countries are still catching up with testing and reporting cases. Therefore, UNF recommends that faculty, staff and students do not travel at this time as described above. Members of the university community may face unpredictable circumstances while abroad, including insufficient health care provisions, disruption to local services, and the potential for mobility restrictions.

UNF takes its public health and community leadership role very seriously. UNF will continue to support all local, state and federal efforts to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus in the U.S. and abroad. To the extent possible, please find alternate means of conducting business.

UNF asks all travelers to be mindful, to act responsibly, and follow CDC recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus or spread.

Coronavirus Update: Spring Break Guidance

As we approach spring break, we want to ensure that our students, faculty and staff enjoy their well-deserved time off, and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety and well-being during this time.

Travel Outside of the U.S.

In response to guidance from federal and state authorities, UNF has suspended all University-related travel to China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan for the Spring 2020 term. This includes study abroad, academic program visits and/or research collaborations. The University recommends that all students, faculty and staff members avoid personal travel to these countries. Anyone returning from these countries will be required to self-quarantine.

Students who have traveled or been in close contact with someone recently returning from these countries are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days and practice social distancing. Social distancing includes avoiding going out in public and close personal interactions. Students should reach out to their professors to arrange ways to complete their academic obligations remotely. At the end of the 14 days, students should seek medical clearance from UNF Student Health Services or a personal physician before returning to campus.

Faculty and staff who have traveled to or been in close contact with someone recently returning from these countries are also asked to follow the 14-day self-quarantine and practice social distancing. Medical clearance from a physician is required before returning to work following the 14 days of quarantine. Please contact UNF Human Resources at 904-620-2903 to ensure proper designation of leave and receive important information about work arrangements.

For those who plan personal travel for various reasons, it is important to be fully informed of the potential risks. If a country becomes a Level 3 risk during a visit, please be aware that:

• It may be difficult to access healthcare services or to acquire health-related supplies
• It may be difficult to secure transportation out of the country
• Travelers might be subject to local quarantine in the country visited
  or be subject to U.S. quarantine upon return
• Travelers also might be asked to self-isolate before returning to campus

Travel in the U.S.

As more coronavirus cases are confirmed in the United States, there will be a growing need to take precautions while traveling within the country. Please refer to the following resources for up-to-date information and use good judgment before and while traveling.

CDC Travel Health Notices

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories

Florida Department of Health

Safety Precautions

We urge all of our Ospreys to continue to practice good disease prevention:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The health and safety of our faculty, staff and students remains our top priority.

Coronavirus Update: Japan and Iran Added to Travel Restrictions

Based on guidance from state officials and an abundance of caution, the University of North Florida (UNF) is adding both Japan and Iran to its travel restriction list.

That means all UNF-related travel for students, staff and faculty to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran has been suspended for the Spring 2020 term. This includes study abroad, academic program visits and/or research collaborations. Any students or employees who are currently on University business in China, South Korea, Japan, Italy or Iran must return to the U.S. immediately. In addition, UNF strongly discourages any personal travel to these countries.

UNF is also asking all members of the campus community – including vendors who work on campus and other UNF locations – who have recently traveled to or been in close contact with someone recently returning from these countries to quarantine at home and avoid contact with others during a period of 14 days, even if you have no symptoms of illness.

Coronavirus Update: Italy Added to Travel Restrictions

Late this afternoon, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) elevated its Italy travel alert to Level 3 (avoid nonessential travel) due to the continued outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In light of this development, the University of North Florida (UNF) has added Italy to its travel restriction list.

That means all UNF-related travel for students, staff and faculty to China, South Korea and Italy has been suspended for the Spring 2020 term. This includes study abroad, academic program visits and/or research collaborations. Any students or employees who are currently on University business in China, South Korea or Italy must return to the U.S. immediately. In addition, UNF strongly discourages any personal travel to these countries.

UNF is also asking all members of the campus community – including vendors who work on campus and other UNF locations – who have recently traveled to or been in close contact with someone recently returning from these countries to quarantine at home and avoid contact with others during a period of 14 days, even if you have no symptoms of illness.

Update on Coronavirus and Travel Restrictions

As we approach our spring break, a time when many members of the University of North Florida community are likely to travel, it is of utmost importance that every member of our community stay alert and take precautions to stay healthy and avoid spreading disease.

We continue to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which stands at over 80,000 confirmed cases and close to 3,000 deaths worldwide. Most of the cases are around the city of Wuhan, Hubei province in central China, but significant numbers of cases have been reported in other parts of China and neighboring countries, including South Korea. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) has issued Level 3 travel alerts (avoid nonessential travel) for both China and South Korea.

According to the CDC, the immediate risk for the general American public is considered low. However, there are now at least 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, including 45 people who were on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan. Although there have been no reported cases at UNF or in the state of Florida, UNF has initiated communication, coordination and planning using updated guidance from our local, state and federal health partners.

In light of these and other considerations, UNF is suspending all University-related travel for students, staff and faculty to China and South Korea, including study abroad, academic program visits and/or research collaborations for the Spring 2020 term. At the same time, any students or employees who are currently on University business in China or South Korea must return to the U.S. immediately. In addition, UNF strongly discourages any personal travel to these countries.

UNF is also closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in other countries, including Japan and Italy. Currently, the CDC has Level 2 travel alerts (practice enhanced precautions) for both countries. If those or any other alerts are elevated to Level 3, the University would expand the above restrictions to those countries affected. In the meantime, UNF asks that all members of the UNF community reconsider traveling to Japan or Italy until further notice.

In addition, UNF is asking all members of the campus community – including vendors who work on campus and other UNF locations – who have recently traveled to or been in close contact with someone recently returning from China or South Korea to quarantine at home and avoid contact with others during a period of 14 days, even if you have no symptoms of illness.

Travel to Asia

The U.S. State Department has issued a Do Not Travel Advisory for China and CDC has issued Travel Health Notices for travel to China and South Korea. Anyone who travels to China should be aware of Center for Disease Control and Prevention protocols for reentry into the U.S.

Students who have traveled to or been in close contact with someone recently returning from China or South Korea should self-quarantine for 14 days and reach out to their professors to arrange ways to complete their academic obligations remotely during this time. At the end of the 14 days, students should seek medical clearance from UNF Student Health Services or a personal physician before returning to campus.

Faculty and staff who have traveled to or been in close contact with someone recently returning from China or South Korea should also follow the 14-day self-quarantine. Medical clearance from a physician is required before returning to work following the 14 days of quarantine. Please contact UNF Human Resources at 904-620-2903 to ensure proper designation of leave and receive important information about work arrangements. 

Faculty members and supervisors are encouraged to be supportive of students and staff during this cautionary quarantine period.

If you are aware of students, faculty, staff or visiting academics who have been to affected countries, please be sure they are aware of this protocol and encourage them to seek medical assistance if they experience any symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

Patients with confirmed coronavirus infection generally experience mild to serious flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Person-to-person spread is believed to occur via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how other respiratory pathogens spread.

If you have traveled to an affected country in the last 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing, you should contact your medical provider right away.

Tips for Prevention

There is currently no specific antiviral treatment recommended or vaccine to prevent the coronavirus. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Here are everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Helpful Resources

For more information about the coronavirus, prevention, symptoms and travel advisories, please visit:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC Coronavirus Travelers Health Information
World Health Organization (WHO)
U.S. Department of State

Future Updates

UNF will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and provide timely updates.

Update on Coronavirus & Travel Restrictions

Due to the rising level of concern regarding the coronavirus, the U.S. Department of State has elevated its travel advisory to a Level 4: Do Not Travel to China. In light of these and other considerations, the University is suspending all University-related travel for students, staff and faculty to China such as study abroad, academic program visits or research collaborations for the Spring 2020 term.

UNF will continue to evaluate this situation. If you have any questions regarding this travel restriction or future travel plans to China, please contact the International Center at (904) 620-2657 or intlctr@unf.edu.

Helpful Resources

For more information about the coronavirus, prevention, symptoms and travel advisories, please visit:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC Coronavirus Travelers Health Information
World Health Organization (WHO)
U.S. Department of State

Future Updates

UNF will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and provide timely updates. 

Coronavirus: What You Need to Know

The University of North Florida has been carefully monitoring updates related to the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. The health and safety of our UNF students, faculty and staff is our first priority, and we wish to share with you some important information regarding the virus and its current impacts.

No cases have been reported at UNF or elsewhere in Duval County. The University is coordinating through Student Health Services, the Department of Environmental Health and Safety and the International Center for local planning regarding the novel coronavirus using up-to-date guidance from state and federal health officials.

The CDC considers this new virus a public health concern. However, the immediate health risk to the general U.S. public is considered low at this time. The CDC and the World Health Organization are closely monitoring the situation and providing ongoing guidance. The CDC escalated its health warning to a level 3 as the coronavirus continues to spread, recommending that people avoid all nonessential travel to China.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Patients with confirmed coronavirus infection generally experience mild to serious flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in a few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Person-to person spread is believed to occur via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how other respiratory pathogens spread.

If you have traveled to China in the last 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing, you should contact your medical provider right away.

TIPS FOR PREVENTION

There is currently no specific antiviral treatment recommended or vaccine to prevent the coronavirus. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Here are everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Find additional information from the CDC online.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Travelers should stay informed by visiting the CDC website for updates and travel notifications.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a Travel Advisory Level 3 Alert for travel to China. As the virus continues to spread, officials recommend people to avoid all travel to Hubei province, China due to the novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China.

If you have UNF-related travel planned to China, please contact the International Center at (904) 620-2657 or intlctr@unf.edu prior to travel.

Students and faculty may call the Student Health Services Travel Clinic at (904) 620-2175 or visit the SHS website for more information.

If needed, adjustments may be made to UNF-sponsored programs in impacted areas.

Helpful Resources

For more information about the coronavirus, prevention, symptoms and travel advisories, please visit:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC Coronavirus Travelers Health Information
World Health Organization (WHO)
U.S. Department of State

Future Updates

UNF will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and provide timely updates.