Novel coronavirus & COVID-19: facts and resources

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing respiratory illness in people and others circulating among animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people. Previous coronavirus outbreaks have included severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to increase locally, in our region and in the United States. Please follow the guidance later in these FAQs on how to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Washington State Department of Health has created a Coronavirus call center: 1-800-525-0127. And UW Medicine has created a Coronavirus Information Line where you can hear additional information: 206-520-2285.

Although we have a lot to learn about this virus, it is currently believed that it spreads like other respiratory viruses- by people with the infection coughing and sneezing. These droplets are inhaled by other people or moved to the eyes, nose or mouth by contaminated hands.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include the following:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

If you have these symptoms, stay home and contact your health-care provider or nurse advice line for medical guidance. Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care, emergency room or other health facility without contacting them first. Your provider will need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic. Telemedicine may also be available, enabling you to consult a provider from home.

We understand that some community members are concerned. If you would like to talk with someone, support is available to students through campus mental health services:

• Bothell students: Counseling Center
• Seattle students: Let’s Talk, the Counseling Center and Hall Health
  Mental Health
• Tacoma students: Counseling & Psychological Services
• Employees: CareLink

You can help prevent the spread of colds and other viral ailments by doing the following:

• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and immediately dispose of the tissue.
• Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.

Additionally, social distancing is vital to slowing the COVID-19 outbreak – don’t gather in groups and maintain 6 feet of distance from other people when you have to be in public.

For current information about this evolving public health situation, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2019 Novel Coronavirus page.

The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington state, how the virus is spread, or what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

For local information, visit the following online resources:

• Public Health — Seattle & King County’s blog
• Questions and answers about a novel coronavirus in Washington:
  • Blog
  • 關於華盛頓新型冠狀病毒的問題和解答 (Chinese, Traditional)
  • 关于华盛顿新型冠状病毒的问题和解答 (Chinese, Simplified)
  • Preguntas y respuestas sobre un nuevo coronavirus en Washington (Spanish)
• Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health Department’s Human Coronaviruses page
• Snohomish Health District Novel Coronaviruses page

UW Medicine has also created a Coronavirus Information Line where you can hear additional information: 206-520-2285.

Many of us are concerned about what the people in our communities may be experiencing, including possible stigmatization or discrimination based on racial bias or appearances. Please help others understand that the risk of coronavirus is not at all connected with race, ethnicity or nationality.

As President Ana Mari Cauce wrote, “Our common humanity calls on us now to offer support, empathy and understanding to those most affected by this virus. … All of us, as individuals and as a community, are responsible for treating each other with kindness and empathy. We are best equipped to deal with any threat to health when we work together.”

Stigma doesn’t fight the illness and will hurt innocent people, but sharing accurate information during a time of heightened concern is one of the best things we can do to keep rumor and misinformation from spreading. Public Health — Seattle & King County has compiled resources for combating stigmatization, bias and xenophobia that can be used to prevent and respond to incidents of discrimination. If you know of incidents of bias related to the novel coronavirus, please use the appropriate bias reporting tool to notify the UW:

• UW Bothell Public CARE Report
• Seattle and Health Sciences Bias Reporting Tool
• UW Tacoma Bias Report Form

If you are sick, you must stay home. Stay home even if you have mild symptoms of illness.

If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home and follow the steps below:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Other respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, runny nose, sneezing)
• Malaise

First: Contact your health-care provider in advance. Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care or other health facility without contacting it first. Your provider will need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic. Telemedicine may also be available, enabling you to consult a provider from home. UW Employees can also contact the Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) Employee Health Center to facilitate testing through UW Medicine.

• UW employees, including staff, faculty, and other academic personnel, should contact their primary care provider or a UW Medicine facility.
• Students on the UW’s Seattle campus may contact Hall Health Center.
• Students at UW Bothell should contact their usual health-care provider or a UW Medicine facility.
• Students at UW Tacoma should contact their usual health-care provider or Franciscan Prompt Care at St. Joseph.

Second: If your health-care provider has confirmed or suspects that you have COVID-19, notify the Employee Health Center. UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma students, staff, faculty and other academic personnel should contact the EH&S Employee Health Center at emphlth@uw.edu or 206.685.1026.

UW Medicine personnel should contact Employee Health Services: UWMC – Montlake at 206.598.4848, UWMC – Northwest at 206.668.1625, or Harborview Medical Center at 206.744.3081.

Practice good hygiene.

• Avoid contact with others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing, and immediately dispose of the tissue.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean your hands by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.

Monitor your symptoms closely. Take your temperature daily.

Stay home until at least 72 hours after your fever ends, without the use of fever-reducing medications. If you must go out of the house or be around others, wear a mask and avoid close contact. Be especially careful around people who are higher risk for severe illness, including individuals with compromised immune systems, underlying health conditions and/or are age 60 and older.

Take care of yourself. Rest as much as possible. Drink lots of fluids.

Testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 is typically conducted by taking a nasal swab at a health-care provider’s office or a special COVID-19 drive-through testing site.

If you are sick with fever, cough, shortness of breath, other respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, runny nose, sneezing) AND one of the following:

• At higher risk for severe illness (defined below), or
• Have had contact with a person who has COVID-19, or
• Live in a communal/congregate living situation (such as a residence hall/dorm, sorority or fraternity)

Contact your health-care provider to discuss whether you should be tested. UW Employees who are symptomatic can also contact the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Employee Health Center to facilitate testing through UW Medicine.

While there are no restrictions on who can get tested, not every person who feels ill needs to be tested, particularly if you have a mild illness. If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms, please do NOT go to a health-care facility without contacting it first.

• Students on the UW’s Seattle campus may contact Hall Health Center.
• Students at UW Bothell should contact their usual health-care provider or a UW Medicine facility.
• Students at UW Tacoma should contact their usual health-care provider or Franciscan Prompt Care at St. Joseph.
• Faculty, other academic personnel and staff should contact their primary care provider or a UW Medicine facility.

If you fall into any of the categories listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Public Health — Seattle & King County, then you are considered at increased risk of severe outcome from COVID-19 infection.

Anyone who has questions about whether their condition puts them at risk of severe illness from a COVID-19 infection should talk with their health-care provider. Your health-care provider can also help you assess your current medications and conditions to help you think about actions that can minimize risk to you and members of your household.

If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other respiratory symptoms, such as sore throat, runny nose and sneezing), follow the instructions in the FAQ “What do I do if I feel sick?” and avoid contact with others.

According to Public Health — Seattle & King County:

• The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These can be symptoms of other respiratory illnesses as well as COVID-19.
• If you are in a high-risk category, and have symptoms of COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider for advice. If you are at risk for serious illness, your healthcare provider may arrange a test for COVID-19.
• If you do not have a high risk condition and your symptoms are mild, you do not need to be tested for COVID-19. Do not go out when you are sick, practice excellent hygiene, and wear a face mask when you are around other people if you can.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Avoid sharing personal household items. Clean your hands often. Clean all “high-touch” surfaces like doorknobs often.
• Monitor your symptoms and contact your health care provider if symptoms worsen.
• Stay home and avoid others for 72 hours after your fever goes down without the use of fever-reducing medication and symptoms get better.

Close contact is defined as being within approximately 6 feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time or having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on) without wearing personal protective equipment.

If you had close contact with a person who has COVID-19, but you do not have any symptoms:

• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with the ill person. Do not go to school or work. Avoid public places.
• During those 14 days, monitor your health for fever, malaise (feeling weak or generally unwell), cough, shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, sneezing, or runny nose).
• Notify the Employee Health Center: UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma students, staff, faculty and other academic personnel should contact the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Employee Health Center at emphlth@uw.edu or 206.685.1026.

UW Medicine personnel should contact Employee Health Services: UWMC Montlake at 206.598.4848, UWMC Northwest at 206.668.1625, Harborview Medical Center at 206.744.3081.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 infection such as a fever, malaise, cough, shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, sneezing, or runny nose), contact the EH&S Employee Health Center and follow the instructions listed in the FAQ “What do I do if I feel sick?” The EH&S Employee Health Center can facilitate testing of symptomatic UW employees through UW Medicine.

More information about potential exposure to COVID-19 can be found on the Public Health — Seattle & King County blog and the Washington State Department of Health website.

Keeping a distance (at least six feet) from other people is our best protection against COVID-19; however, wearing a mask can add another layer of protection. Masks can help protect others by containing respiratory droplets when the mask wearer coughs, sneezes or speaks.

Recent studies indicate that a portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. Public health officials believe that mask use by non-healthcare workers can help decrease the spread of COVID-19, even if the individual wearing the mask is not showing symptoms.

It is not clear whether masks worn by non-healthcare workers can prevent an individual from getting infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Before deciding whether to wear a mask, keep two considerations in mind:

• Surgical/medical masks should be reserved for healthcare providers who are on the front lines working to protect us all. There are shortages of these masks and it’s critically important that healthcare workers have the equipment they need to do their jobs.
  • UW Medicine employees can refer to the UW Medicine Mask Policy.
  • Surgical/medical masks may be used by UW employees doing work to support critical operations that requires them to be on site but may not be able to maintain a distance of at least six feet between themselves and others at all times.

• Non-surgical/medical mask use (e.g., cloth or fabric mask) does not replace the need to follow guidance to stay home and limit our contact with others.
  • Data on the use of masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission in non-health care settings is limited.
  • Wearing a cloth mask does not replace frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the face, and staying away from people who are ill. These are the most important steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 illness.
  • For the general public, homemade fabric masks, especially if well-made and fit snugly, may provide some benefit.

What about wearing cloth or homemade masks?

The CDC has recently advised that wearing cloth masks may be a valuable tool for reducing infection rates in public places.

• Wearing a fabric mask can help prevent the spread of infection to others when the mask is worn by someone who already is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, even if they don’t have symptoms and don’t know they are infected. The mask will block infectious droplets from spreading when an infected person wearing a mask coughs, sneezes and, to a lesser degree, speaks.
• It is not known how much protection homemade cloth masks provide to the person wearing the mask, and this may depend on the quality of the mask and how well it fits. For this reason, homemade and fabric masks should not be considered reliable protection but may provide some benefit.

• Cloth masks are not a replacement for surgical/medical masks; they aren’t regulated by any performance criteria, and don’t provide the same level of protection in terms of moisture resistance and particle penetration. For this reason, wearing cloth masks is most appropriate under the following circumstances:
  • The work in question is low-risk for potential exposure to COVID-19 positive individuals and/or other social distancing measures can be implemented successfully.
  • Outside of work, in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
• Cloth masks must be laundered regularly and whenever potentially contaminated in order to prevent exposure for the individual wearing it.

Wearing a mask does not replace the need to follow guidance to stay home and limit our contact with others. It does not replace frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the face, and staying away from people who are ill. These are the most important steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 illness.

Read the complete Guidance on Facemask Use for Preventing the Spread of COVID-19.

Please contact the Environmental Health & Safety Department at ehsdept@uw.edu or call (206) 543-7262 with questions about facemasks and other personal protective equipment.

In general, people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are advised to stay home and away from public places except for essential activities (such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy) per public health guidance.

If you fall into any of the categories listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Public Health — Seattle & King County, you are considered at increased risk of severe outcome from COVID-19 infection.

Anyone who has questions about whether their condition puts them at risk of severe illness from a COVID-19 infection should talk with their health-care provider. Your health-care provider can also help you assess your current medications and conditions to help you think about actions that can minimize risk to you and members of your household.

Employees required to work on site at a UW location with job duties that may require them to be in close contact with others may talk with their department about options for physical distancing or performing alternate duties. If a temporary reassignment of duties or other workplace adjustment is not available, employees may request an accommodation or leave of absence. University of Washington employees who are required to work on site at a medical center should follow UW Medicine guidelines.

Caregivers of children with underlying health conditions should consult with a health-care provider about whether their children should stay home.

If you are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick:

• Stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible. If you must go out, keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others.
• Stock up on food and supplies.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched services.
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.

In addition, review the Washington State Department of Health guidance to help you during the COVID-19 outbreak.

You can reduce the risk of spreading coronaviruses by taking the same steps as you would to prevent infection from the flu and the common cold:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for a least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer, with 60-95% alcohol if water is not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and immediately dispose of the used tissue.

Additionally, social distancing is vital to slowing the COVID-19 outbreak – don’t gather in groups and maintain 6 feet of distance from other people when you have to be in public.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door knobs, tables, computer keyboards, handrails, exercise rooms).

Departments should use a disinfectant on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus, an alcohol solution with at least 70% alcohol, or a 10% bleach/water solution to disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces. It is also recommended that all departments purchase single use disinfectant wipes for touch points within their work spaces.

Please avoid putting disinfectant gels or liquids on electronics and other equipment, including elevator buttons, unless they have been indicated as safe to use on those devices.

The UW Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) has cleaning and disinfection protocols for campus partners that comply with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing the spread of coronavirus.

To protect their privacy, the UW legally is not able to release personal information about any students or University community members who are being monitored or tested for novel coronavirus, including their location.

When a UW community member is diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, the relevant local health department and the UW initiate appropriate protocols to protect the health of anyone deemed to be at risk. UW Environmental Health & Safety maintains a UW count of confirmed COVID-19 cases by campus.

When notified of a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the University takes the following steps to maintain the health and safety of the campus community:

1. Obtain details about the person’s symptoms, locations on campus and close contacts.
2. Conduct a risk assessment to determine an action plan. The plan may include:
   • Provide a recommendation for and/or assistance with self-isolation (as appropriate for students in residence halls).
   • Notify the school, department and/or work unit.
   • Notify individuals or groups who were in close contact (within 6 feet for more than a few minutes) with the ill person within 48 hours prior to the development of symptoms. Close contacts will be provided with public health recommendations that may include staying home and monitoring their health for 14 days. For more information, read the FAQ “How is the UW following up with people who were in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19?”
   • Evaluate the specific locations where the person spent time on campus for enhanced cleaning and disinfection in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Enhanced cleaning and disinfection is conducted in spaces where an ill person spent time 48 hours prior to symptoms developing through seven days after the person last spent time in a University space.

UW is in ongoing coordination with local health departments on COVID-19 response efforts.

Questions about the UW’s response to COVID-19 can be directed to the Environmental Health & Safety Department at ehsdept@uw.edu or (206) 543-7262.

The University works closely with UW Medicine, local public health departments and UW units to identify UW community members who test positive for COVID-19.

Once the University is aware of a positive test result, we initiate efforts to reduce the risk of transmission, which includes identifying UW community members who had close contact (see definition below) with the person who tested positive and mapping their locations on campus.

Close contact is defined as being within approximately 6 feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time, or having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on) without wearing personal protective equipment.

• EH&S will notify individuals who had close contact with the ill person up to 48 hours prior to the development of symptoms.
• Close contacts will be provided with public health recommendations that may include staying home and monitoring their health for 14 days.
• Close contacts may include roommates, coworkers, instructional faculty, classmates, building occupants, and/or maintenance and custodial workers, as appropriate.

If you were not notified as being in close contact with a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19, you do not need to take any action beyond those recommended for all members of our community to protect themselves against COVID-19, including practicing good hygiene and social distancing, monitoring your health, and staying home if you’re sick.

If you had close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19, but you do not have any symptoms (fever, coughing, shortness of breath):

1. Stay at home for 14 days after your last contact with the ill person. Do not go to school or work. Avoid public places.
2. During the 14 days, monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath.
3. Notify one of the following contacts:
   • UW Medicine personnel should contact Employee Health Services (UWMC – Montlake at 206-598-4848, UWMC – Northwest at 206-668-1625, or Harborview Medical Center at 206-744-3081).
   • All other UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma students, staff, faculty and other academic personnel should contact the UW Employee Health Center at emphlth@uw.eduor (206) 685-1026.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 infection — such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath — please take precautions to prevent transmission, including staying home and avoiding contact with others, and then take the steps listed in the FAQ “What do I do if I feel sick?“

More information about potential exposure to COVID-19 can be found on Public Health — Seattle & King County’s blog and on the Washington State Department of Health website.

Questions about the UW’s response to COVID-19 can be directed to the Environmental Health & Safety Department at ehsdept@uw.edu or (206) 543-7262.

Classes that begin on the first day of summer quarter, e.g., those offered for A- and full-terms, will be offered remotely and will not be held in-person. No decision has been made about B term, which begins on July 23, 2020. As we plan for B term and the start of fall quarter in September, we are adjusting course offerings to backfill courses with clinical, lab, studio and practicum requirements that cannot be fulfilled remotely. Summer registration begins April 13.

Currently enrolled students at the Seattle campus can access the Student Technology Loan Program, which allows students to borrow laptops, tablets and other equipment for free. Visit their site to see real-time equipment inventory and learn more.

Students at UW Bothell may borrow laptops and other technology via the UW Bothell Laptop and Wifi Hotspot Lending Program.

Students at UW Tacoma may borrow laptops and other technology by contacting the UW Tacoma IT Helpdesk.

In order to continue protecting the health of students, families and the broader community during this unprecedented situation, we plan to honor all of our graduating seniors, graduate and professional students in two ways. The first will be this spring when we will conduct a live, worldwide, interactive webcast on June 13, 2020. Please visit the Bothell, Seattle or Tacoma commencement sites for information specific to your campus.

Graduates of the class of 2020 are also invited and encouraged to fully participate in an in-person commencement ceremony for them on their respective campuses in 2021, where we look forward to recognizing them and the sacrifices they have made. The ceremony will be a well-earned opportunity for members of the Class of 2020 to walk across the stage with their classmates in front of their loved ones. We are still determining whether the Class of 2020 in-person commencement will be included as part of the Class of 2021’s commencement ceremony, or grow into its own separate ceremony if enough 2020 graduates decide to return for the event, as we hope they will. The postponement to June 2021 gives us ample time to work with our graduates on how they would like this event to take shape.

The determination that we could not safely have in-person ceremonies this year was one of the hardest decisions we have made in response to the pandemic. We share the disappointment felt by so many families that COVID-19 has forced us to find new ways to honor our graduates, just as it is forcing so many changes in our society. We are committed to creating experiences that honor and celebrate our graduates’ achievements. We made this decision, in consultation with student leaders, our academic leadership and Regents, and the Office of Ceremonies, based on our commitment to health and safety as well as equity and fairness. We cannot predict when it will be safe or feasible to hold an in-person ceremony for thousands of graduates and guests. Many students and families are managing personal and financial stress and/or have future plans that makes selecting a reasonable date outside of the traditional commencement calendar challenging. Commencement is an event that unites our community and it must continue to reflect our values of inclusivity, diversity and equity.

Additionally, the lead time needed to organize and plan for such large ceremonies is significant and does not provide flexibility for fluid scheduling, given the magnitude of people and resources required.

Hall Health Center remains open. Hall Health provides medical and mental health care to students and established non-student patients.

If you are experiencing cough, fever and/or difficulty breathing and want to be seen for an appointment, please call 206.685.1011 before coming in. Please do not drop in without calling first.

For mental health appointments, contact 206.543.5030 to schedule. Mental health services are primarily available remotely, including for students who are self-isolating. Learn more on the Hall Health website.

Any fieldwork that violates University of Washington restrictions, such as on travel or gatherings, or mandates by the governor of Washington state or local health officials, should be canceled. If fieldwork does not violate those mandates, you should be in close contact with your faculty advisor/sponsor as you determine how and whether to proceed. This conversation, with a clear agreement between the parties, should take place regardless of whether the work is funded by a grant/contract or other UW funding procured by the faculty member or the student/postdoc to conduct the work.

Please also carefully review the Office of Research’s guidance on mitigating impacts to research activities.

If you are a doctoral student who will defend your dissertation in winter or spring quarter, the Graduate School has waived the requirement that the Graduate School Representative (GSR) must be physically present during general exams and dissertation defenses. Also, the student no longer needs to be “proctored,” which means that they do not need to be on campus and in a room with a faculty member.

For as long as Washington state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive is active, public defenses will need to be converted to a livestream format. Even after the order expires, public defenses should take place only if all the health guidelines are in place and that all waivers regarding GSR and proctoring are utilized so that neither students nor committee members need be present.

It’s critical to minimize the number of people who get seriously ill at the same time. If too many people get sick all at once, this will put too much of a burden on our health care system. If that happens, people at highest risk — people over 60, and those with underlying health conditions may not be able to get the care they need if they get seriously ill.

Students who live in residence halls and communal housing should take these steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Stay calm. Remember that when young adults get sick with COVID-19, they almost always have mild symptoms.
• Clean your room and bathroom daily. Use a disinfectant to clean high-touch surfaces regularly, such as door handles, light switches, remotes and phones.
• Practice social distancing. Maintain a 6-foot distance from others. Avoid parties and get-togethers.
• Wash your hands. Good handwashing hygiene is even more important for people living in close proximity. Use soap and water, scrub for 20 seconds and dry your hands. Repeat often.
• Don’t touch your face. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes, unless you have just washed your hands

The University is following guidance from local health departments and has taken the following steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in residence halls:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces twice each day, with more frequency in the dining facilities.
• Dining facilities are take-out only, consistent with state and local public health orders.
• Fitness centers and maker spaces are closed until further notice.
• All events and programs are cancelled until further notice.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath):

• Stay home, self-isolate and avoid contact with others, and follow the advice in the FAQ “What do I do if I feel sick?”
• Call your health care provider for advice. If you don’t have a regular provider, remember you can always call the nurse advice line at Hall Health Center for help.
• Notify the UW Employee Health Center at (206) 685-1026 or emphlth@uw.edu.

Spring quarter began with remote instruction on March 30, with fully remote instruction continuing through the end of the quarter, eliminating the need to physically stay home from class, however illness may cause you to miss a remote class session.

You should take steps you normally would when sick, including focusing on caring for your health, contacting your healthcare provider if you feel you need to, and in the event you miss a class session due to illness, working with your instructor on any necessary arrangements for making up coursework.

In general, if you are sick, stay home.

Please see the “What do I do if I feel sick?” question for more information.

Spring quarter began with remote instruction on March 30, with fully remote instruction continuing through the end of the quarter.

We recognize that moving to remote instruction is a hardship and a challenge for students, faculty and other academic personnel, and staff during an already difficult time. We are grateful to everyone in our community for making this transition possible. The nature of some courses precludes their being offered online due to the experiential nature of the content, or lack of access to required materials. We will be flexible with shifts in schedules and expect to increase course offerings over the summer and fall to ensure access to courses required to meet major requirements. We will also provide, as possible, flexibility in requirements to support those nearing graduation so as not to impede post-graduation plans or opportunities. Students can expect to hear more from their college, school or department about any changes to course offerings. Please visit the spring quarter FAQ for more information relevant to students.

Even in a situation involving remote instruction, “Instructors are strongly discouraged from requiring medical or legal documentation from a student for any absences. Requiring such documentation places burdens on all parties involved,” according to the Faculty Council on Academic Standards Syllabus Guidelines. The syllabus guidelines recommend that instructors offer students accommodations, such as makeup exams, alternate assignments, or alternate weighting of missed work. The UW Center for Teaching and Learning offers updated information and resources for technology and pedagogical best practices that can help you and your students in the event of any missed class time.

Using President Cauce’s declaration of “extraordinary circumstances” under Executive Order 27, the Office of Academic Personnel is implementing a provision for automatic eligibility to waive the 2019-20 academic year from the mandatory promotion clock. This is similar to the automatic eligibility to have a year waived from the promotion/tenure clock in the case of the birth or adoption of a child. Automatic eligibility means that the faculty members must request a clock waiver, but upon request it will be automatically approved.

The details for seeking an extension to the promotion/tenure clock through this clock waiver provision are available on the Office of Academic Personnel website.

At the University of Washington, faculty do not formally track paid time off for reasons other than sick time off under the Faculty Sick Leave Policy. Faculty sick leave (i.e., paid sick time) covers: a) your own serious health condition as certified by your healthcare provider; b) temporary disability due to pregnancy, childbirth, or recovery therefrom; or c) care for a family member with a serious health condition.

If you have been directed to self-isolate for up to 14 days, you should continue to follow your unit’s procedure for short-term absences. For example, this might involve informing your supervisor (chair/director/campus dean/dean), who can help you arrange for remote work or with reassignment of responsibilities. And for specific suggestions related to research activities, see the updates from the Office of Research.

If your absence occurs during a time in which you are otherwise entitled to receive a salary from the University, you will continue to receive your salary. If your condition changes and you have a serious health concern, you may be entitled to use up to 90 days of faculty sick leave, using the process outlined by Academic HR. Your Academic HR Business Partners are available to offer guidance by contacting: apleaves@uw.edu.

Additional child care options are also available, and UWHR maintains a page with details. The University is actively working to add additional resources, which will be prioritized for employees essential for campus and medical center operations and who don’t have other child care options.

Under Governor Inslee’s new “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, teleworking is mandatory for employees who can do so without hampering critical operations. Supervisors should also work with their employees to maintain employment and pay to the greatest extent possible. Helpful guidance can be found on the HR website. If you have questions about how to assist employees in need, please reach out to your HR consultant.

UWHR has published Working through COVID-19, an online resource dedicated to housing UWHR communications and resources related to the coronavirus outbreak. You can find new support resources and guidance for setting up temporary remote work arrangements with clarity and confidence.

UWHR has published Working through COVID-19, an online resource dedicated to housing UWHR communications and resources related to the coronavirus outbreak. You can find new support resources and guidance for setting up temporary remote work arrangements with clarity and confidence.

Staff and student workers can prepare for the possibility of disruptions by becoming familiar with the technology tools that make it possible to work even when you can’t get to campus. UW Information Technology offers free tools for videoconferencing, chat, collaboration, online storage, and more. Find out what tools you can use in this helpful tech guide for working remotely.

UWHR has organized additional child care options. Please note that some are prioritized for UW Medicine and other employees who are critical to the response to COVID-19.

Eligible staff can take a family care emergency absence when regularly scheduled care plans are interrupted due to a school, camp, facility closure and/or the unexpected absence of a care provider. Family care emergencies apply to both child and elder care situations.

If you are sick, stay home. Staff and student workers should continue to follow their unit’s procedure for requesting sick time off and can find more information on the following webpages about sick time for regular contract covered, classified, and professional staff and for temporary and student hourly employees.

Additionally, President Cauce has authorized expanded use of sick time off to cover situations that may be unique to the risks posed by COVID-19. For example, if your duties cannot be performed remotely and you have a significant health concern that makes you feel unsafe in the workplace. Sick time off can also be used if you have had direct exposure to COVID-19 and you have been directed to complete a 14-day self-isolation. Your HR consultant is available to offer guidance.

The University remains open and critical functions continue. Governor Jay Inslee’s order, subsquently extended to May 4, strengthens mandates already in place to encourage social distancing, a crucial measure for slowing the spread of COVID-19 by flattening the curve of new diagnosed cases. The UW already has many of the most important elements of the order in place and will now transition to restricted operations and operate as allowable under the governor’s order. This includes proceeding with remote instruction during spring quarter as planned. Our first priority is to keep our community health and safe, which means:

• • • Staff who are sick must stay home.
    • All employees who can telework or work from home without impacting critical operations must be allowed to do so. Supervisors should be documenting telework plans and agreements.
    • Employees who must come to work to maintain critical operations need to adhere to appropriate social distancing and safety standards.

Because each employee’s circumstances are different, please talk to your supervisor for additional guidance. Your HR representative is also available to discuss concerns.

In response to Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, the UW is moving from modified operations to restricted operations. Our University campuses never close, and our hospitals, clinics, critical research and limited residential operations continue. Spring quarter began with remote instruction on March 30, with fully remote instruction continuing through the end of the quarter. All preparations for remote learning during spring quarter are authorized to continue, including for faculty and teaching assistants who periodically need to access on campus technologies to prepare lectures and coursework.Online student support services for advising, financial aid, libraries and career services will be available, and staffing adjustments are underway to expand our service capabilities. Our campuses will remain open to serve all those who rely on our services, although with some limited operations.

Please visit the spring quarter FAQ for more information relevant to students.

The University has extensive and thorough emergency procedures and is committed to doing everything it can to ensure the health and safety of our community. Because this is a rapidly changing situation, we need to prepare for a range of possibilities, but since the UW includes health care facilities and other critical operations, it never fully closes. Our residence halls will remain available to students who need to reside on campus. All students who remain on campus will be required to stay in residence halls or apartments with private bathrooms to limit shared hygienic spaces and encourage social distancing.

For those who do live on or near a campus and wish to access campus services, modified operations will be in place. Most UW employees who can work from home are already doing so. With the governor’s new order, all employees who can telework without hampering critical operations must do so; teleworking is no longer strongly encouraged or strongly suggested; it is mandatory for employees who can do so without hampering critical operations. Facilities such as libraries, dining services, and many offices will have very limited operations that minimize in-person interaction and/or will be operated remotely.

In the event that a quarantine involving students becomes necessary, we are preparing for a multi-faceted response that would include providing food service and/or moving students off-campus or to sequestered areas of the residence halls. In the event many cases are diagnosed, those who could safely leave the campus would be encouraged to do so, thereby increasing our capacity to assist others who are unable to travel.

As a reminder, the University is coordinating closely with county public health agencies and the Washington State Department of Health on its response, including contingency planning, and will continue to do so.

Effective March 23, 2020, all public and private gatherings are prohibited by order of Governor Jay Inslee. The restriction is in effect until May 4, 2020, and may be extended pending public health guidance. All official UW events should be canceled, postponed or converted to remote participation.

At this time, all physical branches of the UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma libraries are closed to the public until further notice, pending the guidance of public health officials and the University. While Libraries buildings are closed, Libraries staff are available to provide a range of remote learning services for students and faculty such as 24/7 chat services, interlibrary loan (for electronic articles and materials only), and research consultations offered through Zoom. Faculty and other academic personnel may also consult the Libraries’ top 5 resources for faculty. For full details and updates on all locations and available services visit the UW Libraries coronavirus page and see also: A Message from the Dean: Libraries FAQ and Response

In accordance with Governor Inslee’s March 23 “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, all employees who can perform their work remotely without hampering critical operations must telework. Supervisors should also work with their employees to maintain employment and pay to the greatest extent possible. If you have questions about how to assist employees in need, please reach out to your HR consultant.

UWHR has published Working through COVID-19, an online resource dedicated to housing UWHR communications and resources related to the coronavirus outbreak. You can find new support resources and guidance for setting up temporary remote work arrangements with clarity and confidence.

Campus tours and admission information sessions will not be held March 6 – May 4, however, we invite you to take a virtual self-guided tour and/or register for a virtual information session. The Office of Admissions will keep the admissions visit website up to date with the latest scheduling information. Major impacts to campus operations are also posted on the Admissions website or the UW home page. Visit Seattle also has resources about COVID-19 for anyone interested in the city.

The UW Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) has cleaning and disinfection protocols for campus partners that comply with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing the spread of coronavirus.

The University’s custodial cleaning program follows the cleaning and disinfection protocols to daily clean high touch points such as door handles, banisters, and elevator buttons, public and common area restrooms, and break rooms. In addition, cleaning and custodial staff have increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection activities across campus as an additional preventive measure.

Hand sanitizer dispensers and containers with at least 60% alcohol concentration have been placed throughout each campus in high traffic areas and locations where soap and hot water are not readily available. More dispensers and containers will be added as inventory becomes available.

When a person diagnosed with COVID-19 is known to have been on campus, the specific locations where the person spent time are evaluated for enhanced cleaning and disinfection, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additional information is available from UW Facilities and Housing & Food Services on how we are responding to the novel coronavirus.

Yes, SafeCampus, confidential advocates, the Office of the Title IX Coordinator, and the offices that investigate reports of misconduct are all still available by email, phone, or Zoom. For immediate support and consultation, or to be connected with a confidential advocate, contact Safe Campus at 206-685-7233. You can also reach a confidential advocate directly by phone or e-mail.

To make an inquiry or report to an investigation office, there are several ways to make a report.

For consultation or any other concerns related to sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or compliance with Title IX, contact the Office of the Title IX Coordinator.

The Office of Research has issued specific guidance for researchers on all three campuses, which is updated regularly and includes a checklist for researchers. This checklist includes:

• • 1. Identify emergency personnel and ensure they know what to do in the event of suspended operations
    2. Remind lab personnel of your communication plan or create one if not in place
    3. Identify priorities in case of restricted access
    4. Ensure remote access to files, data, servers, etc.
    5. Prioritize experiments
    6. Plan for remote proposal submission
    7. Check travel restrictions before making travel plans.

Please refer to the Office of Research’s COVID-19 page for more information. The HHRB and IRB are fully operational; if you need to reach them, you can find more information at the bottom of that page.

No, however, under Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, employees who can telework without hampering critical operations must do so. Every researcher who can work remotely must stay home for the duration of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. PIs/faculty sponsors must provide maximum flexibility to their RAs/postdocs in terms of completing lab work. There must be no expectation that personnel come to campus or to their usual workplace to conduct any research activities that can be adapted to telework.

Under Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, employees who can telework without hampering critical operations must do so. Every researcher who can work remotely must stay home for the next two weeks.

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, and support labs to help mitigate the impacts to research activities due COVID-19, the Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S) is reminding researchers who must work on campus to support critical operations to practice social distancing in laboratories and other research environments. Some in-person research is still allowed, but only if it is possible to maintain appropriate safety standards:

• • • Social distancing of at least 6 feet between people
    • Frequent laboratory decontamination procedures
    • Personal safety using appropriate personal protective equipment and frequent hand-washing

Please see the updated guidance from the Office of Research for more details.

If you have any questions please contact EH&S Research & Occupational Safety at labcheck@uw.edu or 206.685.3993.

All of the UW Medicine hospitals have protocols in place to assess the risk for someone presenting to an emergency department or clinic with this infection. People with cold- or flu-like symptoms are being asked to wear a mask and also about travel history in the prior 14 days. People who we feel might have the virus are moved out of public spaces and into rooms where they can be taken care of safely. UW School of Medicine faculty and researchers are working on learning more about the virus, creating new tests, and developing possible treatments and even vaccines.

All hospitals and clinics have protocols and systems in place to keep all patients, visitors and healthcare workers safe and so you should not avoid seeking care out of concerns over the coronavirus. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please contact the clinic or hospital first so they can advise you.

As of March 10, all routine visiting is suspended until the transmission of COVID-19 is no longer a threat to our patients, staff and community. UW Medicine will allow visitors in crucial times based on the exceptions listed in their guidelines. In all cases a visitor will only be allowed if they do not have symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath).

International travel

• All travel outside the U.S. by University of Washington employees and students is restricted until further notice, effective March 20, 2020. Read more about this policy at the UW Office of Global Affairs.
• No exceptions to this restriction will be made as the UW travel waiver process has also been suspended.
• This restriction is informed by the global “Level 4: Do Not Travel” health advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State.
• No UW funds can be used to support any global travel until further notice.
• Because of insurance exclusions triggered by a Department of State Level 4 travel advisory, UW-sponsored travel insurance and emergency assistance will not be available for any new travel.
  
• These restrictions do not apply to personal travel. However, we strongly encourage you to avoid travel and review applicable travel warnings.

Domestic travel

• All employees are strongly encouraged to cancel or postpone domestic university travel that is not essential to business, academic or research continuity. Supervisors approving travel for employees should use their best judgement.
• The University’s clinical care, education and research activities are essential to the health of local communities and to the region’s, nation’s and world’s response to COVID-19. To protect and preserve our health sciences workforce’s capability to identify and care for patients, as well as track and analyze the spread of disease, all work-related travel for UW Medicine, School of Dentistry and School of Public Health employees, as well as School of Pharmacy staff working in hospitals and clinics, is restricted through May 1, 2020. Guidance has also been issued to employees in these areas regarding personal travel and limiting visits and meetings. That guidance and more information is available from UW Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Pharmacy (pdf) and the School of Public Health.

If you are currently outside the United States, please take these steps:

• Connect with the embassy of your nationality (U.S. Embassy – American Citizen Services for U.S. citizens abroad). If you haven’t done so already, sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive updates directly from the Embassy (you can sign up for STEP even if you are not a U.S. citizen). The U.S. Embassy website may also provide a list of recommended medical providers or hospitals.
• Monitor local news and reputable international outlets for updates.
• Be prepared to “shelter in place.” If you must shelter in place, by acquiring safe food and water supplies to last you several days (ideally two weeks) in case of acute shortages.
• Travelers should expect very long wait times. Bring your own food and personal hygiene items (toilet paper, wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.) if possible to avoid being left without.
• If you have a medical condition that prevents you from sheltering in place, send an email to travelemergency@uw.edu. For urgent matters, call the UW Global Emergency Line at 206-632-0153.
• Download UW emergency contacts directly to your phone. Click this link while on your mobile device: https://www.keynect.us/user/UWGLOBAL
• Monitor updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of State.

Additional information for UW students currently abroad:

• You are still covered by the UW Student Abroad Insurance for the coverage period purchased.
• As a reminder, the UW Student Abroad Insurance through CISI does not cover travel cancellations or delays. Only evacuations that are medically necessary are covered by the insurance. Government (U.S. or foreign government) travel restrictions or border closings do not qualify for an insured evacuation.
• UW Study Abroad students please visit the COVID-19 page for more information and closely monitor your email for updates.

Additional information for UW employees currently abroad:

• You are still eligible for the UW Emergency Travel Assistance.

Due to the widespread, ongoing transmission of the novel coronavirus worldwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instructs travelers to stay home for 14 days from the time you returned home from all international travel.

During this 14-day period, take these steps to monitor your health and practice social distancing:

• Take your temperature with a thermometer two times each day and monitor for fever. Use this temperature logto record your temperature. Also watch for symptoms, such as cough or trouble breathing, and note them on the log.
• Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school.
• Do not take public transportation, taxis or ride-shares.
• Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).

Any UW faculty, staff, student or visiting scholar who is having symptoms of COVID-19 infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath) should stay home and not go to work.

First: Contact your health provider in advance. Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care or other health facility without contacting it first. Your provider will need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic. Telemedicine may also be available, enabling you to consult a provider from home.

• Students on the UW’s Seattle campus may contact Hall Health Center.
• Students at UW Bothell should contact their usual health care provider or a UW Medicine facility.
• Students at UW Tacoma should contact their usual health care provider or Franciscan Prompt Care at St. Joseph.
• Faculty, other academic personnel and staff should contact their primary care provider or a UW Medicine facility.

Second: Check in with one of the following UW contacts for symptom monitoring.

• UW Medicine personnel should contact Employee Health Services (UWMC – Montlake at 206-598-4848, UWMC – Northwest at 206-668-1625, or Harborview Medical Center at 206-744-3081).
• All other UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma students, staff, faculty and other academic personnel should contact UW Environmental Health & Safety’s (EH&S’s) Employee Health Center at emphlth@uw.edu or 206-685-1026.

On March 18, President Cauce announced spring quarter courses will be held remotely More information and answers to many questions are available at Facts and Information Regarding Spring Quarter 2020.

As an international student, additional factors to consider when making your decision about spring quarter:

• • • Technology challenges with online study from home
    • Time differences in case of synchronous classes

The U.S. government confirmed that international students can temporarily engage in distance-learning, either from within the U.S. or outside the country, in light of COVID-19. SEVP will provide updated guidance as additional information concerning the scope and length of this situation becomes clearer. More information can be found on the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement document, “COVID-19: Guide for Student and Exchange Visitor Programs Stakeholders (PDF).”

This will allow ISS to keep F-1 and J-1 SEVIS records active for students studying online full-time, either in the U.S. or at home.

The best way to receive updated information is to check the ISS coronavirus information website, which will post updates as soon as more information becomes available.

Every student’s situation is different and we understand your concern about the current situation. We want to reassure you that the University is taking all necessary precautions to protect students, staff, and the broader UW community.

On March 18, President Cauce announced spring quarter courses will be held remotely More information and answers to many questions are available at Facts and Information Regarding Spring Quarter 2020. We encourage you to review the information about spring quarter classes being offered remotely as you may still decide to take spring quarter off, but you may want to consider taking courses remotely, whether you remain in the U.S. or return home.

It is important to understand the impact taking time off from your studies may have on your immigration status. If you decide to take spring quarter (and possibly summer quarter) off, please review the following information.

• • • Immigration Leave of Absence Process
    • Submit a Leave of Absence Form
    • Other Full-time Enrollment Exceptions

Also, consider these factors before making your decision:

• • • Are you completing winter quarter or withdrawing from winter quarter?
    • How many quarters do you plan to be away from UW?
    • Are you close to graduation? Do you plan to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

If you still have questions after reviewing the above web pages, sign up for one of our U.S. Government Updates for International Students between March 16-23. Each session can host 300 students so please register in advance. Webinars will be offered on different days and times to accommodate all schedules.

Every student’s situation is different. UW’s International Student Services (ISS) office encourages you to review the Final Quarter Checklist to understand your options. If you have additional questions or wish to meet with an ISS adviser, complete the ISS Have a Question form so an ISS adviser can reply to your specific questions.

Every student’s situation is different.

On March 18, President Cauce announced spring quarter courses will be held remotely More information and answers to many questions are available at Facts and Information Regarding Spring Quarter 2020. We encourage you to review the information about spring quarter classes being offered remotely as you may want to consider enrolling in spring quarter remotely from home. The ISS office is receiving a very high volume of emails, however, so it may take 2-4 business days for a reply. Continue to monitor this page for updates and new information.

Options to consider:

• • • Continue to monitor the situation until we are closer to spring quarter. The UW is waiting for updates from the U.S. government to see if there will be exceptions or accommodations for students needing to return for studies.
    • Leave of Absence
    • Vacation Quarter (if eligible)
    • Medical Reduced Course Load (if applicable)
    • Study Abroad credits/Independent Study/online courses

If you have further questions after reviewing the above web pages, complete the ISS Have a Question form and an ISS adviser will reply to you directly about your options. The ISS office is receiving a very high volume of emails, however, so it may take 2-4 business days for a reply. Continue to monitor this page for updates and new information.

Contact your host department and ISO. Additionally, we recommend monitoring the news, U.S. travel guidance, and this UW web page for updates.

The University requests that any person who traveled in a country with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice due to COVID-19 take the following steps before arriving on campus:

1) Stay home for 14 days.
2) Monitor your health.
Please see the Travel and Study Abroad section above for more guidance on this. Specifically refer to the question “What should I do if I traveled to a country with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice due to COVID-19…?”

If you are an arriving J-1 exchange visitor, please also contact the following:

1) Your host department.
2) International Scholars Operations (ISO).

While J-1 exchange visitors must attend a J-1 Check-in Session at ISO within 30 days of the start date on the DS-2019 form, those who are unable or are uncomfortable attending in person may contact acadvisa@uw.edu to request a remote check-in.

Contact your host department and ISO. The host department may be able to request a J-1 visa extension. If you are not eligible for an extension, but want to learn about other options for remaining in the U.S. legally, please consider consulting a private immigration attorney. Resources, including low-cost and pro bono attorney options, are available.

Contact your host department and ISO about revising your program dates. We also recommend monitoring the news, airline travel information and this page for updates. Please note that due to the evolving nature of the coronavirus outbreak and associated travel limitations, there is no certainty as to when travel restrictions will be lifted.

Contact your host department and ISO.

This proclamation only affects people who are currently outside the United States and who are trying to enter the U.S. using an immigrant visa. Immigrant visas are in a separate class from the nonimmigrant visas that UW sponsors. Anyone attempting to enter the U.S. using a UW-sponsored nonimmigrant visa, or already in the U.S. on a UW-sponsored visa, should not be affected by this proclamation.