3/15 BUSM COVID-19 Update from Dean Antman
To: BUSM Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Karen Antman, MD, BUMC Provost and BUSM Dean
Date: March 15, 2020
Re: 3/15 BUSM COVID-19 Update
The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving quickly and we are monitoring the situation carefully. As the facts change, we will advise you to make the necessary adjustments based on University guidelines. We are in unchartered territory and doing our best to adapt quickly. Keeping our students and our community safe while ensuring educational experiences that will maintain clinical and research excellence is our highest priority.
We would like to minimize the number of people on the Medical Campus as soon as possible, but certainly by Wednesday, March 18. Please work with your unit leaders to fairly distribute coverage of essential services and the continuity of core operations with faculty and staff working from home to the extent possible.
All courses are now virtual. Obviously COVID-19 research needs to continue, but please ramp down the number of people in your laboratories, as well. This will require a unit-by unit, project-by-project determination and conversation with your manager. Physical presence should not be required when participation is possible digitally. The goal is to promote social distancing.
For anyone returning from spring break, please see the reminder of the policy for individuals returning from abroad. The CDC has now issued a new alert –a Global Level 2 alert – that now applies to anyone returning from anywhere outside the United States, including anyone returning from one of the US territories, such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands needs to self isolate. Also, please remember that all domestic and international travel supported by funds administered by the University is suspended for faculty, staff and students.
We know all this can be unsettling. Please follow CDC guidelines for preventive measures to help ensure the health and safety of yourself and your families.
Please be reminded that updated information can be found on the BU and BUMC COVID-19 websites.