Travel and COVID-19

Dear Bradley Family,

Due to the on-going concerns related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), we encourage you to pay close attention to the CDC travel guidelines and be cautious if you plan to travel.  We remain vigilant and prepared. Our Virus Preparedness team is meeting regularly and we are closely monitoring the situation around the globe.

We are following the recommendations of the CDC that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to destinations that have level 3 travel health notices.  As of March 9, these are China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. Like the CDC, we also discourage travel to locations with a level 2 travel health notice, which includes Japan at this time. The CDC recommends all travelers reconsider cruise ship voyages into or within Asia at this time. Per Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance, if you travel to these areas you are requested to self-isolate at your permanent home address for 14-days prior to returning to campus. There are no CDC recommendations currently related to domestic travel. You can monitor the spread of the illness at this site.

Because of these disruptions and the ever-changing situation, ALL university-related international travel must be reapproved by the appropriate Vice President prior to departure.  Also, any university-related travel should be registered at Bradley’s new travel registration site.  If you are not comfortable completing previously scheduled university-related travel, you can opt-out of it and there will be no repercussions from the university for canceling.

If you plan to travel internationally for personal travel, we ask you to voluntarily disclose that information via our new travel registration site.

In the unlikely event that the IDPH or CDC would call for the closing of colleges, we would comply. We are revisiting our pandemic plan and making preparations for academic continuity, as well as our ability to implement them and continue to serve our students. The academic plan is reliant on the use of Sakai and connected systems to continue classes.  You recently received a message from the Office of the Provost with a guide to assist you in preparing for continuity. You can access that guide here.

There are currently no cases of COVID-19 in Central Illinois and none on Bradley’s campus.  At this time, the CDC and IDPH DO NOT recommend:

• The use of masks or gloves
• Canceling large group events
• Restricting on campus events or canceling classes 
• Any special sanitizing processes beyond routine cleaning

The CDC DOES recommend the following precautions for any illness:

• Wash your hands often 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 readily available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• 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.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaners, preferable those with bleach.

To help ensure a safe campus, we ask you to follow the above guidelines and if you would like, there are signs available here to print and hang around your area.

Bradley continues to provide updates and information at a website where you can learn more about the virus, symptoms, treatments and frequently asked questions.

–Sent to Faculty and Staff on 03/09/2020