Dear Students, Faculty & Staff,
Austin Community College District continues to closely track the spread of the new coronavirus and is working hard to protect our students, faculty, and staff on campus and in our community. We understand there is a lot of concern, and my goal in this email is to share with you what we know and the steps the college is taking.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the situation is likely to continue to change in the weeks ahead. The college’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is working with our local, state, and national health and government agencies to monitor the situation. At this time, there are no known cases of the virus in the Austin area, but preparations are underway should a case be confirmed in our region.
Coronaviruses are a virus group that can infect and spread between humans through close personal contact such as coughing/sneezing. The best way to prevent infection is to take precautions. The CDC recommends the following:
- 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.
It’s important to know that ACC’s on-campus custodial crew sanitizes our facilities nightly, including all doorknobs, handles, and other common surfaces. This work will continue with additional sanitation treatments during the day as well. There also are hand sanitizers available on campus. These may be found outside elevator bays and in labs.
If you begin experiencing fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, we urge you to contact your primary healthcare provider and remain home until you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication.
The college established a webpage to keep you informed and provide helpful tips for staying healthy. Visit austincc.edu/coronavirus to learn more.
ACC will continue to monitor and update our campus community on the evolving situation. Thank you for your support to protect our campus community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm
Executive Vice Chancellor
Campus Operations & Public Affairs