FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 30, 2020
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Health and safety officials at Tarleton State University are closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new strain of the coronavirus, termed 2019-nCoV, that was first detected in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to other countries. Five cases have been confirmed in the United States.
Tarleton is following protocols established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including monitoring proposed university travel to restricted areas and providing pertinent safety information to students, faculty and staff.
“While nearly all confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been in China, the public health situation is still developing, and we continue to monitor and prepare for a number of contingencies in partnership with local and state agencies,” said Kent Styron, director of risk management and compliance. “The safety of our university family — students, faculty and staff — is highest priority.”
Symptoms of 2019-nCoV include fever, severe headache, runny nose, cough, sore throat and a general feeling of being unwell. Symptoms may appear up to 14 days after exposure. At greatest risk are those who have traveled from Wuhan City or Hubei Province, China, to the United States in the past 21 days. No university-sponsored trips have taken place in this timeframe, and there are no cases of the coronavirus at Tarleton.
Students who have symptoms associated with the virus are encouraged to contact Student Health Services at 254-968-9271. Faculty and staff should call their personal physician or healthcare provider.
For details, visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
Contact:
Kent Styron, Director of Risk Management and Compliance
254-968-9898
wkstyron@tarleton.edu
