March 6, 2020

Dear Wildcat Family,

We continue to monitor the news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Department of Health, and the University System of Georgia related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This is a dynamic situation and the continuous cycle of news may, understandably, place everyone in a heightened state of alert. Please rest assured that protecting the health and wellbeing of all members of the Wildcat Family is our top priority. As a caring academic community, we will do everything possible to minimize any disruptions to our ability to offer a high-quality education in a safe and secure environment. In our ongoing efforts to prevent or mitigate the spread of this virus in our campus and community, we receive updates and instructions on steps to take regarding the virus. We will keep everyone informed of these on a regular basis. For the official Fort Valley State University communications and links to up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit https://www.fvsu.edu/coronovirus-updates/

We reiterate below, the following guidelines to minimizing exposure to the virus, and particularly urge students to keep these in mind as they proceed on Spring Break in the coming week:

• Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds, using soap and water.
• Use sanitizer when you don’t have access to running water.
• Avoid handshakes and hugs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with tissues or your sleeve (not your hands).
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick. Monitor yourself for fever, cough, and shortness of breath (symptoms of Coronavirus.
• In an abundance of caution, if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms (regardless of travel history), we encourage you to stay home.

To minimize any specific exposure risk, FVSU, in collaboration with the USG are monitoring travel and managing self-quarantine procedures for members of the USG community who have recently returned from countries with active transmission.

In the event of a community outbreak, the university administration will work closely with local health officials and other key leaders to make appropriate determinations regarding class suspension or university closures as necessary.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Best regards,

President,

Dr. Paul Jones