Updated – March 8, 2020
While GYA’s Accredited Members have had to demonstrate a strong risk management plan, with medical and mental health experts, we recognize that Coronavirus is a new risk and many of you are sourcing information from a lot of varied sources. We want to highlight a few resources for you, and encourage you to check back as desired for additional information.
RESOURCES:
- CDC is your best resource for all Coronavirus medical information: www.cdc.gov
- As of March 3, 2020 The CDC released this: Guidance for Student Foreign Travel for Institutions of Higher Education
- CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel
- A reminder to use OSAC or the Overseas Security Advisory Council. This is required for all Accredited Members, but any US-based organization can register for access to OSAC: the public arm of the Diplomatic Security Services of the US State Department.
- Every organization that’s attended the conference has access to experts we bring in and can call for advice. These are experts we bring in because they have deep knowledge and they hope to bring in new clients. Again, please consider paying them for some professional advice.
- Lodestone Safety International – http://www.lodestonesafety.com/
- Experiential Consulting – https://www.outdoorrisk.com/single-post/Coronavirus
- SECUSS-L is a listserv that has a GREAT forum feature of professionals in study abroad. GYA has no forum feature and while we plan on building one, the timeline is some distance in the future.
UNCOMMON CAUTIONS:
- Outbound departures to program sites – it is worth noting that any traveler with an active fever will likely get pulled aside and sent to quarantine. This has happened already in 2020 with a student traveling who was recovering from a cold, but had a fever jump to 99.5 over the course of a long few days of travel. The student was sent to isolation for a 2-day quarantine while they ran a COVID19 test.
- Returning post-program – be aware that students traveling through international airports are at increased exposure, and some training, or possible testing at the end of program may help mitigate the risk to older family members.
Otherwise, here’s Ethan’s favorite recent article about the disease so far. This is evolving quickly, and Ars Technica highlights comparisons, gives updates to mortality rates and infectious vectors with specific details that contextualize the virus in a very helpful way.
Don’t Panic: The comprehensive Ars Technica guide to the coronavirus.
This is a fast-moving epidemic—we’ll update this guide regularly.
Disclaimer: This blog is meant to be generally educational, and is not offered as specific legal or medical advice for your program. We recommend that you follow state and federal advisories, educate yourselves about the risks, consult physicians for medical advice, and consult attorneys for legal advice.