COVID-19 and Social Distancing: Week of March 13th, 2020

Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends,

Good morning from a very quiet campus on a rainy Friday morning. I’d like to take the opportunity to reiterate some of the information that we sent out over the last few days and also thank all of you for stepping up and doing what’s necessary in order to maintain our educational mission and responsibilities to our students and also following the public health guidance by staying close to home. With the exception of those students on their external clinical rotation assignments such as externships or clerkships, we prefer you don’t leave the local area.

As we mentioned yesterday, Governor Wolf made it clear we will remain closed from today through Sunday 29 March, hopefully enabling us to partially open the campus on Monday, 30 March. If we’re able to do so at that time, it’s our intent to continue with online instruction and, conditions permitting, open the Learning Resource Center and provide access to clinical labs. Since this is such a fluid situation we’ll have to wait and see what happens at that time. As I’m sure you all understand, this is not an exact science so it’s difficult to predict when this will all end. I don’t expect things to go back to “fully normal” until authorities are confident the COVID-19 virus spread is well under control, not just locally, but regionally and nationally. 

As we work through this public health emergency, I’d like you all to remember that as healthcare professionals people will be looking to you for information and also to set an example of how we should be responding. As I noted in my video yesterday, there’s no need to panic. If everyone acts responsibly, follows instructions, and keeps a level head, everyone will be fine. As a reminder, it’s the simple things that will help keep everyone safe, to include:

• Hand washing for at least 20 seconds
• Maintaining social distancing of at least 6 feet from one another
• Avoiding large groups
• Cover your coughs
• Stay home if you’re feeling sick

Finally, several folks have asked me about graduation and related events. While nothing has been cancelled yet, we’re working on contingency plans for a web-casted audience free ceremony to ensure that we can make this time as special as possible for our graduating students and their families.  We will share information with you as soon as possible.

We realize all this is a significant transition from normal for everyone, and understand that it may be difficult, as well as raise many questions. It’s our commitment to the entire Salus community to work diligently over the course of this emergency to ensure you have access to the most up-to-date information and to keep our lines of communication open, as they always have been. Our website is being updated as new information becomes available. You can access that here.

I have full faith in the resiliency of our students and the commitment of our faculty and staff as we all work through this together. We are Salus Strong – and that makes me proud! 

Be safe, look out for one another and don’t be afraid to touch base if you have any questions.

Mike