Coronavirus Updates: What You Need to Know

As the global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to evolve, the NC State College of Natural Resources has launched a new website to address some of the most pressing issues facing students, faculty and staff. 

The new website includes answers to frequently asked questions about a wide range of topics, from online learning and advising to dining and housing. It also provides links to campus resources and features regular updates about the university’s ongoing response to COVID-19. 

“Our university faces an unprecedented challenge in preventing the spread of COVID-19. But as this situation continues to evolve, our top priority remains the health, safety and well-being of our faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Myron Floyd, Dean of the College of Natural Resources. “We are working hard to support the needs of our community during these uncertain times and will be sharing as much information as possible as we learn more.”

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Common signs of infection are fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties in individuals who have either traveled to or been in contact with people who have traveled to affected areas. 

Based on current information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from state and local health authorities, the immediate health risk for NC State’s campus remains low. But the university has taken a number of precautions to protect the campus community and the wider population from the possible spread of COVID-19, including moving all classes online for the semester, shutting down residence halls, and allowing employees to work from home. There are currently no identified cases on campus.

Here are some quick tips to help protect yourself and others from COVID-19: 

• 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 (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact (closer than 3 feet) 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, and disinfect your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Use a disinfectant on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus, an alcohol solution with at least 70% alcohol, or a 10% bleach/water solution to disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces. Bleach solutions need to air-dry. For items on the EPA list, follow the manufacturer’s directions which may be as quick as 15 seconds or as much as a couple of minutes, depending on the products.
• The use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is recommended only for people who are ill, in order to protect others. There are no recommendations for their use by the general public in preventing infection.

For more information about the university’s response, visit https://www.ncsu.edu/coronavirus/.