Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Concordia University Texas is not experiencing any cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, in response to growing concerns related to COVID-19, Concordia University Texas wants to equip the community with knowledge about the virus and tips for prevention.

What We Know

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains a website dedicated to the COVID-19 outbreak. At this time, the CDC is reporting a low threat of contracting the COVID-19 virus in the U.S., especially in areas that are not experiencing community spread. No confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Central Texas region.

The CDC has issued travel advisories to high-risk areas, asking travelers to avoid nonessential travel to China, Italy, South Korea, Iran and other countries. View the full list of CDC travel advisories.

What You Can Do

Prevention

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact 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.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Avoid non-essential travel to countries/regions with travel advisories/restrictions.

Symptoms

Visit with your healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Travel Plans

Concordia University Texas has temporarily suspended all University-sponsored and University-related travel for students, faculty and staff to areas designated as level 2 or level 3 by the CDC.

Personal travel to level 2 or level 3 locations will require at-home isolation of 14 days upon return, before returning to campus. The University strongly advises, during these fourteen days, that the student, faculty member or staff member:

• Remains at home,
• Avoids using commercial transportation, and
• Avoids places of general public congregation.

Students, faculty and staff should consider the local situation before traveling for spring break or attending large events. Visit the CDC website to stay informed about the ongoing situation at your destination and to check updated travel advisories. If you are planning personal travel, CTX highly recommends that you abide by U.S. government guidance, and please be mindful of the potential associated risk of disruptions to your return. It is important that all travelers adhere to these procedures in order to protect the health and safety of our campus community. Faculty and staff should register their travel plans with the CTX Office of Emergency Management (CTX OEM) by emailing Anthony.Brown@Concordia.edu.

University Preparedness and Response

Concordia University Texas will continue distributing sanitary supplies, sanitizing common surfaces regularly, tracking University travel and restricting travel to high-risk areas, and holding regular meetings with CTX administrators and stakeholders throughout the institution to assist in preparation, prevention, response, mitigation and recovery efforts.

The CTX OEM is closely monitoring the global situation, the situation at locations related to Concordia activities and travel, and the local situation here in Austin, Texas.

The university is in contact and coordinating with Austin Public Health (APH) to respond appropriately if needed.