COVID-19 and contagious respiratory illnesses prevention

This message was sent to all students, faculty and staff on Monday, March 2 ,2020.

California State University, Monterey Bay, is actively planning and preparing for conditions that may disrupt normal campus operations. Your health and safety are our priority. Recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that the community spread of COVID-19 is likely to occur in the United States. To date, there are no confirmed cases in Monterey County.

Prevention and Information

According to the CDC, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is still considered low for members of the general public. The CDC recommends that we help respond to this public health threat by taking standard precautions for the prevention of contagious respiratory illnesses like the flu. Some of these steps include:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick and do not come to work or attend class if you are ill or symptomatic.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

The CDC does not recommend the use of facemasks for general prevention from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Regular hand-washing provides better protection.

For updates and information about preventing contagious respiratory illness, visit the flu information webpage and campus communications on the coronavirus information webpage. Visit the Chancellor’s Office webpage for information and advisories related to the CSU and Coronavirus. For Coronavirus Disease in the US, visit the CDC Coronavirus webpage.

Our values

CSUMB values openness and inclusion. We activate and support engaged learning, civic engagement, and sustained dialogues across identities and differences on our campus; it is who we are. The emergence of COVID-19 has fostered unwarranted anti-Asian/Asian-American sentiments across the nation. The CSUMB community does not accept these xenophobic behaviors expressed through speech, harassment, the spreading of misinformation, or misinformed decision-making.

For additional support, you are encouraged to visit the CSUMB Personal Growth & Counseling Center website, call 831-582-3969, or visit Building 80. You may also connect with the Otter Cross-Cultural Center and the Office of Inclusive Excellence for additional information and support.

Coronavirus information webpage CDC Coronavirus webpage