See our new Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpages posted March 13, 2020
Updated on March 6, 2020
We understand that members of the Gateway Technical College community may be concerned about novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which remains a worldwide concern. Please know that we are monitoring all news and updates about the virus as well as following all recommended protocols.
At this time, there are no known or immediate threats to the college community.
A college leadership team is examining all future college-sponsored trips, especially to areas that are deemed to be at high levels of risk. The team is looking at continuity planning to help ensure the college continues to operate safely while recognizing the health and well-being of the many staff, students and community members who interact at the college.
Gateway urges all those traveling to check Centers of Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for your destination and any concerns about it. We realize these recommendations may not be the easiest to accommodate, but it is important for the health of the entire Gateway community.
We understand that students and staff may consider traveling during our holiday recess time of April 9-April 13. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has said that at this time, out of an abundance of caution, they are recommending any travelers returning from countries with a Level 2 or Level 3 travel health notice follow voluntary self-quarantine and self-monitoring procedures.
Those countries can be found here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
Even if you are not traveling internationally, please continue to follow good hygiene practices. Here are some everyday precautions suggested by the CDC:
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth with your elbow when coughing or sneezing
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- If soap is unavailable, try using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains between 60 percent and 95 percent alcohol.
- Do not share eating utensils, cups, cigarettes or anything else via mouth.
- Be cautious when touching phones, laptops and other items that aren’t yours, as they carry germs.
- Clean hard surfaces (including doorknobs, light switches, keyboards and other commonly touched areas) with disinfectant
- If you have traveled and become ill, seek medical advice. Call ahead before going to a doctor’s office or emergency room and tell them about your recent travel.
You can also find tips on hygiene and safety at:
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/coronavirus.htm
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
