On Monday March 2, Oswego State President Deborah Stanley sent out an email updating the campus community on the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and how it may affect the college as over 11 cases have been confirmed in New York state.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new form of coronavirus, a type of virus that includes the common cold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, with symptoms potentially developing two to 14 days after exposure, though some patients may show no symptoms at all. 

This new virus was first reported in China in late 2019 and has since spread to at least 78 countries with South Korea, Italy and Iran having significant outbreaks according to statistics from the CDC. The World Health Organization announced the name COVID-19 for the disease caused by the virus in February. The name is a shortening of “coronavirus disease 2019,” according to the CDC.

“I write to you today to assure you that the health and safety of all members of our campus community, particularly those students currently studying abroad or planning to travel internationally, is of utmost concern for SUNY Oswego,” Stanley wrote in her email. “Please know that Oswego is working together with our campus leaders as well as with SUNY administration and local and state health departments. We are communicating and sharing information – with your health and safety in mind.”

Stanley asked Jerri Howland, vice president of student affairs and enrollment at Oswego State, to create a task force to address prevention and planning concerning COVID-19 at the college. The task force, chaired by Howland, consists of top campus administrators and personnel representing several major departments on campus, such as health services, campus safety, housing, academic affairs, technology, communication and international education.

The task force met on Wednesday morning and has begun discussions on possible options should an infectious disease like COVID-19 spread to the campus.

“The task force has begun discussions related to prevention, response, contingency plans and adherence to our already present Pandemic Response Plan and infectious disease protocol,” Howland said. “We discussed and will continue to discuss planning for different scenarios including a potential period of restricted activity, if necessary.”

According to the Oswego State Emergency Response Plan document, available on the college website, the section relating to pandemics said the college will operate based on five alert levels and will focus on limiting both social interaction and non-essential functions of the institution.

“Several departments have been identified in the pandemic flu plan as performing essential functions in the event that normal activities at SUNY Oswego are suspended for a crisis period that could last as long as 12 weeks as per health officials,” the Emergency Response Plan said. “Suspension of normal activities may mean that classes, professional and student activities, athletics, conferences and institutes are canceled and that students may be required to leave the campus and return to their homes.”

Stanley attended the Student Association senate meeting on Tuesday to update senators on several projects and details concerning Oswego State, including COVID-19. Though not the focus of the update, Stanley informed senators of some options considered by the college and answered questions.

“It’s been a long day. We’ve been dealing with coronavirus all day,” Stanley said to begin her presentation, in reference to the coordination the college is having with students studying abroad amid the global health emergency.

Oswego State made the decision earlier this week to cancel international trips planned for spring break and is working to ensure the safety of students studying abroad, including the potential to have those students currently studying abroad return to the United States, according to Stanley. There are no plans to send home international students that are attending Oswego State from abroad, Howland said.

Stanley responded to a senator at the meeting, saying that the college administration is thinking about what to do if COVID-19 spreads to the campus.

“If somebody were to have [COVID-19] on this campus, we would have to assess whether or not they have had the kind of contact that transmits the disease, and we would have to first of all see to it that they had medical attention and that they were quarantined,” Stanley said. “We would also have to determine whether that quarantine would be on-campus or if they could travel home to be quarantined for 14 days.”

Stanley said to SA that the Oswego State student population, which consists primarily of young adults, may be less susceptible to COVID-19 as most of the more than 3,200 reported deaths due to the illness have been from vulnerable populations, like the elderly. Deaths in the United States from COVID-19 rose to 11 by Wednesday night.

“Everyone who has or tests positive to the disease does not get it in such a way that makes them terribly ill,” Stanley said. “As a matter of fact, your demographic, of younger people, does not get very sick with the disease.”

In response to concerns that pandemic protocols could impact student academics, Stanley said to senate that the college would be able to conduct classes online, either through the college’s Blackboard system or email and Google Docs if need be.

“We don’t have any scenario yet where that would be what we choose to do,” Stanley said. “If we close or if we cancel classes for any length of time, we wouldn’t want you to miss out on getting your degrees on time, or finishing your coursework. So, we’re starting to understand that we could substitute in many ways.”

 These plans and potential contingencies are being evaluated by the COVID-19 task force as the situation develops while following recommendations from health agencies like the CDC.

“We’re going to be planning for those short-term scenarios or long-term as we need this semester,” Howland said. “With anything that we do, of course we will communicate it to the community right away. But just know that we are planning for all of those scenarios in case the worst happens or in case it doesn’t; small scenario, medium scenario or big one.”

Stanley said the COVID-19 situation is fluid and the college is focused on public health and student welfare while remaining transparent with the campus community. The Oswego State website has a COVID-19 page that will be updated daily, according to Howland, that provides resources and preventative health practices to the Oswego community. These recommendations include frequently washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, only wearing a mask when sick, staying home when sick and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

“We have a lot of people with their eyes on this,” Stanley said.

Photo by Colin Hawkins | The Oswegonian