Stanford update for Thursday evening, March 12

Stanford is working to provide an update to our community on the COVID-19 situation by 6 p.m. each weekday. You can sign up to receive this update via email by filling out the “Email Alerts” box in the lower right-hand column of the Stanford Health Alerts website.

Please note: Stanford is working to protect against email phishing campaigns that seek to get you to click on malicious links in emails. If you are receiving this update by email and are concerned about its authenticity, please view the web version of it on Stanford’s Health Alerts website by clicking the COVID-19 banner on the Stanford home page.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: Teams across the university are working to answer questions that members of our community are asking.

FAQs for undergraduate students were updated Wednesday night and sent to all undergraduates and their families. Senior Vice Provost Harry Elam wrote today to undergraduates that winter quarter finals are not being canceled, but the university is providing a variety of options and resources for instructors and students.

FAQs on research continuity for faculty and researchers are available and are being updated every two days. FAQs for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, as well as for staff employees, also are posted and will be further updated shortly.

WORKING AT STANFORD: In order to support social distancing that can help prevent virus spread, Stanford is actively looking at increasing remote work opportunities for employees whose jobs can be performed remotely, and who wish to do so.

University Human Resources is in touch with unit HR leaders to identify categories of work that need to be done on-campus, that can be done remotely if an employee is available on call, or that can be done fully remotely. Additional information will be coming to employees soon through University Human Resources and individual units.

Many important jobs at Stanford have to be done on-campus, rather than remotely. Stanford is a large community with thousands of on-campus residents and a wide range of services – more like a municipality than a business or a school. Work to support that community and ensure effective campus operations must continue. Stanford deeply appreciates the dedication of the many people in our community who are serving in a wide variety of roles that provide these direct on-campus services.

The university continues to encourage work arrangements that promote a good distance between employees, the absence of in-person meetings, and the continued practice of workplace and personal hygiene measures. Stanford also intends to continue working closely with SEIU to support our represented employees who keep our dormitories and other buildings clean, and who provide food service for our students, faculty and staff.

ATHLETICS: Stanford Athletics announced today that after consultation with university leadership, the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA, Stanford’s winter and spring sports seasons are being canceled. While it is possible that some athletics activities may be able to resume when in-person classes resume on campus, all competitions, practices, camps, clinics and in-person recruiting activities are suspended until further notice.

“Throughout this fluid situation, the support and understanding we have felt from our entire community has been greatly appreciated,” Stanford Athletics wrote in sharing the news.

The Pac-12 Conference announced earlier today that it canceled the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament and other conference competitions until further notice, and the NCAA announced this afternoon that it was canceling all winter and spring NCAA championships.

CAMPUS EVENTS: Stanford is extending its previously announced restrictions on large-group events. Effective immediately through May 15, university units should cancel or postpone events they are hosting that involve more than 50 participants (reduced from the original 150-participant threshold). Those who have questions about specific planned events should consult with Environmental Health & Safety. You can initiate an inquiry to EH&S by completing this form on the Health Alerts website.

For smaller events, too, please provide sufficient space to reduce physical contact among participants, ensure there are adequate supplies of hand hygiene materials, and advise attendees they should not attend if they have symptoms or are not feeling well.

UPDATED TRAVEL GUIDANCE: Due to the rapid acceleration of the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and other parts of the world, Stanford has suspended ALL university-sponsored international travel. The university anticipates unprecedented travel restrictions that may disrupt worldwide travel. Unless you are an undergraduate student who is returning home, Stanford strongly recommends that all current travelers suspend their international trips and return home as soon as practical.

A presidential proclamation will suspend entry to the United States for most non-U.S. citizens traveling from Europe effective 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, March 13. U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents returning from Europe after this date must rebook their flights through designated U.S. ports of entry to undergo screening upon arrival. All travelers should confirm the status of their flights and reservations with their airline as soon as possible.

The CDC has raised its warning for Europe to Level 3. If you are returning from or transiting through a CDC Level 3 country, you will be subject to a 14-day self-isolation period upon return. If possible, avoid connecting flights or in-transit stops through current CDC Level 3 travel locations to avoid potential 14-day self-isolation upon return. Travelers also must be aware that they may be subject to self-isolation for 14 days from date of return if ANY countries they have visited or transited through are raised to CDC Level 3.

VISITING APPOINTMENTS: Stanford is now restricting the appointment of all new Visiting Student Researchers, Visiting Postdoctoral Scholars and Visiting Scholars until at least June 1, 2020. Read more information here.