Information regarding coronavirus
We understand members of the UW-Whitewater campus community may have concerns regarding the coronavirus. Please know that campus officials are closely monitoring the situation. Currently, there are no suspected cases that involve members of the UW-Whitewater community, nor have reports of any suspected cases been made to University Health and Counseling Services.
UW-Whitewater colleagues are in close communication with University of Wisconsin System officials and state health officials regarding this situation.
If you have recently traveled internationally or intend to travel internationally, please contact Lance Fredrick in Risk Management as soon as possible. He can be reached at fredricl@uww.edu.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in hundreds of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan, with additional cases being identified in a growing number of countries internationally. The symptoms of coronavirus are fever, cough and shortness of breath. For additional information go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
We will update campus when additional information becomes available.
The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the common cold and flu and we are in cold and flu season. The flu can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
- fever or feeling feverish/chills, although not everyone with the flu will have a fever
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- fatigue (tiredness)
- some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
You can help prevent the spread of colds and flu or any contagious illness by taking these simple precautions:
- Cover your mouth with your elbow when coughing or sneezing
- Wash your hands frequently
- Do not share eating utensils, cups, cigarettes, anything via mouth
- Be cautious when touching phones, laptops and other items that aren’t yours – they can carry a lot of germs
- Clean hard surfaces (including doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, other common touch areas) with disinfectant
- Wear warm clothes – winter coat, gloves, hat, stable footwear
As always, you should use your best judgment in determining if you need to seek medical care. If University Health and Counseling Services is closed you can contact your health care provider, visit a local urgent care or emergency room. More information is available at www.uww.edu/uhcs