The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Mass. DPH) recommends the following steps people should take to reduce the risk of getting and spreading any viral respiratory infections:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill.
• Social distancing, with a recommended target of 6-10 feet, is highly recommended for all Massachusetts citizens. Social distancing involves awareness of situations with uncertain risk: any group congregations, travel, shopping, etc. People need to be sensible and prioritize community safety until more is understood.

COVID-19 (also known as Novel Coronavirus 2019) is a virus strain that has only spread in people since December 2019. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.

People who have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus have reported symptoms that may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

It’s important that everyone take steps to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus, especially to protect those who are more vulnerable. The Prevention Best Practices noted above provide steps you can take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold, and will also help prevent coronavirus.

Anyone planning to travel should pay close attention to the advisories listed on the Centers for Disease Control's Travelers' Health page. Currently, any U.S. resident returning home from a trip to a Level IV country (China) or a Level III country (Iran, Italy, South Korea) will be expected to self-quarantine at home for a minimum of 14 days. 

For additional information about international travel specific to the BB&N community please refer to Dr. Price’s letter here.

Anyone planning to take a domestic trip during March Break (March 14-28) should refer closely to advisories offered by the Mass. DPH as well as the Department of Health in the state to which you are traveling.

For additional information about domestic travel specific to the BB&N community please refer to Dr. Price’s letter here.

Please refer to this CDC page for information on self-quarantine as a means to prevent further spread or potential spread.

BB&N is asking our parent community to please reach out to the nurse on your child’s campus if you or any member of your household is either currently self-quarantined, or enters self-quarantine in the days and weeks ahead. For any cases of self-quarantine or quarantine that may occur, we would work in partnership with you and your family, under Mass. DPH guidelines, to determine appropriate next steps and to ensure that the recommendations are being followed appropriately.

Household contacts who do not have symptoms and who have been isolated from the quarantined individual do not currently have restrictions, as per Mass. DPH. 

If someone in your household has been quarantined at home, all close contacts -- including household members, intimate partners, and caregivers -- should monitor their own health and call their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, shortness of breath). In addition, the CDC has provided a list of recommendations for how to best care for someone at home which can be found on the CDC website.

As with any medical information, confidentiality about BB&N staff, students, and families must be maintained at all times according to federal regulations. Information about reasons for absences, travel history and illness cannot be given out and must be protected.