Covid-19

Daily Update on Campus Safety and Covid-19

THIS POST IS A REPUBLISHED VERSION OF AN EMAIL COMMUNICATION SENT BY AUP PRESIDENT CELESTE M. SCHENCK ON MARCH 6, 2020, ABOUT COVID-19 AND AUP'S RESPONSE. IT IS PART OF OUR SAFETY & SECURITY BLOG THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

It is increasingly likely that the French government will soon move into Stage 3 of its Covid-19 epidemic response plan. The aim of this email is to clarify what this would mean for our community in advance of such an announcement, and to explain the measures that AUP has put in place to prepare for this eventuality. I know that we as a community will be able to weather these challenges, keep our sang froid, follow governmental directives, use our good sense, and work together while ever looking outwards in the same direction.

Please read this email carefully, and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions should you have them.

 

What Is Stage 3?

First, it’s important for all to understand the difference between the French government’s epidemic response stages and the American CDC levels. In France:

  • Stage 1 involves preventing a virus’s spread to France.
  • Stage 2 involves preventing a virus’s spread within France. Covid-19 is currently at this level.
  • Stage 3 refers to a virus having established itself on French soil, indicating that the virus is circulating among the population.
  • Stage 4 indicates the epidemic is over and the situation has returned to normal.

The CDC of the United States give travelers an indication of regions around the world in which additional travel precautions are necessary due to outbreaks of infectious diseases or inadequate health care infrastructure. The CDC levels are as follows:

  • Level 1 advises practicing “usual precautions.”
  • Level 2 advises practicing “enhanced precautions,” such as avoiding contact with sick people.
  • Level 3 advises avoiding all nonessential travel to that country.

France is currently listed as Level 1 on the CDC scale, meaning it is not viewed as an at-risk area and usual travel advice for the country applies.

 

What Does Stage 3 Mean in Practice?

On February 28, the government moved from Stage 1 of its epidemic response plan to Stage 2. The French government has released plans for the next round of policies should the decision be made to move into Stage 3. As previously stated, Stage 3 refers to an epidemic having established itself on French soil, indicating that the virus is circulating among the population. It is important to note that Stage 3 is used every winter, as it has been this year, to denote seasonal flu viruses and “gastro” stomach bugs.

The government has not indicated that systematic school closures will be necessary, even if the Covid-19 response strategy moves into Stage 3. In the unlikely event that AUP students are told not to come to campus, we will execute our contingency plans and put in place temporary distance-learning protocols for all classes, so that teaching and learning, test taking and paper writing – even final exams – can take place for the required length of the closure.

Should temporary distance learning become necessary for AUP students, we may need a few days to get every course up to speed. I ask you to please be patient in the case of potential delays; should remote learning become necessary for a short time, we will see that every course runs through to its proper conclusion.

We strongly discourage leaving Paris and returning home if Stage 3 is declared and AUP is required to close temporarily its campus facility. The University will continue to function with all of us at the helm, and classes will continue remotely. Remote classes will take place at the scheduled hours, and being in a different time zone may adversely affect a student's studies. Students will be expected to attend all scheduled classes remotely in order to meet their academic requirements.

In addition, university staff in Student Development, Academic Affairs, the library and other administrative areas will continue to support students in their studies and their daily lives, providing access to many services that may not be available if they leave France. The University has implemented all the necessary procedures to enable remote classes to be held for the duration of any temporary campus closure. When on-site classes later resume, students will be expected to attend classes on campus and carry out assignments as normal.

 

How You Can Help

Finally, we enlist the support of all community members to let us know about the appearance of symptoms, so that we can monitor the situation and provide support appropriately. Students – in self-quarantine or not – should let the Health Office know immediately if they have a fever above 37.7 °C (99.86 °F), or any of the other symptoms of Covid-19, by emailing healthataup.edu. Students with symptoms should also immediately contact International SOS (01 55 63 36 35).

Parents: you should also notify us of developments in your children’s health situation, as you are in frequent touch with them. Please send updates via email to Dana Callaghan, Parent Relations Manager, at parentsataup.edu.

We are in regular contact with students in self-quarantine. We will work with you, our students and families, to make sure everyone gets the care they need.