Dear UVEI Community,
I have been getting questions about UVEI’s plans regarding the COVID-19 virus. We are monitoring the situation carefully, including Andrea (our Operations & Business Manager) participating in a NH Department of Health and Human Services conference call to ensure we are completely up to date.
In summary, all programs are proceeding as planned. There is no need for more dramatic actions such as building or program closures or meeting cancelations at this time, and there is no indication that such actions will be necessary in the future. I assure you we will continue to monitor the situation, are taking appropriate precautions, and that ultimately we will do what officials at the NH Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC advise us to do.
For now, the key is to know the symptoms and to follow these steps (from the NH Department of Health and Human Services):
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Do not touch 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 home from work or school if you have a fever or are not feeling well
Regarding the last bullet:For UVEI employees: All UVEI salaried staff and faculty have paid wellness leave and/or the ability to work remotely. All hourly/contract employees have flexibility in how their hours are allocated. We will work with individual staff/faculty to try to avoid any situation where someone experiences a conflict between staying home and meeting their work commitments.
For UVEI participants: All UVEI participants have some flexibility in terms of placement attendance and hours which should be sufficient to allow participants to stay home when necessary. UVEI faculty will work to accommodate any participant who feels they need to stay home by facilitating video participation in seminars. Participants who are concerned there is a conflict between staying home and meeting the requirements of the program should contact their supervising faculty coach to ensure health and safety are the priority. For the time being, no schools are anticipating closures. Should this change we will work with individual candidates to accommodate their situations.
We will continue to monitor information on the COVID-19 carefully. Here is the most recent information from the NH Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please contact me if you have questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Page
Page Tompkins
Executive Director
Upper Valley Educators Institute
