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Feb. 28, 2020,  3:36 pm

Cal Lutheran’s administration and health care professionals understand that recent news about COVID-19 may concern many in our community. Please know that we are closely watching developments as they evolve and will provide updates by email and post them here as the situation changes.

There are still no known cases in Ventura or Alameda counties. The risk to people in California remains low.  

Cal Lutheran’s Health Services, Residence Life, Student Affairs, Facilities, Campus Safety, President’s Office, Cabinet and Center for Global Engagement, which includes International Programs, have been working together to plan for and monitor the situation. 

Cases of COVID-19 have continued to increase both in China and outside of China with 60 countries reporting at least one case. Numbers have increased in the United States and, as of this morning, there are 62 reported cases.

There has been one case reported in each of the following counties: Los Angeles, Orange and Humboldt. Two cases have been reported in each of the following counties: Sacramento, Santa Clara and San Diego.  These do not include the cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, but they do include the one case of community-acquired COVID-19 in Sacramento County. The California Department of Public Health reports 33 positive cases in the state when the Diamond Princess numbers are included. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are quarantining potentially exposed travelers who do not have any symptoms at several military bases across the United States, including at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. Those quarantined are being kept in isolated barracks and watched by security for precautionary reasons only. Local travelers from overseas who have potentially been exposed abroad have been asked to stay in their own homes for quarantine.

Ten steps you can take to protect yourself and others:​

1. ​Clean your hands regularly with an alcohol-based hand rub, or wash them with soap and water. Touching your face after touching contaminated surfaces or sick people is one of the ways the virus can be transmitted. By cleaning your hands, you can reduce your risk.
2. Clean surfaces, for example kitchen benches and work desks, regularly with disinfectant.
3. Educate yourself about COVID-19. Make sure your information comes from reliable sources – your local or national public health agency, the World Health Organization website or your health professional. Know the symptoms: For most people, it starts with a fever and a dry cough, not a runny nose. Most people will have a mild form of the disease and get better without needing any special care.
4. Avoid traveling if you have a fever or cough. If you become sick while on a flight, inform the crew immediately. Once you get home, contact a health professional and tell them where you have been. 
5. If you cough or sneeze, do it into your sleeve or use a tissue. Dispose of the tissue immediately in a closed trash can, and then clean your hands.
6. If you are over 60 years old or if you have an underlying condition like cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing severe disease. You may wish to take extra precautions to avoid crowded areas or places where you might interact with people who are sick.  
7. If you feel unwell, stay at home and call your doctor or local health professional. They will ask about your symptoms, where you have been and who you have had contact with so they can give you the right advice, direct you to the right health facility and prevent you from infecting others.
8. If you are sick, stay at home, eat and sleep separately from your family and use different utensils and cutlery to eat.
9. If you develop shortness of breath, call your doctor and seek care immediately.
10. It’s normal and understandable to feel anxious, especially if you live in a country or community that has been affected. Find out what you can do in your community. Discuss how to stay safe with those at your workplace, school or place of worship.

If you get sick with a fever and cough or shortness of breath requiring hospitalization AND you have recently traveled to China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea or you have been close to an infected person, you may need to be tested. If this applies to you, please isolate yourself from others by staying in your room or at home.

• If you are a Cal Lutheran student, please call Health Services at 805-493-3225 or your own local doctor, a local urgent care or hospital and tell them your symptoms and your travel and/or exposure history. 
• If you are a PLTS student or employee or a Cal Lutheran employee, please call your own local doctor, a local urgent care or hospital and tell them your symptoms and your travel and/or exposure history. 
• If your symptoms are severe, call 911 and tell the operator the information.

For more information about this virus, please see the CDC’s website for COVID-19 or the California Department of Public Health website.

To see how to properly cover coughs and why we recommend washing your hands, please view the following video: “Why Don’t We Do It In Our Sleeves?”

Please keep all those who have been affected in your thoughts and prayers. 

Kerri Lauchner, MS, PA-C

Director, Health Services

Feb. 25, 2020,  3:47 pm

Cases of COVID-19 have continued to increase both in China and outside of China. Currently, there is no community spread of this disease in the United States. 

The CDC is currently quarantining potentially exposed travelers who do not have any symptoms at several military bases across the United States, including at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. As of right now, those quarantined at Naval Base Ventura County are not showing any symptoms. They are being kept in isolated barracks and watched by security for precaution only.

There are still no known cases in Ventura County at this time. Please know that Health Services and the university are closely watching developments as this is an evolving situation.

Information you should know:

• The best way to prevent getting this virus, or other respiratory viruses, is by frequently washing your hands and to avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth.
• If you get sick with a fever and cough or shortness of breath and you have recently traveled to China or another country with ongoing transmission of the virus, or you have been close to an infected person, please isolate yourself from others by staying in your room or at home.  
  • Then, please call your own local doctor, a local urgent care or hospital, and let them know your symptoms and your travel and/or exposure history. 
  • If your symptoms are severe, call 911 and let the operator know that information.

• Do not assume that someone of Asian descent is more likely to have COVID-19. All persons in the U.S. — including those of Asian descent — who have not traveled to China or been in contact with someone with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case in the last 14 days are at low risk of becoming sick.

For more information about this virus, please see the CDC’s website for COVID-19 or the California Department of Public Health website.

To see how to properly cover coughs and why we recommend washing your hands, please view the following video: “Why Don’t We Do It In Our Sleeves?”

Please keep all those who have been affected in your thoughts and prayers.

Kerri Lauchner, MS, PA-C

Director, Health Services

25 de febrero del 2020, 3:47 p.m. 

Los casos de COVID-19 han aumentando tanto en y fuera de China. En este momento no hay propagación comunitaria de esta enfermedad en los Estados Unidos.

Actualmente el CDC esta poniendo en cuarentena a los viajeros posiblemente expuestos, pero que no tienen ningún síntoma, en varias bases militares en los Estados Unidos, incluida la base naval del condado de Ventura, Point Mugu. A partir de ahora, los que están en cuarentena en la base naval del condado de Ventura no muestran ningún síntoma. Están siendo mantenidos en barracas aisladas y vigilados por la seguridad por precaución.

En este momento todavía no se conocen casos en el condado de Ventura. Tenga en cuenta que el Consultorio de Salud y la universidad están observando los acontecimientos, ya que esta situación está evolucionando.

Información que debe saber:

• La mejor manera de evitar contraer este virus u otros virus respiratorios es lavarse las manos frecuentemente y evitar tocándose la cara, especialmente los ojos, la nariz y boca.
• Si se enferma con fiebre y tos (o falta de aire) y ha viajado recientemente a China u otro país con transmisión continua del virus, o ha estado cerca de una persona infectada, por favor aléjese de los demás y quédese en su habitación o casa.
  • Luego llame a su médico, un centro de atención de urgencia u hospital local y déjeles saber sus síntomas y su historial de viaje o exposición.
  • Si sus síntomas son severos, llame al 911 y dígale al operador esa información.
• No asuma que alguien de ascendencia asiática tenga más probabilidades de tener COVID-19. Todas las personas en los EE. UU., incluidas las de ascendencia asiática, que no han viajado a China o han estado en contacto con alguien con un caso COVID-19 confirmado o sospechoso en los últimos 14 días, tienen un bajo riesgo de enfermarse. 

Para obtener más información sobre este virus, visite el sitio web del CDC para COVID-19 o el sitio web del Departamento de Salud Pública de California.

Para saber cómo cubrir la tos adecuadamente y por qué recomendamos lavarse las manos, vea el siguiente video: "¿Por qué no estornudamos en nuestras mangas?"

Por favor mantenga a todos los que han sido afectados en sus pensamientos y oraciones.

Kerri Lauchner, MS, PA-C

Directora del Consultorio de Salud

Feb. 6, 2020,  5:00 pm

As of this afternoon, there are only 12 confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus infection in the United States and no deaths. 

Keep these statistics in mind as you may want to compare them to the current seasonal flu in the U.S. As of Jan. 31, the CDC estimates that so far this flu season there have been at least 19 million flu illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths from flu in the United States.

Please know that Health Services and the university are closely watching developments. There are still no known cases in Ventura County at this time. We will update you should the situation change.

Directives from the CDC:

• Do not use face masks. The CDC does not recommend the use of face masks for the general public to prevent the spread of 2019-nCoV.
• Do not show prejudice to people of Asian descent because of fear of this new virus. Do not assume that someone of Asian descent is more likely to have 2019-nCoV. All persons in the U.S. — including those of Asian descent — who have not traveled to China or been in contact with someone with a confirmed or suspected nCoV case in the last 14 days are at low risk of becoming sick.

Information you should know:

• The CDC still feels, at this time, that the threat from this virus to the general American public is low.
• The virus is contagious through close contact with an infected person through respiratory secretions, such as from coughing or sneezing.
• The best way to prevent getting the virus is by frequently washing your hands and to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Also, avoid all non-essential travel to China.
• If you get sick with a fever and cough or shortness of breath and you have traveled to China or you have been close to an infected person, please isolate yourself from others by staying in your room or at home.  
  • Then, please call your own local doctor or a local urgent care or hospital and call your local public health department. (For Ventura County Public Health, call 805-981-5101. For other counties, check here.) Let them know your symptoms and your travel and/or exposure history. 
  • If your symptoms are severe, call 911 and let the operator know that information.

For more information about this virus, please see the CDC’s website for 2019 Novel Coronavirus or the California Department of Public Health website.

To see how to properly cover coughs and why we recommend washing your hands, please view the following video: “Why Don’t We Do It In Our Sleeves?”

Please keep all those who have been affected in your thoughts and prayers, especially those living in or who have family and friends living in China, as this infection has greatly affected that nation. 

Kerri Lauchner, MS, PA-C

Director, Health Services

Jan. 30, 2020,  1:32 pm

As of midday today, there are only six confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus infection in the United States. The newest confirmed infection is in Chicago and is someone who currently resides with a known patient with the virus. Also, the World Health Organization has now declared this outbreak as a global public health emergency.

Please know that Health Services and the university are closely watching developments. There are still no known cases in Alameda County or Ventura County at this time. We will update you should the situation change.

Information you should know:

• The CDC still thinks, at this time, that the threat from this virus to the general American public is low.
• The virus is contagious through close contact with an infected person through respiratory secretions, such as from coughing or sneezing.
• The best way to prevent getting the virus is by frequently washing your hands and to avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid all non-essential travel to China.
• If you get sick with a fever and cough or shortness of breath and you have traveled to China, or you have been close to an infected person, please isolate yourself from others by staying in your room or at home.  
  • Then, please call your own local doctor or a local Urgent Care or hospital, and call your local public health department. (For Ventura County Public Health, call 805-981-5101. For other counties: check here.) Let them know your symptoms and your travel and/or exposure history. 
  • If your symptoms are severe, call 911 and let the operator know that information.

For more information about this virus, please see the CDC’s website for 2019 Novel Coronavirus or the California Department of Public Health website.

To see how to properly cover coughs and why we recommend washing your hands, please view the following video: “Why Don’t We Do It In Our Sleeves?”

FYI: The Coronavirus is not named after any drink. When viewed under an electron microscope, the virus looks somewhat like a crown. In Latin, crown is corona.

Please keep all those who have been affected in your thoughts and prayers, especially those living in or who have family and friends living in China, as this infection has greatly affected that nation.

Kerri Lauchner, MS, PA-C

Director, Health Services

Jan. 27, 2020,  4:56 pm

Health Services and the university are closely watching developments related to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.  There are no known cases in Alameda County or Ventura County at this time. We will update you should the situation change.

Information you should know:

• The CDC thinks, at this time, that the threat from this virus to the general American public is low.
• The virus is contagious through close contact with an infected person through respiratory secretions, such as from coughing or sneezing.
• The best way to prevent getting the virus is by frequently washing your hands and to avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth.
• If you have traveled to China or you have been close to an infected person and then you get sick with a fever and cough or shortness of breath, please call a local Urgent Care or hospital and let them know your symptoms and your travel and/or exposure history. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 and let the operator know that information.

For more information about this virus, please see the CDC’s website for 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

Kerri Lauchner, MS, PA-C

Director, Health Services