At this time, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus in Lexington or the state of Kentucky. Members of the campus working group assembled to respond to this unfolding situation are in regular communication to respond as quickly as possible to any new concerns.
To date, Transylvania has not canceled any study abroad or May term travel, but the situation is being monitored and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If there are any changes to university travel, we will share that information.
With spring break beginning next week, we understand the anxiety students may feel at the prospect of traveling domestically and abroad. All travelers should check advisories issued by the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control for additional information.
Transylvania community members and others who travel to areas at risk, or are in areas that become at risk during their travel, should consider that:
- Quarantines may be enforced by local health authorities, and you may not be able to leave the area.
- While there are currently not mandatory quarantines in Lexington, as the situation continues you may be placed in mandatory quarantines upon return to the United States by local health authorities.
- If your travel location develops into a risk area, you may not be authorized to return to the United States.
- You could be advised to self-quarantine either in the United States or in another country should you travel in an area that is considered or becomes considered at risk. Students are unable to be quarantined on campus and would need to return to their permanent residences for the duration of a quarantine.
If you are traveling, maintaining vigilance and good hygiene is critical. The CDC recommends the following:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60‐95% alcohol. It is extremely important to clean hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
- Additionally, it is especially important to wash your hands:
- After handling cash
- More frequently when someone in your house is sick
- Before and after using public computers
- Avoid contact with people who are ill.
- Avoid sharing personal care items (cups, utensils, bedding, towels, etc.).
Transylvania is working closely with community leaders and stakeholders to coordinate efforts citywide as Lexington develops its plans to prepare for and respond to COVID-19. Our working group of university administrators is meeting regularly to discuss our campus protocols and action plans for responding to any possible health situation.
Should we suspect any possible risk to our campus or have additional updates, we will communicate with our campus community via email and publicly at transy.edu/health-alert. For more information on the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html. Information is also available from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.