Dear Harvard College Students, 

Although there have been no confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Harvard community, we have been closely monitoring the situation in the United States and around the world. The College’s emergency response team is working closely with Health Services, Global Support Services, and other University offices in order to be prepared. Please know that nothing is more important to me than the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.

With that in mind, I want to encourage you to take care of yourselves and to take these basic steps to help protect yourself from viral illness. Taking good care of yourself is important not just for you, but for the entire community. If you are not feeling well or if you develop flu-like symptoms, please visit HUHS or call them at 617-495-5711 for advice about how to best care for yourself. I also encourage everyone to be as flexible as possible and understanding when a member of our community needs to take time away.

We will continue to provide updates about the University’s response to COVID-19 as they become available. Please make sure to read this recent message from University Provost Dr. Alan Garber and Executive Director of Harvard University Health Services Dr. Giang Nguyen. We also know that many of you are making plans for spring and summer travel, and you may be concerned about how COVID-19 developments affect your plans. Harvard College will follow directives from University offices to determine the health risks of travel to various regions. COVID-19 related travel advice for Harvard affiliates is available from Global Support Services.

I also want to take this opportunity to remind you of our core values of respect, tolerance, and understanding for each other. There have been troubling reports from across the globe of individuals from countries thought to be impacted by COVID-19 being stigmatized. That is not who we are at Harvard, and I ask you to join me in ensuring that everyone in our community is treated with respect and dignity. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a series of anti-stigma guidelines related to COVID-19 which I hope you will review.

At a time like this, we must come together and support each other. Thank you for doing what you can to help us create a community that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone.

Warmly,

Rakesh Khurana
Danoff Dean of Harvard College