H1N1 Letter to Staff
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Dear SCU Staff, With the start of the academic year, and in connection with other communications that you may have received, I take this opportunity to provide you with the most recent information we have regarding the H1N1 (“swine”) flu and the impact it may have on the University. Staff members at the Cowell Health Center are closely tracking information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Santa Clara Public Health Department. Members of the Cowell Health Center recently met with representatives of the Santa Clara Public Health Department and will continue to be in communication with the Department so that they can provide the campus community with the most up-to-date information available. They will continue to do so as the situation evolves. SCU strongly urges any staff with influenza symptoms to follow the CDC’s self isolation guidelines and not attend work. Self isolation should continue until at least twenty-four (24) hours after the fever has passed without the aid of fever reducing medications. Accordingly, please check for any signs of illness before reporting to work each day. If you experience flu like symptoms stay at home.
Consistent with the CDC and Cowell Health Center recommendations, SCU strongly urges any staff with influenza symptoms to follow the CDC’s self isolation guidelines and not attend work. Self isolation should continue until at least twenty-four (24) hours after the fever has passed without the aid of fever reducing medications. Accordingly, please check for any signs of illness before reporting to work each day. If you experience flu like symptoms stay at home. Obviously, if the H1N1 strain occurring this fall is more virulent than the strain currently causing the illness, these recommendations may be modified and could become more stringent. We also recognize that you may need to stay home to care for a child or family member with the H1N1 flu. Use of sick time in these instances is appropriate. In an effort to ensure that staff are able to care for themselves and/or a family member infected with the H1N1 flu or experiencing a school closure due to the H1N1 virus, staff who have exhausted their sick leave may borrow from their sick bank up to five (5) additional sick days [allowing your sick leave balance to go into the negative] during this academic year for use specifically for H1N1 flu related absences.
In an effort to ensure that staff are able to care for themselves and/or a family member infected with the H1N1 flu or experiencing a school closure due to the H1N1 virus, staff who have exhausted their sick leave may borrow from their sick bank up to five (5) additional sick days [allowing your sick leave balance to go into the negative] during this academic year for use specifically for H1N1 flu related absences. In order to utilize these days, we ask that you complete the form located on the Department of Human Resources website at http://www.scu.edu/humanresources/pdf/h1n1_absence.pdf We will continue to post information about the H1N1 virus on the Department of Human Resources’ website as it becomes available to us. Information, updates and frequently asked questions about H1N1 and SCU’s response can be found on the Department of Human Resources website at www.scu.edu/hr/h1n1/. Lastly, it is important that you update your emergency contact information through ConnectEd so that you can be contacted in the event of an emergency.
Lastly, it is important that you update your emergency contact information through ConnectEd so that you can be contacted in the event of an emergency. Please log onto ECampus at www.scu.edu/ecampus to update your information. The start of a new academic year is an exciting time for us all. It is also a time that we can further educate ourselves on preparation and precautionary measures that can be taken regarding the H1N1 virus. The most positive outcome will result if we work in together with one another to mitigate the illness’ harmful effects. If our office can be of assistance in any way, please contact us at 554 – 4392 or 551 – 1860. Sincerely,
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