Monitoring Coronavirus

East Carolina University continues to monitor the spread of respiratory illness caused by COVID-19 or coronavirus.

There are no confirmed cases on the ECU campus or in North Carolina, and no member of the ECU community abroad has contracted the virus.

With spring break approaching, students will be traveling domestically and internationally. Students should use their best judgment about travel plans. If you plan to travel out of the country for spring break, you can monitor the situation in your destination through the U.S. Department of State or the Centers for Disease Control travel notices websites.

As of now, there are two countries that the U.S. Department of State and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consider high risk due to coronavirus – China and South Korea. ECU is not sending students or programs to these countries at this time.

There are also heightened risks in Italy and Japan. The situation in these countries is being monitored closely by ECU administrators. Decisions on these programs in and to these countries are pending and will be informed by ECU policy REG 02.30.01, according to the Office of Global Affairs.

Currently no other countries are considered heightened risk, according to the CDC.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to follow the same precautions as you do to prevent influenza and colds. Wash your hands, sneeze and cough into your sleeve (not hand), and avoid sharing food, cups or utensils. Avoid people who are sick. Get a flu shot if you haven’t already.

Student Health has information about coronavirus on its website and the university has this webpage with more information and where future campus updates will be posted.

Although we realize this is a time when you might feel anxious because information is constantly changing, we encourage you to remember to take care of each other and not make assumptions about fellow classmates’ or coworkers’ perceived symptoms or characteristics of identity. Demonstrating compassion and respect for each other is critical to our community.

If you are traveling for spring break, please stay safe.

-Interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson