KINGS POINT, N.Y. (March 6, 2020) – The USMMA Coronavirus Response Team meets regularly to discuss issues concerning the challenging and rapidly-evolving health environment surrounding COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus.

As stated previously, safety, health, and peace of mind are our primary concern during this challenging time, and we want you to be aware of the precautions we are taking, and the processes we are considering or developing to help deal with any potential outbreak. In today’s announcement, we want to share some procedures for faculty, staff, and midshipmen that may have an impact during Spring Break and possibly upon return to the Academy.

The Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 is now affecting numerous citizens in numerous countries globally, to include the United States. Travel outside the United States has a higher risk of potential infection for the traveler as opposed to travel within the United States where there remains a lower risk of exposure.

As you depart for Spring Break, please check your travel arrangements as there have been many restrictions placed on international travel. Be aware of any potential changes (nationally, or at your Spring Break/travel destinations) that may delay or in some cases cancel previously made travel arrangements.

In the interest of your health and well-being, and out of an abundance of caution, USMMA not only wishes you safe travels and a great Spring Break, but also to remind you of the following:

• Take some extra time for personal hygiene now and into the foreseeable future. Wash your hands often, for 20 seconds or more, with soap and water before eating or touching your eyes, nose, mouth.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing and use a barrier, such as a paper towel or tissue, to touch common surfaces. Also, regularly clean frequently touched surfaces
• Use a tissue to cough or sneeze into and discard the tissue into a trash receptacle as soon as you can. If you do not have a tissue available, “cover” your cough/sneeze by coughing or sneezing into your flexed elbow
• If soap and water are not available, don’t skip the hand washing…look for, or carry hand sanitizers with you for these occasions. Avoid shaking hands (bump elbows instead)
• Stay away from people that are sick, and when in crowds, maintain a six-foot “social distance,” if able

Our goal is to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all faculty, staff and Midshipmen at KP. To do so most effectively we have developed the following procedures:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SPRING BREAK TRAVELERS:

If you find yourself with any of the following symptoms during your Spring Break - cough, fever, difficulty breathing - RETURN TO YOUR HOME OF RECORD AND DO NOT RETURN TO KP! Once you arrive home, contact your local healthcare provider, tell them about your symptoms and get a medical evaluation. Once seen by a local healthcare practitioner,  immediately contact the Office of Health Services at USMMA either by email, medical@USMMA.edu, or by calling 516-726-5680 and choosing the option for the “Medical Department” at the prompt. We will provide you additional guidance on that call.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MIDSHIPMEN TRAVELING WITH ATHLETIC TEAMS DURING SPRING BREAK:

Coaches and trainers will monitor the general health of all student-athletes on Academy-sponsored travel. Should any member of the traveling party become ill with any of the following symptoms during the trip - cough, fever, difficulty breathing – they will immediately seek medical attention. If self-isolation is prescribed, the student-athlete will be returned to their home of record for the duration of the isolation period. They will NOT RETURN TO KP until properly cleared by medical authority. In addition, once home, they should immediately contact the Office of Health Services at USMMA either by email, medical@USMMA.edu, or by calling 516-726-5680 and choosing the option for the “Medical Department” at the prompt. We will provide you additional guidance on that call.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FACULTY AND STAFF:

Members of the faculty and staff who find themselves feeling ill should not come to KP. Please stay home, use sick leave, and if symptoms of fever, coughing and/or difficulty breathing appear, check with your own personal medical professional. Again, DO NOT COME TO WORK. Medical personnel will be able to provide you guidance. If requested to self-isolate, DO NOT COME TO KP. Affected faculty and staff should contact their supervisors, who will give them additional guidance remotely. Please help us prevent the spread of any illnesses (flu, Corona, or others) by staying home if you are not feeling well.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MIDSHIPMEN RETURNING FROM SEA:

Cadets at sea, and midshipmen heading out to sea have received the following guidance, along with the current MSC brochure containing information on Coronavirus preventive considerations:

You may be screened for Coronavirus. If told to self-isolate, DO NOT RETURN TO KP, RETURN TO YOUR HOME OF RECORD, keep all documentation instructing you to self-isolate and immediately contact your ATR for instructions. If not screened, but you have either a cough, fever, difficulty breathing or any of these three symptoms, DO NOT RETURN TO KP! Return to your home of record, contact a local healthcare provider and report your symptoms to them. In addition, immediately contact your ATR, and the Office of Health Services at USMMA either by email, medical@USMMA.edu, or by calling 516-726-5680 and choosing the option for the “Medical Department” at the prompt.

Should any member of the Academy faculty, staff or midshipmen find themselves evaluated by a healthcare professional, who subsequently directs quarantine for COVID-19, expect to be placed into the quarantine system directly from the medical facility. DO NOT TRY TO RETURN TO KP!

Academy faculty and staff should immediately contact their supervisors and inform them, of their situation.

Midshipmen should immediately contact either their designated chain of command (COs, ATRs, coaches, or the Command Duty Officer), as appropriate, AND the Office of Health Services at USMMA either by email, medical@USMMA.edu, or by calling 516-726-5680 and choosing the option for the “Medical Department” at the prompt. We will provide you additional guidance on that call.

If you encounter a circumstance not covered by these procedures that is NOT an emergency situation, contact the Office of Health Services at USMMA either by email, medical@USMMA.edu, or by calling 516-726-5680 for additional guidance. If your concern is an emergency, do not contact USMMA Office of Health Services, instead dial 9-1-1.

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ABOUT USMMA

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point, N.Y, educates and graduates leaders of exemplary character who are inspired to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Academy, which was established under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1943. It is administered by the Maritime Administration under the auspices of the Department of Transportation.

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