Many of you have heard that the pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19) has prompted many institutions to avoid unmonitored and uncontrolled public gatherings. University of Missouri and the State Capitol Building are a few of these examples. While many institutions of higher learning have chosen to cancel all in-person classes and are implementing plans for online and remote instruction as an extreme precaution due to staff, students, and instructors potentially being exposed to COVID-19. In spite of several local Missouri students and faculty attending a conference with known exposure to coronavirus, none have been diagnosed as having COVID-19, and all are self-quarantined. As of this moment, there are 2 known cases of COVID-19 in Missouri.
Of course, the cancellation of in-person instruction by the University of Missouri causes KCA to be on a high alert. This means we at KCA will stay attuned to other community news and directives from the County Health Department, Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO), which will guide us in making decisions regarding the continuation of in-person classes. We plan to remain in-session until other news or directives require otherwise.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has activated a statewide public hotline, 877-435-8411, for citizens or providers needing guidance regarding COVID-19. To summarize current recommendations, individuals are to always exercise vigilant hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces. In the event that someone does not feel that he/she is at a usual state of health, self-quarantining is encouraged. If you continue to feel sick or think you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, please call ahead before visiting your health care provider. This will help the health care provider’s office take steps to keep other people from being exposed.
Our staff and student body at KCA will continue to follow local, state, and federal guidelines regarding this pandemic. Furthermore, we will continue to operate with an abundance of caution and concern for our staff and precious students. Most of all, we will not operate out of a sense of fear or panic, but rather with sound minds and stout hearts. KCA classes will continue to be in session unless dictated otherwise by state, community, or public health guidelines.
CDC website on coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
WHO website on coronavirus: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Joseph Fugaro, MD, FCCP
Critical Care Attending Physician
Saint Francis Medical Center
Cape Girardeau, MO