Voting center on campus

At least 43 cases of COVID-19 (Corona Virus) in the United States have been confirmed as of March 2. Several of those infected are in California, prompting a response from the Los Angeles Community College District.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 is a strand of the Coronavirus and a respiratory disease. The key symptoms are fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. After exposure, symptoms can occur after two days and can take as long as two weeks of exposure. There is no treatment or vaccine available for COVID-19

LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez released a statement on March 2 reassuring the district that they are aware of the virus and are taking preventative measures. He said the cases in California are expected to rise but no campus closures have been ordered.

There have been no confirmed or suspected cases of the virus on the Pierce College campus. Distant Education Coordinator Wendy Bass hasn’t been contacted about contingency plans to transition classes online. She said the switch wouldn’t be as easy as expected.

“Basically, any course that becomes a hybrid or goes online has to have the [Distant Education Addendum] because it talks about how they're going to meet their objectives online,” Bass said.

Nurse Practitioner Kira Shteyman said the district pandemic policy has not been enacted, but there is a plan in place if a student or faculty is suspected of having the virus. She said students or faculty should call the health center if they suspect they are sick or have come into contact with the virus.

In the statement released by Rodriguez, he said there has been no recommendation for healthy people to wear masks.

“The use of masks is a personal choice and generally reserved for people who are sick and for healthcare workers treating the ill,” Rodriguez said.

Shteyman said those who are more at risk are those who are immunocompromised, older or have a history of respiratory disease. Pierce College President Alexis Montevirgen said LACCD presidents are discussing the best ways to be prepared.

“Just yesterday I was on a teleconference call with all of the [LACCD] presidents along with the chancellor just to strategize and make sure that, at a district level we have a uniform response, and that we’re preparing and making sure that we’re supplied with all the different necessities that we need, for example, alcohol-based hand sanitizers.”

Rodriguez ended his statement by encouraging the readers to stay informed and to not blame anyone for the virus.

“It is important for everyone to stay informed with official information and not to overreact. Stigmatizing or blaming anyone, or any race, because of this situation is disrespectful and simply untrue, and will not be tolerated,” said Rodriguez.

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