Announcements
Important Changes in COVID-19 Testing for Yale Health Members
April 27, 2023
Important Changes in COVID-19 Testing for Yale Health Members
We hope this email finds you well and able to take advantage of the warmer weather and extended daylight hours.
As you may know, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) in January 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been renewed every 90 days since. Now that COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, and measures to reduce the risk of spread are well-established and readily available, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a plan to allow the PHE to expire on May 11, 2023.
Throughout the pandemic, Yale Health has been deeply committed to meeting our members’ needs for testing, vaccination, and timely treatment. That commitment remains firm, even as we make some changes to COVID-19 testing.
How does the PHE ending affect you and Yale Health?
First and foremost, ending the PHE does not mean that COVID-19 has gone away or that the measures to reduce risk are no longer needed. Rather, it signals that the federal government will discontinue some of the structures and funding that support those measures.
COVID-19 testing: After May 11, the federal government will no longer supply or require health plans to reimburse for over-the-counter rapid antigen tests or PCR tests.
Rapid Antigen / At Home Kits
· Yale Health continues to recommend at-home testing with rapid antigen test kits as a first choice when experiencing symptoms or in other recommended situations.
· Rapid antigen kits will be available for purchase at Yale Health’s pharmacy at a greatly reduced price, $5.00 per test kit (about half of retail cost), after May 11. Prices may be subject to change in the future.
· Yale Health will not reimburse the costs of rapid antigen tests purchased after May 11.
· If you are currently enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can use it to pay for rapid antigen test kits. If you are not, the next opportunity to enroll would be during Yale’s Annual Benefits Enrollment period in December 2023.
· Through May 11, Yale Health will continue to provide free kits to members and reimburse the costs of tests purchased outside of Yale Health.
PCR (Laboratory) testing
· PCR testing through the university’s Color testing program will continue to be available to all Yale faculty, staff, and students until June; details about the specific timing will be forthcoming.
· Beginning May 12, PCR testing will be available for all Yale Health members with an order from your healthcare provider. If your Yale Health clinician recommends a PCR test, it will be ordered through Quest.
· PCR testing for Yale Health dependents and retirees will no longer be available through Yale New Haven Health’s self-scheduling portal (which will close as of May 11).
· PCR testing by out-of-network providers will not be reimbursed by Yale Health.
· The cost of PCR testing for administrative purposes (travel, work, daycare, etc.) will not be covered by Yale Health.
COVID-19 Vaccination
· COVID-19 vaccines will remain available at no charge to Yale Health members. Appointments can be scheduled through the Yale COVID-19 program or by calling the Campus COVID Resource Line at 203-432-6604.
· Yale Health will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Details about the updated recommendations may be found on the CDC website.
The entire Yale Health team has been pleased to see the consistent decline of the overall spread and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for many months now. In addition to keeping your vaccination status up-to-date, we urge you to continue to practice other preventive measures for your own health and that of your loved ones.
Yours in Health,
Madeline Wilson, MD, FACP
Chief Campus Health Officer
Chief Quality Officer
Yale Health Center Acute Care Hours Update
December 8, 2022
Dear Yale Health Members,
One of the residual impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a national crisis in healthcare staffing. Many healthcare workers have left direct patient care or reduced the hours they work. Yale Health has experienced staffing challenges consistent with the national trends. Clinicians from our primary care team have covered overnight hours in Acute Care in an attempt to maintain our current hours and services. Reallocating these clinicians to fill in for vacant shifts in Acute Care has impacted primary care access for our members, while increasing burnout for our healthcare workers.
Yale Health leadership, in collaboration with our University partners, has evaluated many different scenarios and options, and concluded that eliminating overnight, in-person visits at Acute Care is the best initial option at this time to address these challenging issues. Limiting overnight hours will impact the fewest patients and services. The revised schedule addresses, in a practical way, the challenges of capacity and staffing and focuses resources on our primary care mission: to provide the best care to our members.
Effective Thursday, December 22, 2022, in-person Acute Care hours will change to 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days per week. Note that RN telephone support will continue to be available 24/7 to provide triage and clinical guidance.
Below is an outline of the revised procedure for members in need of Acute Care after hours:
- Any Yale Health member in need of acute care from the hours of 10:00 p.m. through 8:00 a.m. may continue to call Acute Care (203-432-0123) to speak with a nurse, who will provide triage and clinical guidance.
- An experienced RN will provide telephone triage in accordance with evidence-based protocols and advise you of the best way to obtain the care you need.
- Should you need to be seen between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., our first choice is always to use our preferred hospital network which is Yale-New Haven Hospital’s emergency departments:
- Main campus, 20 York Street, New Haven
- Saint Raphael Campus, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven
- YNHH Shoreline Medical Center, 111 Goose Lane, Guilford
However, in an emergency, when a patient’s life or safety is at risk, please call 911. In these cases, the responding EMS team may determine that an alternative location is necessary based on your care needs. Remember, emergency care is always covered.
Yale Health will monitor the impacts of this change on patient care and satisfaction as well as the healthcare worker staffing challenges as the pandemic recedes. We will provide you with timely updates. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please contact our Member Services team at (203) 432-0246 or member.services@yale.edu.
Your Yale Health Team
Visitor Policy and Steps to Make Gatherings Safer
February 8, 2022
Visitor Policy Update
In recognition of substantial improvement in numbers of hospitalizations and rates of COVID-19 infections in Connecticut and in our campus community compared to the beginning of the year, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, February 9th), when you come to the Yale Health Center you will be allowed one companion for office visits.
Reminder: Everyone who enters the Yale Health Center must wear a mask and be screened for COVID-19 symptoms or recent positive COVID-19 test.
Steps Everyone Can Take to Make Gatherings Safer
If you are attending a gathering, think about the steps you need to take to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19.
- Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. If you or your family needs to get vaccinated or “boosted”, schedule today.
- If you are not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and are ages 2 or older, you should wear a mask indoors in public.
- In general, people do not need to wear masks when outdoors. In areas of substantial or high transmission, people might choose to wear a mask outdoors when in sustained close contact with other people, particularly if they or someone they live with has a weakened immune system or is at increased risk for severe disease.
- Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who do not live in your household.
- Good ventilation can help prevent you from getting and spreading COVID-19.
- Stay home if you test positive or are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Yale Health COVID-19 Update January 18, 2022
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Important update on oral medications for outpatient treatment of COVID -19 infections
An Important Message from Dr. Paul Genecin about Current Policies and Updates to our Practice
October 5, 2021
Dear Yale Health patients,
Many of you are returning to on-campus work this week for the first time in many months. I am pleased that COVID-19 infection rates at Yale remain low. Our high level of vaccine acceptance and our community’s diligence in following university health and safety guidelines have contributed to our success in controlling the spread of infection.
At Yale Health we are continually reviewing the status of the pandemic and adjusting our precautionary policies to reflect the current public health situation. I write with reminders for you about the policies we have in place and also to update you on new changes in our practice.
Reminders
The Yale Health Center is a healthcare facility. For the health and safety of our patients and our staff and per the Connecticut Department of Public Health, we must require the following for all who enter the Yale Health Center:
- Everyone must wear a mask at all times. If you arrive without a mask or with a cloth one, we will give you a mask to wear in the building. We appreciate your understanding as our staff may ask you to put on or adjust your mask.
- Maintain physical distance. Waiting areas have overflow seating outside of the department.
- Patients may bring one companion for regular office visits.
Yale Health is fully operational and clinicians are seeing patients in-person.
- Appointments are required for all services except the Pharmacy and it is important to call first before coming in.
- Temperature checks are no longer required. You will be asked a series of screening questions when you arrive at Yale Health Center.
- Check-in has moved back to the departments. After you are screened by our lobby staff, you can go straight to the department where your appointment is scheduled.
- Let us know if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive in the last 10 days.
Get Vaccinated
Everyone 12 and older should get vaccinated against COVID-19.
- If you have not yet had the COVID-19 vaccine, it is not too late to accept this safe and effective vaccine.
- Patients with conditions that compromise their immune response may be eligible for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
- Those eligible for a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine should seek it when they are 6 months past their second dose.
Schedule your vaccine on our portal today.
Vaccination against influenza is also vital for the health of our campus. Schedule your flu vaccine with our Flu Shot Finder Tool.
Telehealth and Pharmacy Curbside Pickup
Telehealth visits and pharmacy curbside pickup options continue to be available to our patients. Several visit types can be performed successfully through telehealth. When scheduling an appointment you may request a telehealth visit. If your medical team thinks the visit should be face to face, they will let you know.
Pharmacy curbside pickup is arranged by calling Yale Health Pharmacy (203-432-0033) and speaking with a member of our staff; tell the technician you speak with that you want to use curbside pickup and they will work with you to set it up and take your copayment over the phone. When your medication is ready to be picked up, come to Yale Health Center, pull into the parking garage, and park in a designated space on the 2nd floor that says “pharmacy pre-paid curbside pickup”. Call the pharmacy to let them know you have arrived.
There is also an option available for those members who walk to Yale Health. There are designated spots for “pharmacy pre-paid sidewalk pickup” located to the left of the main entrance just outside the café.
Schedule Your Blood Work Online
Appointments are required for all departments, including Blood Draw. You can schedule your blood draw and other lab test appointments online with Quest:
- QuestDiagnostics.com/Appointment
- MyQuest™ mobile app (in the App Store and Google Play)
If you prefer to use your telephone, you can call 866-MYQUEST (866-697-8378). Remember, you can use any Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center in New England.
Chaperones for Sensitive Exams
Yale University (Yale Health and Yale Medicine) as well as the Yale-New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health System including Northeast Medical Group have announced a new policy of including a trained chaperone for all sensitive examinations, treatments, or procedures involving the breasts, rectum, and genitalia for patients of all genders.
The use of a chaperone for sensitive exams is in alignment with community practices, and is an American Medical Association and American College Of Obstetrics and Gynecology endorsed standard. This best practice has already been adopted in many centers across the country. In keeping with this new policy, your provider will always have a trained chaperone present during sensitive exams who may also assist with your procedure or exam. We will be unable to perform sensitive exams without one. Our providers and clinical support team will work with you to make these exams as comfortable as possible. Learn more about our chaperone policy. If you need more information about what will happen during your exam, please ask us.
With best wishes for a healthy return to campus,
Paul Genecin, M.D.
CEO, Yale Health
Important Message from Dr. Paul Genecin about Third COVID-19 Vaccine Doses for Immunocompromised Patients
August 19, 2021
Dear Yale Health patients,
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of an additional dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. This is as a result of medical studies suggesting a reduced antibody response after the usual two-dose vaccine primary series.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends an additional dose for patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised with the following conditions:
- Active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with immune-suppressing medications, including high-dose corticosteroids, chemotherapy, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, and other biologic agents that suppress or modulate the immune system
Key facts
- If you have one of the above conditions, you are eligible to receive an additional dose.
- Additional doses must be administered at least 28 days from the last dose of Pfizer (ages 12 and older) or Moderna (ages 18 and older).
- The same manufacturer (Pfizer or Moderna) for additional dose is preferred, but mixing is permissible.
- Patients who received Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not eligible for an additional dose. The CDC is studying this issue and updates will be provided as available.
- Self-scheduling for additional dose appointments is available through the Yale COVID-19 vaccine program.
You will be asked to identify and confirm that you have one or more of the qualifying conditions at the time of scheduling. If you have questions about whether you are immunocompromised, please speak to your treating clinician.
What about booster shots?
On August 18, 2021, Health and Human Services announced a plan to begin offering COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to the public this fall. The CDC’s independent advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), will continue to meet and discuss data on the evolution of the pandemic and the use of COVID-19 vaccines. ACIP will make further recommendations on the use of boosters for the public after a thorough review of the evidence. Yale Health will follow ACIP guidelines and is actively planning to offer booster shots upon approval. More information about this is expected in the near future.
Sincerely,
Paul Genecin, M.D.
CEO, Yale Health
Schedule your 12-15 year old child's COVID-19 vaccine today
May 11, 2021
A message from Dr. Gordon Streeter
Dear parents,
We are excited to inform you that the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is now authorized for emergency use in individuals 12 -15 years olds!
Appointments are currently available through the Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program at the Lanman Center as well as clinics and pharmacies throughout the state.
You can call the Campus COVID-19 Resource Line at 203-432-6604 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 7 days a week) to schedule your appointment or schedule through MyChart. We have sent an invitation to schedule an appointment at the Lanman Center through MyChart to the address used for your child’s MyChart account.
Schedule your child’s appointment today!
Kind regards,
Gordon Streeter, M.D.
Chief, Pediatrics
Special Message: Upcoming Dedicated Student Vaccination Clinics
Dose #1 | Dose #2 |
---|---|
Wednesday, April 21 | Wednesday, May 12 |
Friday, April 23 | Friday, May 14 |
Saturday, April 24 | Saturday, May 15 |
Wednesday, April 28 | Wednesday, May 19 |
Schedule your appointment today by following these steps:
- Sign into MyChart and go to “Appointments” if you are using the MyChart app, or “Visits” if you are using the MyChart website, and click “Schedule an Appointment.
- You will see an order for “COVID19 Vaccine Dose 1.” Click on “SCHEDULE NOW.
- You will be asked a series of questions. When answering the question “Please select your relationship to Yale University,” make sure to select “Student (Undergraduate or Graduate/Professional).”

- Once you have answered all of the questions, you will be able to select a date and time for your vaccination at the “YHC Vaccination Clinic”.
- If needed, you can return to the “Visits” or “Appointments” section to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
- More detailed instructions can be found here.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Administration Paused
April 13, 2021 Dear Yale community, We are writing to provide you with information about today’s joint statement by the Centers for Disease Control and Federal Drug Administration, which called for a pause in administration of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson or J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC and FDA took this action out of an abundance of caution because of the possible association of J&J vaccination with a rare blood clotting disorder. More specifically, the CDC and FDA cited six cases of central nervous system blood clots associated with a low platelet count that have been reported in women between the ages of 18 and 48 who had received the J&J vaccine. These patients were diagnosed between 6 and 13 days after vaccination. To date, 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the US, so the frequency of this clotting disorder has been less than one case per million individuals vaccinated. No such cases have been reported in Connecticut. The CDC and FDA are investigating these cases to determine whether there is a significant relationship between vaccination and the occurrence of this rare condition and whether vaccination with the J&J vaccine may resume. We will monitor for updates and keep you apprised. In the meantime, the key takeaway points are:
Be sure to mention that you received the J&J vaccine.
If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with your primary care provider. Other resources include:
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the safety of our community. Kind regards, Dr. Christine Chen |
COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Yale Health Members
March 30, 2021
A message from Dr. Paul Genecin
Dear Yale Health Members:
The State of Connecticut has announced that effective April 1, 2021, all adults 16 years of age and older will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine supply continues to be insufficient to meet the demand across our state. Although I anticipate that vaccine availability will increase considerably in coming weeks, making it accessible to everyone willing to be vaccinated, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with all the options for scheduling your free COVID-19 vaccination and urge you to get vaccinated wherever you can.
The Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program will send invitations for the Lanman vaccination clinic to eligible Yale employees, Yale Health members, and Yale students on April 1. Please know that receiving an invitation does not guarantee that you will be able to schedule an appointment immediately. It is very likely that you will get your vaccinations more quickly if you schedule at another site. I strongly encourage you to check for appointment availability not only through the Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program, but also through other vaccination sites.
Tips to Find a Vaccine Appointment
While you can’t book an appointment before April 1, plan your pathway now so you’re ready to schedule once you become eligible.
Check your calendar
- Some sites will list the vaccine they are providing. The most effective vaccine is the one that gets into your arm. Still, you may have a choice of vaccine. If so, pick the option that works best for your schedule.
- Johnson & Johnson = 1 dose
- Moderna = 2 doses, 28 days apart
- Pfizer = 2 doses, 21 days apart (16 and 17-year olds can only receive Pfizer)
- Plan to return to the same clinic for dose #2.
Create accounts
- MyChart is required for the Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program and direct scheduling through Yale New Haven Health.
- Register with the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS).
- Register with CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart pharmacies. While there is no cost for the vaccine, some sites will require you to provide insurance information. Have your insurance card readily available. You can download or print a version of your Yale Health insurance card which contains the required information.
- Create a MyChart Plus account (Hartford Healthcare).
Explore all scheduling options
- Along with the sites above, become familiar with CT’s zip-code-based portal where you can search for appointment openings, including at health systems and pharmacies.
- Starting April 1, check back often for available appointments.
High–Risk Conditions
The state of Connecticut has deemed five conditions high-risk, warranting prioritization. If you fall into one of these categories, you will be contacted by Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) to book a vaccination appointment:
- Solid organ transplant
- Sickle cell disease
- End-stage renal disease on dialysis
- Active cancer treatment
- Down syndrome
If you do not hear from YNHH, please get in touch with us at either the Campus COVID-19 Resource Line (203-432-6604) or your primary care provider. Please note that we cannot deviate from state mandates in this regard.
Call for assistance
Telephone assistance with scheduling is available 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm through:
- Yale’s Campus COVID-19 Resource Line (203-432-6604)
- The State’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line (877-918-2224)
At this point, millions of Americans have been vaccinated and we are receiving many encouraging scientific reports confirming the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.
If you have vaccine-related questions relating to your personal health, your primary care provider will welcome a MyChart message or telephone call to help you with the important decision to get vaccinated.
By being prepared, persistent, and patient, you’ll find your opportunity to schedule your vaccination!
Thanks and best regards,
Paul Genecin, MD
CEO, Yale Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Students
March 30, 2021
A message from Dr. Christine Chen
Dear Yale students,
I am excited to finally write you about COVID-19 vaccination. It’s been a long year and you have worked hard to reach this point, when we can all turn the corner together. As you know, the state of Connecticut will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to individuals 16 to 44 years old on April 1, 2021.
You will receive an email through MyChart to schedule your vaccination at the Lanman Center. As Dr. Stephanie Spangler has indicated in her weekly emails, Yale’s supply is extremely limited. Please know that receiving an invitation does not guarantee that you will be able to schedule an appointment immediately. It is very likely that you will get your vaccinations more quickly if you schedule at another site in Connecticut or your home state. I strongly encourage you to check for appointment availability not only through the Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program, but also through other vaccination sites near you.
Tips to Find a Vaccine Appointment
While you can’t book an appointment before April 1, plan your pathway now so you’re ready to schedule once you become eligible.
Check your calendar
- Some sites will list the vaccine they are providing. The most effective vaccine is the one that gets into your arm. Still, you may have a choice of vaccine. If so, pick the option that works best for your schedule.
- Johnson & Johnson = 1 dose
- Moderna = 2 doses, 28 days apart
- Pfizer = 2 doses, 21 days apart (16 and 17-year olds can only receive Pfizer)
- Plan to return to the same clinic for dose #2. If you receive your first dose of a two-dose vaccine in Connecticut, plan to be in Connecticut for your second dose too. Eligibility and supplies vary from state to state and you may not be able to find a second dose appointment in another state.
- If you are unable to secure a timely first dose appointment, Governor Lamont has indicated that you will have another chance in early May when Johnson & Johnson becomes available specifically for college and university students.
Create accounts
- MyChart is required for the Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program and direct scheduling through Yale New Haven Health.
- Register with the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS).
- Register with CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart pharmacies. Have your insurance card readily available. You can download or print a version of your Yale Health insurance card which contains the required information.
- Create a MyChart Plus account (Hartford Healthcare).
Explore all scheduling options
- Along with the sites above, become familiar with CT’s zip-code-based portal where you can search for appointment openings, including at health systems and pharmacies.
- Starting April 1, check back often for available appointments.
- Bring your Yale ID and health insurance card with you to your vaccine appointment.
High–risk Conditions
The state of Connecticut has deemed five conditions high-risk, warranting prioritization. If you fall into one of these categories, you will be contacted by Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) to book a vaccination appointment:
- Solid organ transplant
- Sickle cell disease
- End-stage renal disease on dialysis
- Active cancer treatment
- Down syndrome
If you do not hear from YNHH, please get in touch with us at either the Campus COVID-19 Resource Line (203-432-6604) or Student Health (203-432-0312). Please note that we cannot deviate from state mandates in this regard.
Call for assistance
Telephone assistance with scheduling is available 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm through:
- Yale’s Campus COVID-19 Resource Line (203-432-6604)
- The State’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line (877-918-2224)
By being prepared, persistent, and patient, you’ll find your opportunity to schedule your vaccination!
Warm regards,
Christine Chen, M.D.
Chief, Student Health
Student Health Welcomes You Back to Yale, July 16, 2020
We are looking forward to the 2020 Fall academic semester and providing your health care at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street. We extend a warm greeting to all Yale students and a special welcome to first years.
We have implemented a number of changes to ensure the safety of our patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some important points to help you plan for any health-related needs that might arise:
Student Health
We are available to help you with ALL medical issues, and look forward to hearing from you. Student Health has made the following changes to minimize the risk of accidental spread of coronavirus in the healthcare setting:
- We will see you by appointment only (no walk-ins):
- call ahead (or send a MyChart message) to schedule any type of visit, or
- book a telemedicine visit directly through MyChart.
- Telephone and video, as well as in-person visits are now available. We will help you decide which works best when you call or message us.
- If you are away from New Haven, you can communicate with your provider through MyChart, and obtain medical care via telemedicine with the MyChart app.
Mental Health & Counseling
All regularly scheduled appointments in Mental Health & Counseling will be conducted via telephone or video.
Acute Care
- Acute Care is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- We recommend that you call ahead to determine the best type of visit (telemedicine vs. in-person).
- If you arrive without calling first, a lobby screener will ask you to step outside and call Acute Care.
Pharmacy
The Yale Health Pharmacy is still walk-in but now also offers curb-side pick up and two different mail order options.
Blood Draw, Diagnostic Imaging and other services
Essentially, unless you are coming to the Pharmacy, you should call ahead for an appointment:
- Both the Blood Draw and Diagnostic Imaging Departments are now by appointment only. Your provider will assist in coordinating test ordering and timing of appointments.
- All clinical departments are by appointment only.
- Other services such as Member Services (questions regarding coverage, eligibility and enrollment), Billing, Claims, Referrals, and medical records, are available via phone or email.
When you come to the Yale Health Center
- Face masks are required of all patients and staff.
- In order to enter the building, you must have an appointment or plan to pick up a prescription at the Pharmacy.
- A screener will ask you a series of screening questions and check your temperature with an infrared thermometer.
- The screener will determine if you are okay to enter the building, or they will ask you to step outside and wait for a call from the department you are visiting to discuss next steps.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine has become an important method of delivering health care during this pandemic. It allows for direct communication via either telephone or video, while protecting the health and safety of all involved. Many appointments are amenable to telemedicine. An added benefit is ease of use for a student who is on the go. If your provider feels an in-person visit at the Yale Health Center is warranted, we will arrange for you to come in-person. In order to take advantage of telemedicine, you will need an active MyChart account.
MyChart
MyChart gives you online access to all of your medical information including lab and radiologic results, and any documentation made by your providers. It is also what you use to directly communicate with your providers, via messages as well as telemedicine. This year, it is particularly vital that you sign up for MyChart. We also recommend downloading the app (App Store and Google Play).
Healthcare Coverage for Students
Yale Health Basic Coverage
If you are registered as a Yale degree candidate student, enrolled half-time or more and paying at least half tuition, whether living in New Haven or studying remotely, you have Yale Health Basic Coverage and are automatically enrolled in Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage. Yale Health Basic includes services in Student Health, Mental Health and Counseling, Gynecology, Acute Care, the Inpatient Care Facility, and Blood Draw. Students who are attending Yale remotely can obtain basic services through MyChart and telemedicine visits with Yale Health providers.
Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage
All students enrolled at least half-time in a Yale degree-seeking program are automatically enrolled in and charged a fee for Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage. Students who have alternate insurance can waive Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage (with proof of alternate coverage). Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage provides you with comprehensive care, but it can be waived if you prefer to use alternate coverage. Please note that you are eligible for all Yale Health Basic Coverage services regardless of whether you waive Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage or not.
Regarding Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage, students who will not be residing in the New Haven area should note that non-emergent medical care, specialty care (including treatment for chronic conditions), non-Yale Health pharmacy and laboratory testing will not be covered. Out-of-area provider network restrictions will apply. The option to waive Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage is available each semester or for the full year, and keeping the coverage works best for semesters you plan to be in New Haven. Students studying remotely should consider whether Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage meets their needs because an alternate health plan may offer more extensive healthcare coverage outside of New Haven. If you have questions about waiving the Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage, do not hesitate to contact us at member.services@yale.edu or 203-432-0246.
Students on leave of absence are not eligible for Yale Health Basic Coverage but may enroll in Yale Health Student Affiliate Coverage.
Coverage information for your review
Don't Avoid Care - June 29, 2020
One-time Extension of Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage for Eligible Graduates
We Are Committed to Safe Care
Screening
Masks
Physical Distancing
Reduced Schedules
Virtual Waiting Room
One Way In/One Way Out
Elevators
Only Medically Necessary Visitors
Waiting Rooms
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Limiting Visitors to the Yale Health Center
- At this time, no guests or visitors are permitted to accompany adult patients, unless special assistance is required.
- No guests or visitors are permitted to visit a patient in Inpatient Care or Acute Care.
- Pediatric patients, elderly patients and those with special needs are permitted to bring no more than 1 guest.
- Visitors who are sick, have a fever, or a confirmed case of COVID-19 (or a known exposure) should not visit or accompany a patient.
- Visitors must wash their hands (or use sanitizer) before and after entering clinical areas and waiting rooms.
These restrictions are being put in place for the safety of our patients, caregivers and community. Thank you for your understanding.
COVID-19 update – Self-monitoring and limiting size of events (March 17, 2020)
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
I write with updated guidance on COVID-19 self-monitoring and limiting the size of Yale-hosted gatherings.
Updated recommendations for self-monitoring
Published reports about the range of symptoms in early COVID-19 infection allow us to update our recommendations about self-monitoring for symptoms of the disease.
Take these steps to monitor your health:
- Take your temperature with a thermometer twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening—to monitor for low-grade temperature elevation (>99.9°F, >37.7°C).
- Note that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to list a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) as a criterion for suspected COVID-19 infection, but low-grade fevers are frequent in the early stages of illness.
- Watch for the following symptoms to increase detection of possible COVID-19 infection:
- Cough OR
- Trouble breathing OR
- Fatigue or malaise OR
- Muscle aches (myalgia)
If you have any of these symptoms, you should stay home and avoid interactions with others. Consult Yale Health’s website for recommendations about managing your symptoms and deciding whether to contact your healthcare provider.
The following symptoms DECREASE the likelihood you have a COVID-19 infection and are therefore reassuring:
- Ear pain
- Sinus pain
- Nasal congestion
If you have questions or concerns about any symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Limiting the size of Yale-hosted meetings and events
To further reduce opportunities for people to be in close proximity with one another and in accordance with the latest CDC recommendations, the university is asking faculty, staff, and students to cancel, postpone, or adjust any Yale-hosted meeting or gathering that will have 10 participants or more. This new guidance replaces the information the university sent on March 7. Adjustments to events should include technology to allow remote participation. Zoom technology is available to all Yale community members and can be used to move an event, or portions of it, online.
Unless the benefits clearly outweigh the rising risk of disease transmission, we recommend adjusting all meetings, even if it will involve less than 10 people. If a meeting is essential, we recommend the smallest possible group. The CDC reports that the virus can spread between people who are within six feet of one another. Consider if the venue allows people adequate space to spread out. Adjust meeting rooms and formats as needed. Please remind meeting participants to take personal precautions and practice good hygiene, and clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces in all frequently used public areas.
As you postpone, cancel, or adjust an event, please communicate quickly and clearly with participants.
Visit Yale’s COVID-19 website for more information about the university’s response and links to important campus resources.
Please continue to take care of yourself and one another. Your actions directly have an impact on our ability to end this pandemic.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health
Yale Health Center changes during COVID-19 outbreak
We are implementing measures to control the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection in the Yale Health Center. These measures will protect our members for whom a visit is essential – and it will protect our staff to ensure that we are here to serve the Yale community.
Please note the following changes.
Prescriptions
- To avoid unnecessary trips to the Yale Health facility, we will temporarily modify our reimbursement practices for use of non-Yale Health pharmacies. Until further notice, you can fill your prescriptions at any pharmacy, pay for them at the cash register, and then complete a claim form to receive reimbursement for the cost of the medication less your regular copayment.
- You may also want to consider using Magellan Rx Home for mail delivery of your chronic and maintenance medications.
- To ensure that our patients have adequate medication supplies, our pharmacy will be authorizing early medication refills for most maintenance medications if you have less than 50 days of your medication on hand. Call the Pharmacy at 203-432-0033.
- Read more about prescriptions and your Yale Health Pharmacy benefit.
Infection Control and Social Distancing
- We will ask everyone entering the Yale Health Center (including our staff) if they have any symptoms including cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and malaise and we will take their temperature.
- We will see any severely ill patient with suitable infection control measures including face mask.
- For those with mild respiratory symptoms and an oral temperature of 100° or more, we will provide a face mask and ask them to call their primary care provider for clinical guidance rather than entering the facility.
- Our Immunizations Department will not be providing routine immunizations. We will let you know when we can resume this service. If you have a special vaccination need, your primary care provider can refer you.
Health Care for Yale Students Away From Campus, March 15, 2020
**The plan year ends July 31, 2020 and this emergency policy of out-of-area coverage only lasts through the plan year. Normal coverage begins August 1, 2020.
Yale University has asked students to remain away from the Yale campus for the remainder of the spring semester. We hope that you and your families remain safe and healthy during this time.
We are writing now to let all students know that Yale Health remains open for patient visits at our 55 Lock Street facility and to assist students by telephone weekdays through Student Health at 203-432-0312 and after hours at 203-432-0123. MyChart is always available and another good way for students to communicate with their Yale Health providers. Students can get more information about MyChart and enroll in MyChart at https://yalehealth.yale.edu/appointments/using-mychart.
Students who have waived Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage should seek care in accordance with their health insurance plans. These students, of course, may use the services at the 55 Lock Street facility and may consult with Student Health at 203-432-0312 or with their clinicians at Yale Health’s Mental Health and Counseling Service at 203-432-0290 to develop plans for care while away from campus.
The remainder of this message provides information for students who are enrolled in Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage for the spring semester. Spring semester Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage is effective through July 31, 2020.
Hospitalization and Specialty Care Coverage for Students in Connecticut
If you have Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage and are in Connecticut during this period, you should obtain care, as usual, through Yale Health providers at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street in New Haven. If you have questions about your care, please contact Student Health at 203-432-0312.
As always, urgent and emergency care is covered at 100% worldwide for students enrolled in Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage.
If you have questions regarding Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage during this period, please contact Member Services at 203-432-0246 or member.services@yale.edu.
Hospitalization and Specialty Care Coverage for Students Outside of Connecticut
As always, urgent and emergency care is covered at 100% worldwide for students enrolled in Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage.
If you are away from Connecticut and require non-emergent medical care, contact Student Health at 203-432-0312 and our staff will help you determine next steps. As of today and effective through July 31, 2020, unless students are invited to return to campus, Yale Health will expand its network of providers to allow for coverage outside of Connecticut for medically necessary treatment for chronic conditions and for prenatal and labor and delivery care. Please note that, with the exception of urgent and emergency services, you will need prior authorization from Student Health for coverage of these out-of-area services.
Except for prenatal care, this extension of Yale Health’s provider network does not apply to preventive care and elective procedures or treatments. These services will be available as always through Yale Health providers at our 55 Lock Street facility. If you have questions regarding preventive care or elective procedures or treatments, you may contact Student Health to discuss options.
Out-of-area providers frequently request evidence of coverage. If you need a Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage member ID card, please complete this form: https://yalehealth.yale.edu/request-yale-health-member-id-card.
If you have questions regarding Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage during this period, please contact Member Services at 203-432-0246 or member.services@yale.edu.
Mental Health and Counseling Services
If you are currently receiving care from Yale Health’s Mental Health and Counseling Department, please contact your clinician at 203-432-0290 to develop a plan for care while you are away from campus. If you are in need of mental health services and are not receiving care from a clinician at Yale Health’s Mental Health and Counseling Department, please contact Mental Health and Counseling at 203-432-0290 for advice and options.
Pharmacy Services (all students with Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage)
- To ensure an adequate supply of medication, the Yale Health Pharmacy will authorize early medication refills for most maintenance medications (excluding controlled substances). If you have less than 50 days of your medication on hand, call the Pharmacy at 203-432-0033.
- We recommend using Magellan Rx Home for mail delivery of your maintenance medications. Magellan will apply your benefit automatically so there will be no need for a claim form. You will pay only your copayment for your prescription.
- To avoid unnecessary trips to the Yale Health facility, we will temporarily modify our reimbursement practices for use of non-Yale Health pharmacies. From now through July 31, 2020, you can fill your prescriptions at any pharmacy, pay for them at the time of service, and then complete a claim form to receive reimbursement for the cost of the medication less your regular copayment. You can electronically submit your claim for reimbursement of outside pharmacy expenses, you will need your member ID number and the Yale Health RxBIN#017449; or use the paper Pharmacy Claim Form.
We will update you if the University’s plans change. If you have questions or concerns that we have not covered in this message, please contact Member Services at 203-432-0246 or member.services@yale.edu.
Sincerely yours,
Paul Genecin, M.D.
Director, Yale Health
COVID-19 Update from Yale Health - March 12, 2020
The outbreak of COVID-19 is creating uncertainty and concern for many. Yale Health has been working around the clock to prepare for the possibility of local cases and to ensure that we can provide the services you need to stay safe and healthy.
In all of our preparations, our primary focus is on reducing risk to our patients and to our staff. If you have questions or concerns, you can also call our COVID-19 hotline at 203-432-6604.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. Please continue to check email and our website frequently for updates.
Guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19
The most important risk factors for COVID-19 are travel to an affected area (both national and international) and contact with a person who has COVID-19. However, there is now early evidence of community spread in Connecticut so it is possible to have COVID-19 infection without these risk factors.
For all of our patients we strongly recommend the following:
- Practice good hand washing—20 seconds with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer.
- Do not shake hands.
- Cough into your elbow or into a tissue and discard.
- Clean high touch surfaces in your home and work place (such as door knobs, countertops, remotes, etc.) frequently.
- Avoid touching railings, door knobs, faucets, etc. in public areas. Use your sleeve or tissue if necessary.
- Avoid crowded or enclosed areas. Keep 6 feet between you and others.
- Limit travel as much as possible.
- Avoid sick individuals.
- Monitor yourself at home. If you feel feverish, check your temperature with a thermometer. If you have a fever, follow the guidance below.
- Stay home if you are ill; do not go to work or social events.
CDC - Steps to Prevent Illness
If you develop fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath
Call your primary care provider or Acute Care after hours for instructions from our clinical team. Please do not come to the Yale Health Center without calling first.
- Internal Medicine 203-432-0038
- Ob/Gyn 203-432-0222
- Pediatrics 203-432-0206
- Acute Care 203-432-0123
Testing for COVID-19
- At this time, health centers including Yale Health have extremely limited access to testing. Testing is reserved for those with more serious symptoms as well as known travel or contact with someone who has COVID-19 and is subject to approval from the Connecticut Department of Health.
- Patients without symptoms will not be tested at this time.
Access to general clinical care and services
Yale Health will be open regardless of the level of COVID-19 in our community. Available services will include Acute Care, Pharmacy, Diagnostic Imaging and Blood Draw. However, we may postpone certain appointments such as preventive and routine visits to enable staff to focus on patients whose needs are more acute. We will of course notify you if such changes become necessary.
Telephone visits
Over the next several weeks, we will be transitioning some scheduled visits to telephone visits. Telephone visits will take place at the same time as your current appointment but are conducted entirely by telephone so that you do not need to come to your appointment in person.
Our providers will be reviewing schedules to identify visits that can be safely conducted by telephone. We will be calling you to explain the process if this is an option for your upcoming visit. If you prefer to keep your in-person visit you may.
If you have a scheduled visit and would like to convert it to a telephone visit, please contact us via MyChart or call your provider’s department and request the change.
People at increased risk of serious disease
Certain people are at higher risk of more serious disease should they contract COVID-19. These risks include:
- those over age 65
- those with chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease;
- those undergoing active cancer treatment;
- those with immune deficiency conditions or taking medications that suppress the immune system.
While data is limited pregnant women may be at increased risk.
We will be preparing a separate communication for this higher risk population in the next several days. In the meantime, we recommend you follow the general guidance listed above and review CDC guidance. Telephone visits may be especially suitable if you fit into this high risk category.
Prescriptions and Pharmacy
- To ensure that our patients have adequate medication supplies, our pharmacy will be authorizing early medication refills for most maintenance medications (excluding controlled substances) if you have less than 50 days of your medication on hand. Call the Pharmacy at 203-432-0033.
- You may also want to consider using Magellan Rx Home for mail delivery of your maintenance medications.
Resources
- Yale University COVID-19 Information page
- Yale Health COVID-19 FAQ’s
- Connecticut Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- CDC: 2019 Novel Coronavirus
COVID-19 – Moving courses online and other significant updates (March 10, 2020)
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
I write with significant updates to Yale’s response to the spread of COVID-19.
In recent weeks, we have all seen that the challenges posed by COVID-19 are rapidly changing across our country and the world. I ask you to join me in taking new actions to prevent and slow the spread of the virus. Current scientific and medical evidence suggests that preemptive public health measures are more effective than those that are reactive. By being proactive as a community, we can safeguard our own health and the well-being of those with whom we interact.
In this message, I describe actions that will minimize close-proximity interaction among members of our community in classrooms, dining halls, residential colleges, and other common facilities:
• Moving classes online when they resume after spring recess
• Asking students to remain home or return home when possible
• Limiting international and domestic travel
• Maintaining continuity of research and teaching
• Ensuring ongoing staff operations and well-being
• Restricting the size of events
Maintaining continuity of research and teaching
While the health of Yale’s faculty, staff, and students is our top priority, the university also remains committed to its mission of research and education. Faculty members and graduate and professional students are asked to carry out their teaching responsibilities online. Research groups have been asked to make contingency plans to maintain research continuity, which may involve faculty, staff, and students continuing to work and study in labs, machine shops, offices, and other campus facilities. The university will maintain central services to support research and teaching.
This plan is based on the expert advice of dedicated faculty and medical professionals at the Yale Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing; Yale Health; and local, state, and federal agencies. By taking these preventive measures, we protect those who are most vulnerable to this disease.
For advice on what to do if you become ill, and other important information, askpoorvucenter@yale.edu).
Asking students to remain home or return home when possible
We are asking Yale College students to remain at home after spring recess. For undergraduates who are on campus now, please make every effort to return home as soon as possible, and no later than Sunday, March 15. Yale College Dean Marvin Chun will be providing additional details in the coming days. Undergraduates will have the support of the university in meeting their academic requirements remotely while at home. I understand that some undergraduates consider New Haven to be their home or cannot leave the university at this time. The Yale College Dean’s Office will provide separate instructions for these students, who also will take their classes online.
Graduate and professional students are encouraged to remain off-campus and participate in online instruction, unless required to be on campus due to the nature of their research or academic programs. More information is forthcoming from the deans of each school.
The university will remain open and continue to provide custodial and limited dining services.
Limiting international and domestic travel
The following is an update and elaboration on previously announced travel policies. Please note that this guidance pertains to faculty, staff, and graduate and professional students. We urge Yale College students presently on campus to return home if possible.
- University-sponsored travel (Travel is considered university-sponsored if it draws on a university-administered funding source.)
- All university-sponsored international travel is now prohibited.
- We strongly urge you to postpone university-sponsored domestic travel and find ways to conduct the work online.
- Personal travel
- For personal international travel, we urge you to carefully reconsider your travel choices and avoid traveling if possible.
- For personal domestic travel, please consider your decisions carefully and avoid traveling if your agenda includes participation in conferences or other large gatherings.
If you must travel, review the table that summarizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel notices and Yale Health guidance. Most importantly, if you are traveling to any country or region on the CDC Warning Level 3 list, complete this registration form and self-monitor and self-isolate for 14 days after you return using these guidelines.
Maintaining continuity of research and teaching
While the health of Yale’s faculty, staff, and students is our top priority, the university also remains committed to its mission of research and education. Faculty members and graduate and professional students are asked to carry out their teaching responsibilities online. Research groups have been asked to make contingency plans to maintain research continuity, which may involve faculty, staff, and students continuing to work and study in labs, machine shops, offices, and other campus facilities. The university will maintain central services to support research and teaching.
Ensuring ongoing staff operations and well-being
By separate email this week, staff will be provided with information about measures the university is taking to plan for the continuation of university operations and to ensure everyone’s continued safety. Most generally, we encourage staff to hold meetings virtually, and we ask each staff leader to provide flexibility for people to work from home when consistent with their job responsibilities and to have time to care for any ill family members, should the need arise.
Restricting the size of events
On March 7, the university asked students, faculty, and staff to postpone, cancel, or adjust all Yale-hosted events, other than classes, expected to involve 100 or more participants. Yale’s COVID-19 website provides additional information about Yale’s libraries and museums. As noted in the original announcement, even if an event has fewer than 100 people, please think about moving your event online or increasing the size of the venue so that participants can be spread apart.
We will continue to monitor carefully the spread of COVID-19. It may prove necessary to extend the actions described here beyond their end date or to take additional measures to safeguard everyone’s health based on emerging medical and scientific information. We will keep you informed of updates by email and will maintain the latest news and guidance on Yale’s COVID-19 website.
I appreciate the students, faculty, and staff members who have worked so hard in recent weeks to promote the health of members of our community and to contribute to the well-being of those who live and work beyond our campus. In the coming weeks, we will need to rely on one another’s resilience, patience, and expertise more than ever before. Please accept my gratitude for your efforts to protect each other’s health and support the continuity of the university’s mission. Sincerely, Peter Salovey President Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology”>please visit Yale’s COVID-19 website.
Sincerely,
Peter Salovey
President
Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology
COVID-19 Update – Events of 100 People or More
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
This email contains new information about Yale’s response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Yale University, but individuals who work in Connecticut, and live elsewhere, have tested positive for the virus. Although the individual risk of contracting the virus remains low, the university continues to be focused on making decisions to safeguard our health and safety and the health and safety of those individuals with whom we may come into contact. What follows is guidance based on the status of the situation today; however, developments are fluid and moving quickly.
The guidance provided in this email and other important information are available at Yale’s COVID-19 website.
NEW GUIDANCE REGARDING ON-CAMPUS MEETINGS AND EVENTS
- To prevent transmission of the virus, we are asking students, faculty, and staff to postpone, cancel, or adjust all Yale-hosted events, other than classes, that will have 100 or more participants. Adjustments to events could include using technology to allow remote participation and increasing the venue size to allow participants to maintain distance from one another. This recommendation applies to events taking place between March 9, 2020, and April 15, 2020.
- All regularly scheduled university courses and dining operations will continue. We are cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces in all frequently used public areas.
- Zoom technology is available to all Yale community members and can be used to move an event, or portions of it, online.
- Even if an event has fewer than 100 people, please think about the size of the venue and accommodations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the virus can spread between people who are within six feet of one another. Consider if the venue allows people adequate space to spread out and if participants have opportunities to wash their hands regularly. Adjust meeting formats as needed.
- If you are postponing, cancelling, or adjusting an event, please communicate quickly and clearly with participants.
- We remind everyone to continue to take personal precautions and practice good hygiene.
For travel guidance, advice on what to do if you become ill, and other information, please visit Yale’s COVID-19 website.
We are mindful that some schools began spring recess yesterday evening. Many of us are thinking ahead to our return to campus. If events dictate that we must take more significant action than what is described here, we will provide further updates. For now, we are operating under the assumption that classes will begin again as scheduled.
We will continue to monitor carefully the spread of COVID-19 and keep you updated on important changes. We are committed to drawing from the best scientific and medical evidence available to safeguard everyone’s health and safety.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health
Scott Strobel
Provost
Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry
COVID-19 Update – Travel, Yale Health Guidance, and University Planning and Response, March 2, 2020
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
We are continuing to monitor the spread of COVID-19, and we write to provide updates related to COVID-19 and travel. Please review Yale’s new COVID-19 website for additional information as well as a link to this and past announcements.
COVID-19 spread and response continue to change rapidly for travelers abroad as well as in this country. Keep in mind that any travel may be disrupted in the coming months. Other countries and regions may be added to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Level 3 Travel Warning (as Italy and Iran have been recently), and travelers who have been in those areas would be asked to self-isolate upon returning to campus. In addition, more foreign governments are imposing travel restrictions, such as closing borders, and as more restrictions are imposed, there is some risk of travelers being forced to remain in a country. We urge you to consider carefully your travel choices and whether it is necessary to travel at this time.
If you do travel, take these actions:
- Register your travel, including for spring recess, even if you are traveling within the United States.
- Download the International SOS (ISOS) app.
- Stay alert to changes and developments that may affect your plans. Monitor travel advisories, including potential restrictions on border crossings, and be ready to change your plans if conditions change. View the list of CDC travel notices.
- Follow Yale Health recommendations listed below (e.g., frequent hand washing).
- If you should feel ill while traveling, call ISOS 215-942-8478 for advice before going to a health care facility. ISOS medical staff can provide advice on how to get treatment but will not be able to get you out of a country if any government restrictions have been put in place.
We strongly encourage you to review the table below, which summarizes CDC travel notices as of March 2, 2020, and Yale Health guidance. COVID-19 spread and response are rapidly evolving, and this table will be regularly updated at Yale’s COVID-19 website.
CDC Travel Notice |
Countries and Regions (as designated by CDC) |
Yale Health Guidance* |
Warning – Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel |
|
|
Alert – Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions |
|
|
Watch – Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions |
|
|
*If you experience fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient and/or traveled from a location with a Level 3 or Level 2 travel notice within 14 days of the onset of illness, stay home and contact a healthcare provider for guidance— do not go to a healthcare facility prior to calling your doctor or a hospital emergency room for instructions. If you are a Yale student or Yale Health member, you should contact Internal Medicine (203-432-0038), Student Health (203-432-0312), or Pediatrics (203-432-0206) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For urgent attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please call Yale Health Acute Care (203-432-0123). If you are an Aetna member, please contact your primary care provider. |
We also encourage you to take the following precautions for your well-being and safety:
- If you have not done so already, get a flu shot. This will help reduce the burden on the health system and help others. Members of the Yale community can obtain the influenza vaccine free of charge at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street daily from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Stay home if you are ill—do not go to work or class.
- If you need medical attention, call your provider before going to a healthcare facility.
Although there are no cases of COVID-19 infection at Yale or in Connecticut, the university is consulting with the Connecticut Department of Public Health and experts from the Yale School of Public Health and School of Medicine to update the university’s existing pandemic response plan in the event of widespread U.S. community transmission of COVID-19 or announcement of a COVID-19 pandemic. If any of these scenarios occur, you will be notified via email and through the Yale ALERT system, and the main Yale webpage will include a banner with a link to the university status and action plan. Please go to the Yale ALERT webpage to make sure your contact information is current, and regularly check Yale’s new COVID-19 website.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health
Donald L. Filer
Associate Vice President for Global Strategy
COVID-19 Update – Yale Health Guidance for Travelers (February 26)
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
In response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Yale is asking all travelers arriving to campus from mainland China and from South Korea to complete this registration form and to self-monitor and self-isolate for 14 days using these guidelines. Once visitors have completed the form, Yale Health will contact them to provide assistance and further instructions. If a traveler has returned from mainland China or South Korea more than 14 days ago and is asymptomatic (i.e., no fever, cough, fatigue, and/or difficulty breathing), then no further action is needed. You can read more about symptoms of COVID-19.
We have created a table to summarize CDC travel notices and Yale Health guidance (see below). This table will be regularly updated at the Yale Health announcement webpage.
CDC Travel Notice |
Yale Health Guidance* |
Countries and Regions |
Warning – Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel |
|
|
Alert – Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions |
|
|
Watch – Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions |
|
|
*If you experience fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient and/or traveled from a location with a Level 3 or Level 2 travel notice within 14 days of the onset of illness, stay home and contact a healthcare provider for guidance—do not go to a healthcare facility prior to calling your doctor or a hospital emergency room for instructions. If you are a Yale student or Yale Health member, you should contact Internal Medicine (203-432-0038), Student Health (203-432-0312), or Pediatrics (203-432-0206) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For urgent attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please call Yale Health Acute Care (203-432-0123). If you are an Aetna member, please contact your primary care provider. |
The spread of COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving global situation, and it is likely the CDC will issue additional travel advisories for other countries in the coming weeks. Yale will ask travelers returning from countries with Level 3 travel alerts to complete the registration form and to participate in infection prevention through self-monitoring and self-isolation for 14 days. Travelers from Level 2 Alert Countries should monitor their temperature and symptoms for 14 days and contact a healthcare provider according to the instructions in the table above if they become ill.
There are no cases of COVID-19 infection at Yale or in Connecticut. We are working closely with the Connecticut Department of Public Health to track the overall situation regarding COVID-19 and to protect the health and wellbeing of the Yale community. Please review the Yale Health announcement webpage for additional information, including previous messages and key links.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health
Donald L. Filer
Associate Vice President for Global Strategy
Covid-19 Travel Update and Health Information (February 24, 2020)
As is apparent in news reports, the worldwide COVID-19 (formerly 2019-nCoV or novel coronavirus) outbreak situation is rapidly evolving. We write with an update on how the latest information affects the Yale campus and any plans you may have for traveling abroad.
You can find the following in this email:
- Travel safety
- Infection prevention through voluntary self-isolation in the Yale community
- Infection control mandate for people arriving from mainland China
- University preparations for COVID-19
- Information about COVID-19 infection and prevention
If you will be traveling, we urge you to:
- Stay alert to changes and developments that may affect your plans. Monitor travel advisories, including potential restrictions on border crossings, and be ready to change your plans if conditions change. View the list of CDC travel notices here.
- Register your travel and download the ISOS app.
- If you should feel ill while traveling, call ISOS 215-942-8478 for advice before going to a health care facility. ISOS medical staff can provide advice on how to get treatment but will not be able to get you out of a country if any government restrictions have been put in place.
All travel should be deferred to any country for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a “Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel.” China is in this category, and South Korea was added on February 24. Therefore, all travel to China and South Korea should be cancelled or deferred to a later date.
The CDC has issued alerts “Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions” for Iran, Italy, and Japan. Travel may continue to these countries, but you may wish to reconsider your plans because the situation is changing rapidly. Older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe disease and should consider postponing nonessential travel.
CDC has issued “Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions” for Hong Kong. There are no travel restrictions, but travelers should practice routine precautions to avoid illness (see below).
Yale travelers should keep several points in mind:
- Do not travel to Level 3 countries.
- Level 2 countries may be elevated on short or no notice to Level 3.
- There are likely to be more countries for which Level 2 alerts are issued.
- Reported number of cases may not indicate the severity of the outbreak in a particular location due to reporting delays or other anomalies.
- The response of governments will vary dramatically.
- If the current pattern continues, the U.S. government may ban travel into the U.S. from countries changed to Level 3 by individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be required to self-isolate for at least 14 days. As of today, these restrictions only apply to China, but that may change at any time.
- If CDC guidance changes, Yale will respond accordingly. It is possible that CDC could recommend that individuals returning from a Level 2 country should self-isolate. CDC also may increase the time period for self-isolation beyond the current 14 days. Keep this in mind as you make your travel decisions.
We are continuing to monitor the situation and will issue additional guidance as needed.
INFECTION PREVENTION THROUGH VOLUNTARY SELF-ISOLATION IN THE YALE COMMUNITY
On February 3, 2020, Yale University responded to guidance from the CDC by initiating voluntary self-isolation and self-monitoring for travelers arriving from mainland China. Yale Health registered 109 students, staff, faculty, family members, and visitors, most of whom have now completed the 14-day monitoring period. We are pleased to say that we have had no cases of infection to date, and we extend heartfelt thanks to all of the registrants for their cooperation.
INFECTION CONTROL MANDATE FOR PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM MAINLAND CHINA
There has been no community spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. to date. The national public health strategy has prioritized prevention of infection through limitations on travel as well as quarantine or self-isolation of people arriving from China. Infection control mandates for arriving travelers include the following:
- Individuals who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who have been in China in the last 14 days will be denied entry.
- Other travelers from mainland China must now arrive in the U.S. through 11 designated airports where they undergo screening for symptoms and/or risks of infection.
- Arrivals with recent travel to Hubei Province will be quarantined for 14 days.
- If they are asymptomatic, travelers from mainland China outside Hubei Province will receive a health information card and be required to undergo a 14-day period of self-isolation and monitoring with public health supervision at their travel destinations.
- The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health will delegate to Yale Health the responsibility for monitoring members of the Yale community registered for this program. We will provide affected individuals with detailed health information and daily assistance.
You can read more about these infection control measures.
UNIVERSITY PREPARATIONS FOR COVID-19
Because of the magnitude of the epidemic, the CDC and healthcare organizations across the country are making preparations in case we encounter community spread of COVID-19. In our own community, Yale Health, Yale Medicine, Yale School of Public Health, Yale Emergency Management, Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH), and public health authorities at the state and local level are collaborating closely.
- We have created a 24-hour hotline (203-432-6604) for concerned members of the community.
- We have developed and disseminated clinical protocols to facilitate consistent evaluation of patients with risk factors and/or symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
- In collaboration with Yale Medicine and YNHH, we have implemented a mandatory data field in our electronic medical record system to ensure consistent screening for travel history and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection.
- We have developed and disseminated protocols for limiting the spread of infection in the healthcare setting.
- We have relaunched the influenza vaccination drive and reminded our community that it is not too late to get the vaccine. Members of the Yale community can obtain the influenza vaccine free of charge at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street daily from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 INFECTION AND PREVENTION
Facts About COVID-19 Infection
The risk of COVID-19 infection is dependent on exposure, but details about the new virus are still emerging. The most important route of transmission is likely close contact (six feet or less) with sick patients who spread respiratory droplets when they cough or sneeze. The risk of spread from asymptomatic people and from touching surfaces and objects contaminated with virus is much lower than droplet spread from sick patients. The reported incubation period (time from exposure to the onset of symptoms) ranges from two to 14 days.
Severity of COVID-19 infection ranges from mild to severe, but the majority of cases in China have not required hospitalization. Critical illness has developed in 15 percent of Wuhan patients and up to 3 percent are dying of the disease. Fever of >100.4 F (>38 C), cough, and shortness of breath are the most frequently reported symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms overlap with those of influenza and other respiratory infections. Therefore, the CDC has published guidelines to identify patients at risk of COVID-19 and determine when testing is necessary.
Prevention of COVID-19 Infection
There is no vaccine for COVID-19 at present, so prevention is crucial. Here are some ways to avoid viral respiratory infections including COVID-19:
- Avoid contact with people who are ill.
- Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Facemasks are not recommended for healthy people to avoid respiratory viruses including COVID-19.
What to Do If You Become Ill
If you experience fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient and/or traveled from mainland China within 14 days of the onset of illness, stay home and contact a healthcare provider for guidance—do not go to a healthcare facility prior to calling your doctor or a hospital emergency room for instructions.
- If you are a Yale student or Yale Health member, you should contact Internal Medicine (203-432-0038), Student Health (203-432-0312), or Pediatrics (203-432-0206) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For urgent attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please call Yale Health Acute Care (203-432-0123).
- If you are an Aetna member or have other healthcare coverage, please contact your physician.
- Avoid contact with others to limit spread.
- Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue or sleeve, not your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water after coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
- Facemasks are recommended for people with symptoms of respiratory infection to minimize the risk of spread of infection.
Information for Healthcare Workers
The CDC has issued detailed interim guidance for those who interact with potentially infected patients. Protect yourself and others by acquainting yourself with these recommendations.
Nondiscrimination
Yale University is committed to maintaining an environment of respect and freedom from discrimination and to supporting all members of our community affected by this global health threat. Bias, discrimination, and harassment are inimical to our values and violate Yale policies. For more information, please go to https://yalehealth.yale.edu/nondiscrimination-notice.
For Additional Information
- Please check the Yale Health website for updated information about COVID-19 for the university community.
- You may also wish to check the CDC for more information about COVID-19.
We are continuing to monitor developments related to COVID-19 and will keep you updated. To see this and past updates as well as important links, please visit Yale Health’s announcement webpage.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health
Donald L. Filer
Associate Vice President for Global Strategy
Spring Break Travel Safety and COVID-19 Update - Feb. 18, 2020
February 18, 2020
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
With spring break approaching, we write to remind you of the resources available if you are traveling abroad or within the U.S. We write also to provide updates regarding COVID-19 (formerly 2019-nCoV or novel coronavirus), grateful that we have had no cases of the infection on campus to date and that there has been no community spread of the infection in the U.S.
You can find the following in this email:
• Spring break travel safety
• Infection prevention through voluntary self-isolation in the Yale community
• New infection control mandate for people arriving from mainland China
• University preparations for COVID-19
• Information about COVID-19 infection and prevention
SPRING BREAK TRAVEL SAFETY
We want to emphasize resources that are available in light of concerns regarding COVID-19 and urge you to register your travel as provided below. For many students, faculty, and staff, international travel is important for their research, work, or studies and can continue as planned if travelers plan ahead and follow guidance from health officials and other government agencies.
As of now, all travel to China should be cancelled or deferred to a later date. In addition, some countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, are imposing restrictions on entering, so you may wish to reconsider travel at this time to those countries. However, most travel worldwide is not affected. Please keep in mind the following points that will help ensure safe and smooth travels:
1. Stay alert to changes and developments that may affect your plans. Monitor travel advisories, including potential restrictions on border crossings.
- View the list of current travel advisories here.
- Request a destination-specific medical and security pre-travel briefing by emailing Philadelphia@internationalsos.com or calling 215-942-8478.
- All Yale faculty, students, and staff are automatically enrolled with International SOS (ISOS), which provides pre-travel consultations and 24/7/365 domestic and international emergency medical, security, and travel assistance for Yale community members (and accompanying family) while traveling more than 100 miles from home.
- Subscribe to ISOS email alerts for your planned destination(s) at our member portal.
- Install the ISOS app on your smartphone. The app gives you direct access to ISOS assistance services, including one-click dialing, country guides, and medical and security alerts.
- Download, print, and carry the ISOS membership card while you travel, so you have the emergency contact information if you need it.
2. Register your travel with Yale. Whether you are traveling for research, conferences, internships, or other reasons, please register your travel, so that in the event of a major emergency, the university will be able to contact you.
3. If you are an undergraduate traveler, review the Yale College travel policy.
4. Borrow a secure laptop from Yale ITS and consider using burner phones for high-risk destinations. Review these best practices for traveling overseas with electronic devices.
5. Understand what your health insurance will cover while you are away from home and consider purchasing supplemental travel health insurance.
6. International students and scholars should check their immigration documents before leaving the U.S. For more information about travel emergencies related to your immigration status or problems returning to the U.S., go to https://oiss.yale.edu/life-at-yale/safety-security/emergency-information.
7. U.S. Country Sanctions and Economic Embargoes:
- Current U.S. sanctions and embargoes may require you to have U.S. government approval before you travel to an embargoed country and/or may restrict your activities in that country. If you violate these rules, you may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties.
- Those traveling to Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea region of Ukraine should contact Don Deyo, director of export control licensing, at (203) 785-3817 for assistance.
- Those traveling to Cuba should email iocc@yale.edu for assistance. Restrictions on travel to Cuba remain in place: trips to Cuba that are primarily tourist-oriented, along with many other transactions relating to Cuba, continue to be prohibited.
Although this message is most relevant to spring break travel, we know that many community members already have questions about summer travel and programs abroad in light of the COVID-19 situation. We are monitoring and plan to be able to give specific information to the community with respect to summer travel by April 1.
INFECTION PREVENTION THROUGH VOLUNTARY SELF-ISOLATION IN THE YALE COMMUNITY
On February 3, 2020, Yale University responded to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by initiating voluntary self-isolation and self-monitoring for travelers arriving from mainland China. Yale Health registered 109 students, staff, faculty, family members, and visitors, many of whom have now completed the 14-day monitoring period. We are pleased to say that we have had no cases of infection to date, and we extend heartfelt thanks to all of the registrants for their cooperation.
NEW INFECTION CONTROL MANDATE FOR PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM MAINLAND CHINA
There has been no community spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. to date. The national public health strategy has prioritized prevention of infection through limitations on travel as well as quarantine or self-isolation of people arriving from China. Important new infection control mandates for arriving travelers include the following:
- All travelers from mainland China must now arrive in the U.S. through 11 designated airports where they undergo screening for symptoms and/or risks of infection.
- Arrivals with recent travel to Hubei Province will be quarantined for 14 days.
- If they are asymptomatic, travelers from mainland China outside Hubei Province will receive a health information card and be required to undergo a 14-day period of self-isolation and monitoring with public health supervision at their travel destinations.
- The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health will delegate to Yale Health the responsibility for monitoring members of the Yale community registered for this program. We will provide affected individuals with detailed health information and daily assistance.
You can read more about these infection control measures at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-china.html.
UNIVERSITY PREPARATIONS FOR COVID-19
Because of the magnitude of the epidemic in China and travel-related cases in other countries, the CDC and healthcare organizations across the country are making preparations in case we encounter community spread of COVID-19. In our own community, Yale Health, Yale Medicine, Yale School of Public Health, Yale Emergency Management, Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH), and public health authorities at the state and local level are collaborating closely.
- We have created a 24-hour hotline (203-432-6604) for concerned members of the community.
- We have developed and disseminated clinical protocols to facilitate consistent evaluation of patients with risk factors and/or symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
- In collaboration with Yale Medicine and YNHH, we have implemented a mandatory data field in our electronic medical record system to ensure consistent screening for travel history and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection.
- We have developed and disseminated protocols for limiting the spread of infection in the healthcare setting.
- We have relaunched the influenza vaccination drive and reminded our community that it is not too late to get the vaccine. Members of the Yale community can obtain the influenza vaccine free of charge at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street daily from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 INFECTION AND PREVENTION
Facts About COVID-19 Infection
The risk of COVID-19 infection is dependent on exposure, but details about the new virus are still emerging. The most important route of transmission is likely close contact (six feet or less) with sick patients who spread respiratory droplets when they cough or sneeze. The risk of spread from asymptomatic people and from touching surfaces and objects contaminated with virus is much lower than droplet spread from sick patients. The reported incubation period (time from exposure to the onset of symptoms) ranges from two to 14 days.
Severity of COVID-19 infection ranges from mild to severe, but the majority of cases in China have not required hospitalization. Critical illness has developed in 15 percent of Wuhan patients and up to 3 percent are dying of the disease. Fever of >100.4 F (>38 C), cough, and shortness of breath are the most frequently reported symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms overlap with those of influenza and other respiratory infections. Therefore, the CDC has published guidelines to identify patients at risk of COVID-19 and determine when testing is necessary
Prevention of COVID-19 Infection
There is no vaccine for COVID-19 at present, so prevention is crucial. Here are some ways to avoid viral respiratory infections including COVID-19:
- Avoid contact with people who are ill.
- Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Facemasks are not recommended for healthy people to avoid respiratory viruses including COVID-19.
What to Do If You Become Ill
If you experience fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient and/or traveled from mainland China within 14 days of the onset of illness, stay home and contact a healthcare provider for guidance—do not go to a healthcare facility prior to calling your doctor or a hospital emergency room for instructions.
o If you are a Yale student or Yale Health member, you should contact Internal Medicine (203-432-0038), Student Health (203-432-0312), or Pediatrics (203-432-0206) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For urgent attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please call Yale Health Acute Care (203-432-0123).
- If you are an Aetna member or have other healthcare coverage, please contact your physician.
- Avoid contact with others to limit spread.
- Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue or sleeve, not your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water after coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
- Facemasks are recommended for people with symptoms of respiratory infection to minimize the risk of spread of infection.
Information for Healthcare Workers
The CDC has issued detailed interim guidance for those who interact with potentially infected patients. Protect yourself and others by acquainting yourself with these recommendations.
Nondiscrimination
Yale University is committed to maintaining an environment of respect and freedom from discrimination and to supporting all members of our community affected by this global health threat. Bias, discrimination, and harassment are inimical to our values and violate Yale policies. For more information, please go to https://yalehealth.yale.edu/nondiscrimination-notice.
For Additional Information
Public Health Authorities
Yale Resources
- COVID-19 FAQ’s
- Visit the Yale Office of International Affairs for travel related questions
- Yale international travelers who are overseas with a medical emergency should contact ISOS through the ISOS assistance app or by calling 1-215-942-8478. ISOS is a resource for members of the Yale community that provides emergency medical, security, and travel assistance.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health
Donald L. Filer
Associate Vice President for Global Strategy
2019 Novel Coronavirus Update February 8
Yale Health continues to ask members of the Yale community who have returned from mainland China in the past 14 days to complete this registration form. In keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance travelers who are within the 14-day window of their return from mainland China are asked to self-isolate using these guidelines. If you returned from mainland China more than 14 days ago, no further action is needed.
There are no cases of 2019-nCoV infection at Yale or in Connecticut. For more information please call the Yale Health Hotline at (203) 432-6604 or go to these websites:
Public Health Authorities
Yale Resources
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus FAQ’s
- Visit the Yale Office of International Affairs for travel related questions
- Yale international travelers who are overseas with a medical emergency should contact ISOS through the ISOS assistance app or by calling 1-215-942-8478. ISOS is a resource for members of the Yale community that provides emergency medical, security, and travel assistance.
Announcement from Scott Strobel, Feb. 3
Dear Members of the Yale Community:
Yale University continues to closely monitor the outbreak of coronavirus 2019-nCoV. The number of cases in China has been rising dramatically; for now, there has been limited spread to other countries, including the United States. We reported on January 31 that a high school student from China who was participating in the annual Yale Model United Nations conference tested negative for 2019-nCoV.
The U.S. government has implemented measures to better detect and contain the coronavirus. These measures include a “Level 4-Do Not Travel to China” advisory from the U.S. Department of State, and a declaration of a public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In keeping with intensifying public health measures, all Yale University faculty, staff, students, visitors and other members of the Yale community who have returned from mainland China since January 20, 2020, should complete this registration form. Yale Health will then contact you to provide assistance and further instructions. The information you provide will be kept secure and confidential. Consistent with U.S. Government advice, we also ask you to self-isolate for 14 days after returning from mainland China. Guidelines for self-isolation may be found at this website.
If you have traveled in China and returned to the U.S. on or before January 19, 2020, and are not showing disease symptoms, then no further action is needed.
We are working closely with the Connecticut Department of Public Health to track the overall situation regarding the coronavirus and to protect the health and wellbeing of the Yale community. Yale Health and Yale Medicine are maintaining information on their webpages.
A reminder about influenza:
We are now nearing the peak of seasonal influenza (flu). Influenza and 2019-nCoV infections have similar symptoms including fever, cough, congestion and shortness of breath. At this time, influenza poses a greater risk to our community than coronavirus. Public health authorities strongly advise unimmunized members of the community to get the flu shot.
Members of the Yale community can obtain the influenza vaccine free of charge at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Please check the Yale Health website for updated information about 2019-nCoV including 2019 Novel Coronavirus FAQ’s.
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Scott Strobel
Provost and Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry
Janet Lindner
Vice President for Human Resources & Administration
Dr. Paul Genecin
Director, Yale Health
Novel Coronavirus Update January 28
A message from Dr. Paul Genecin
To: All Students, faculty and staff
On Sunday, I wrote to inform you that a high school student from China who participated in the annual Yale Model United Nations conference exhibited fever and cough and was evaluated in the Yale-New Haven Hospital Emergency Department over the weekend. A test was ordered to rule out infection with the novel coronavirus (abbreviated 2019-nCoV). The result is not yet back from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). I will notify the community as soon as the result is available.
CDC Travel Advisory:
Yesterday, the CDC issued a travel notice recommending that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China because of the 2019-nCoV epidemic. You can read the entire advisory at:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china?smid=nytcore-ios-share.
The salient points in this new travel advisory are:
- 2019-nCoV causes a respiratory illness with fever and cough. Some people experience more serious illness with pneumonia and respiratory failure, and fatalities have been reported. There is active transmission from person to person reported in China.
- As a result, China has closed transport within and out of Wuhan and other cities in the Hubei province.
- The public health situation in China is rapidly evolving with new cases reported in other Chinese cities.
- There is limited medical care available in affected areas.
- Air travelers arriving in the U.S. from China are being screened for signs of illness such as cough, fever and difficulty breathing.
- If you have been in China in the last 14 days and are experiencing illness with cough, fever or difficulty with breathing, you should:
- Call your doctor’s office or an emergency room to report your symptoms and seek advice. Do not go to a clinic for care prior to calling.
- If you are a Yale student or Yale Health member, you should contact Internal Medicine (203-432-0038), Student Health (203-432-0312) or Pediatrics (203-432-0206) from 8:30am to 5pm. For urgent attention 24x7, please call Yale Health Acute Care: 203-432-0123.
- If you are an Aetna member or have other healthcare coverage, please contact your physician.
- Call your doctor’s office or an emergency room to report your symptoms and seek advice. Do not go to a clinic for care prior to calling.
If you must travel to China:
- In light of the CDC advice and US State Department warnings, you are urged to evaluate your travel plans and consider delaying travel to a later date.
- Contact your healthcare provider to discuss your travel plans, bearing in mind that older adults and those with chronic health problems may have a higher risk of complications in 2019-nCoV infection.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid animals whether dead or alive, including animal markets and animal products such as raw meat.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
A note about influenza:
We are now nearing the peak of seasonal influenza (flu). Influenza and 2019-nCoV infections have similar symptoms including fever, cough, congestion and shortness of breath. At this time, influenza poses a greater risk to our community than coronavirus. While there is no vaccine for coronavirus infection, the influenza vaccine is readily available, safe and effective. Public health authorities strongly advise unimmunized members of the community to get the flu shot. In addition to preventing or mitigating the severity of flu, this vaccine will simplify the evaluation of patients with flu-like symptoms in the event that we begin to see cases of 2019-nCoV in our community.
Members of the Yale community can obtain the influenza vaccine free of charge at the Yale Health Center at 55 Lock Street daily from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Please check the Yale Health website (https://yalehealth.yale.edu/) for updated information about 2019-nCoV. I draw your attention to newly posted FAQ’s. You may also wish to check the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) websites for more information about the novel coronavirus outbreak:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
January 26, 2020 - Coronavirus Update
January 26, 2020
A message from Dr. Paul Genecin
To: All Students, faculty and staff
On Friday, I wrote to let you know that Yale Health, Yale Emergency Management, and Environmental Health and Safety are closely monitoring the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and that we would keep the community updated as new information became available.
I write today to inform you that last night, Yale became aware that a high-school student from China who was participating in the annual Yale Model United Nations (YMUN) conference, scheduled for January 23-26 on our campus, exhibited cough and fever and was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, where the student tested positive for influenza. This test result suggests that the student has influenza rather than 2019-nCoV infection. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked that the student be tested for 2019-nCoV. We expect results in the middle of the week.
The patient, who does not exhibit severe symptoms, has been released from the hospital, but has been isolated pending the CDC’s diagnosis. The student is in good condition and we will continue to monitor their progress.
Last night, Dean of Yale College Marvin Chun, in consultation with health experts, requested that YMUN cancel all activities that had been scheduled for today, Sunday, January 26. YMUN organizers have reached out to advisors as well as those at Yale who had a part in the conference, to inform them of today’s cancelation. This was to be the event’s closing day, and while Yale regrets that the participating MUN students will not be able to complete their conference’s program, we feel it to be in the best interest of those students and of the Yale community to take this precaution.
We have established a dedicated Yale Health hotline at 203-432-6604 or 866-924-YALE (866-924-9253). All concerned members of the Yale community and YMUN participants should feel free to contact us.
What follows is a restatement of the background information and guidance I offered in my letter on Friday.
We are working closely with campus partners as well as the Connecticut Department of Public Health to track the overall situation around the coronavirus and to protect the health and wellbeing of the Yale community. Yale Health and Yale Medicine are maintaining information on their webpages:
Yale Health: https://yalehealth.yale.edu/
Yale Medicine: https://www.yalemedicine.org/
Background:
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the immediate health risk from the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to the general American public is considered low at this time. Airline passengers from China arriving at major U.S. airports are being screened for illness. and China has restricted travel in several cities to help limit the spread of the virus. The vast majority of the approximately 850 reported cases (as of Friday) are on the Chinese mainland. Two U.S. cases in travelers returning from Wuhan to Washington State and Chicago, Illinois have been reported as of Friday. We anticipate that there may be additional U.S. reports of infection in coming days.
Public health authorities are investigating the virus’ origin, transmission, and details about the spectrum of illnesses. Coronavirus can spread from person to person by coughing and other close contact. The 2019 new coronavirus typically causes moderate illness with flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, and congestion. Shortness of breath is reported in patients with more severe illness. Some patients — particularly the elderly and those with chronic health conditions — can develop a severe form of pneumonia and deaths have been reported. There is no current vaccine for this or other coronaviruses, and no effective antiviral antibiotic therapy.
Medical care:
Individuals who have traveled recently to Wuhan and surrounding regions or have had close contact with an ill person from those areas AND are experiencing flu like symptoms should seek medical attention from your primary care provider.
If you are a Yale Health member, you should contact Internal Medicine (203-432-0038), Student Health (203-432-0312) or Pediatrics (203-432-0206). For urgent attention, please call Yale Health Acute Care: 203-432-0123. NOTE: We have established a dedicated Yale Health hotline at 203-432-6604 or 866-924-YALE (866-924-9253). All concerned members of the Yale community and YMUN participants should feel free to contact us.
Patients should provide their travel history and can expect to be asked screening questions related to 2019-nCoV risk when seeking care in clinical locations. Members of Yale Health concerned about 2019-nCoV should call first so that we can review symptoms and travel history and make appropriate recommendations.
Prevent illness and its spread:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, if soap and water are not available
• Avoid contact with affected patients
• Cover your cough/sneeze or cough/sneeze into your elbow, throw tissues away and wash your hands immediately
More information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
CDC Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.

Now You Can See More
In MyChart you can see the notes your provider writes in your medical record. It includes information you shared and your provider’s thoughts about your diagnosis and treatment. Visit Shared Notes to learn more.

Join Yale Health's Patient & Family Council
Yale Health’s Patient & Family Council is part of an effort to further advance the principles of patient-centered care.
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Council members work together with Yale Health leadership to promote, review, and advise on operational processes and programs that address the needs of patients and families.
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Patients and family members will play a role as ‘patient partners’, acting as a resource to the organization.
Visit the Patient Partner Opportunities page for more information or to apply to the council.

Yale Health Offering Tours and Orientation
Are you a new Yale employee who recently joined Yale Health?
Maybe you’re a member who would like more information about your Yale Health coverage.
Join us for a tour of the Yale Health Center followed by an orientation session to learn about Yale Health.
There will be time to ask questions in a group setting or on an individual basis.
There are multiple dates and times to choose from.