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

Yale Health COVID-19 Update January 18, 2022

News from Yale Health   January 2022

Staying Up to Date with Vaccinations Being up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, is more important than ever with the Omicron variant currently circulating in Connecticut (and the world). Studies suggest that COVID-19 boosters prevent severe illness and save lives. Review the chart to make sure that you are up to date on COVID-19 vaccination including a booster. Remember a booster requirement currently applies to all Yale students, faculty, managerial and professional staff, postdoctoral associates, and postdoctoral fellows, other than those with approved exemptions. We encourage you to: schedule your COVID-19 vaccine/booster today through the Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program and vaccination sites across the state and upload or confirm documentation of your booster through the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal.  Quarantine and Isolation Quarantine and isolation help to control the spread of COVID-19. Recently, the university updated the quarantine and isolation guidelines. Testing While rapid at home antigen tests have been in short supply recently, they will soon be much more widely available and covered by your Yale Health insurance. It is important to remember that Yale currently provides free PCR testing with rapid turn-around time. PCR tests provide the most accurate “gold standard” diagnostic results. At this time, only PCR testing performed through Yale’s COVID-19 Screening Program test sites is acceptable for those with a testing requirement at Yale. Read more about where to get at home rapid test kits. When should you consider a rapid test? When you have symptoms and need an answer quickly. This is when antigen tests are most accurate, detecting 70-90% of PCR-confirmed cases. Prior to a group event or activity or travel (the same day or within hours of the event) A negative test, performed correctly, can provide short-term reassurance that the tester is not actively infectious. However, a negative test does not guarantee that the person is not carrying the virus. In most cases, a negative antigen test should be repeated in 24-36 hours for confirmation. At the end of required isolation (which for Yale employees is 7 days) for additional reassurance that you are no longer infectious and may return to normal activities. However, there is still a risk of viral shedding even if a rapid test is negative, so you must continue to mask at all times until 10 days after the positive test or symptom onset. For vaccinated people, 5-7 days after a high-risk exposure. A negative rapid test never eliminates the need for other protections to limit coronavirus transmission including up-to-date vaccination and booster, high quality masking, avoidance of crowds, and good ventilation. If you test positive for COVID-19 with an at home rapid test please call CCRL, 203-432-6604.  View a chart comparing PCR and antigen (rapid) tests.

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
 

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

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Administration Paused

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
 

Don't Avoid Care - June 29, 2020

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

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

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 – 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 – 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.

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 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

TRAVEL SAFETY

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

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

• CDC: 2019 Novel Coronavirus
• WHO: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

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.

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.

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

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.