PLNU and the Coronavirus: What you Need to Know

There are more than 89,000 confirmed coronavirus cases according to worldmeters.com, a website dedicated to research and sharing their findings through statistics. With cases of coronavirus coming closer and closer to PLNU, there have been two confirmed cases in San Diego according to NBC San Diego, and it’s important to protect oneself from this deadly disease.

This virus is “rapidly spreading, sort of like measles,” according to Dr. Charles Hardison, PLNU’s staff doctor in the wellness center. Coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets that can travel across a room, Dr. Hardison said. 

According to Hardison, although this virus is spreading rapidly and there is no known vaccine, there are systems in place to take care of and treat students and staff on community, local and governmental levels. Because there’s already cases in San Diego, the school has made necessary preparations in case there’s an outbreak at PLNU, Hardison said. 

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention website, these preparations include updating emergency operations plans to ensure the plan includes up to date strategies and emphasizes preventative actions like hand washing and keeping in touch with other schools.  Emails from government organizations and good communication between schools in the area have been instrumental in keeping a watch out for this disease, Hardison said. 

According to Hardison, due to the emergency declaration issued by the city of San Diego, more resources and funds have been mobilized to fight this deadly disease. These resources help “make sure we’re ready for anything that happens,” Hardison said. 

The most important thing individuals can do is keep “good hygiene,” Hardison said. This sentiment was echoed by ARD of Finch Hall Cesia Valesco, who said it’s important to take good care of yourself.

Our on campus, RDs are on alert waiting to hear from the Wellness Center, Velasco said. 

“We get news and follow what they tell us,” but it’s up to the wellness center to send information to the RDs about what to do in the hall after a student comes in seeking help or a sickness is going around, according to Velasco. Velasco said RDs don’t wait around for a sickness to spread before cleaning the halls, as the halls deep cleaned once a week and wiped down everyday. 

Sophia Lopez, a sophomore education major, said, “I think it’s difficult to be completely prepared when there is a group of this many people attending chapel and classes and eating in the cafeteria.” 

Although she said she appreciates the school is staying informed about the disease, Lopez would like the school to make things a little more clear or were a “little more understanding about the attendance policy,” when students are sick. 

Written By: Ally Andre