Announcements

Penn’s insurance carriers, Independence (Blue Cross), Aetna, CVS Caremark, Keystone (IBC), and Penn Medicine’s Connected Health Virtual Care Telemedicine Practice are all closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) situation. They are committed to making sure that our participants can receive appropriate testing and treatment for this virus if needed.

I recently informed Penn undergraduate, graduate, and professional students that three of our undergraduate students have tested positive for COVID-19. All had traveled internationally during Spring Break and were very forthcoming about details of their itinerary, allowing us to conduct a thorough contact investigation.  The COVID-19 outbreak is unprecedented and is impacting all of our lives—both on and off campus. I want to again assure you that the University remains committed to the health and safety of its campus during these challenging times. 

Thank you to all of you who have followed our guidance regarding remote work and engaging in good and healthy practices both in and out of the Penn environment. We are writing today to clarify Penn’s guidance in the context of the recent announcements from federal, state and city officials.

Our highest priority is the overall well-being of the Penn community. The COVID 19 virus has created an extraordinary public health situation requiring unprecedented measures to reduce transmission and maintain a safe campus and workplace for faculty, students, staff, patients and visitors.

Our world is now confronted with a rapidly changing and unprecedented global emergency. This is not the experience that anyone wanted for this semester, and our hearts go out to all of you at this difficult moment. We are also enormously grateful to every member of the Penn community for your partnership and your patience. We are all in this together, and we cannot do it without you.

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, presents our world, country and University with a unique public health challenge that is all the more disquieting because of the uncertainties associated with its spread. We write today with the latest update on the additional steps we at Penn will take in dealing with this unprecedented challenge, guided by current data and expert advice. We will continue to communicate with you and update our plans as new data and evidence emerges. Our primary goals, as always, are carrying out our educational, research and clinical care missions while ensur

We are writing to keep you updated on new developments in our response to the global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). While there is a high level of uncertainty as the disease spreads around our country and the world, it is absolutely clear that we, along with all other universities, have a responsibility to institute new mitigation practices of social distancing to help stem that spread. These mitigation practices must prudently limit travel as well as gatherings of large groups and occasions involving extended amounts of time in close proximity.

After consulting with the Provost, gauging preliminary thinking on the part of colleagues at other institutions, and monitoring preventative measures related to coronavirus (COVID-19), Penn Admissions has made the decision to cancel all large-scale, on-campus admitted student programming scheduled for April. This includes all Quaker Day events scheduled for April 6 and April 15, and Multicultural Scholars Preview programming scheduled for April 14.

Spring Break is imminent, and I know many families are debating students’ travel plans in light of the fast-evolving global coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Yesterday, Penn advised all community members against travel to China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea. Any student visiting these countries must self-isolate for two weeks upon return, missing class and assignments. Amid this uncertainty, any travel, domestic or international, could heighten your risk of exposure. If conditions change in a location you visit over break, you may incur travel delays and mandatory quarantines.

We are writing with an update on important new developments in Penn’s response to the global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This is a fast-evolving situation that is understandably causing high levels of concern.