There is an understandably high level of concern as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads, and ISM’s Executive Leadership Team is taking this issue very seriously and is continually monitoring the evolving situation. We appreciate the help of all our stakeholders and members of the ISM community, and we will continue to keep you informed as the situation develops.
Impact on ISM Courses
In response to stronger measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, schools and educational establishments in France and in the United States are closed until further notice. Because of this situation and many travel restrictions which are now in place in countries around the world, we have decided to cancel all in-person courses in Paris and New York until the end of the academic year. We will however be adding to our online course offering in order to allow students to progress on their degree requirements.
Following the guidelines of the French government, staff members in Paris are currently working remotely, and our Paris HQ is closed. Nonetheless, staff will remain available via remote means of communication, primarily email, and Skype and/or Zoom calls can be set up as needed.
At this time, we are still able to report that there are no known cases of the coronavirus among our stakeholders. We regret any inconvenience these cancellations may cause you, but we also believe it’s important for aggressive preventive measures to be taken early to slow the spread of the virus as effectively as possible.
About the Virus
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to respiratory infections. They are transmitted between animals and people. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
The active number of cases in France and globally can be seen here or here. It appears that the vast majority of people infected have only mild symptoms and make full recoveries. In the Paris metropolitan area, institutions and transportation continue to function normally.
Instructions and Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned older and at-risk travelers to avoid Japan, Italy, and Iran. The agency has also advised against all non-essential travel to South Korea and China.
ISM students with questions and concerns about travel abroad should consult the following websites for guidelines:
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/risk-assessment.html
www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus (in French)
We advise everyone to take steps to stay healthy including:
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Maintain social distancing: at least 3 feet (1 meter) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
- Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately.
For more detailed information on basic protective measures, please consult the World Health Organization website.
