STAFF REPORT :::
Two Gordon State College students may have been exposed to COVID-19 at an off-campus work location.
The Georgia Department of Public Health is expediting testing on the students to determine if they have acquired the viral infection.
According to a statement from GSC President Kirk A. Nooks, the students are currently quarantined at home, off-campus and are self-monitoring for symptoms.
Officials say the overall risk of COVID-19 to Gordon State College students is low. The Department of Public Health will contact anyone who may have been in close contact with either of the students and who may have been at risk of exposure.
The best prevention measures for any respiratory virus, including COVID-19 are:
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Students are asked to remain calm and not panic, with officials advising that symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, and that most cases are mild with symptoms similar to a cold.
If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and develop fever with cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider or local health department right away. Be sure to call before going to a doctor’s office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
To reiterate, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in students at Gordon State College at this time, and additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
For additional information about COVID-19, please visit https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.