Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Amidst continued and growing concerns about Coronavirus and and potential exposure students studying abroad may have had, officials at SUNY Buffalo State have confirmed they will not be receiving any students returning from Italy this weekend.
The State University of New York has announced plans to bring back all SUNY and CUNY students currently studying in countries most affected by the novel coronavirus Italy, Japan, and South Korea.SUNY officials have been arranging chartered flights to New York State for these individuals from airports in Italy, Japan, and South Korea. All passengers will be screened before boarding flights. Upon arrival, and in accordance with New York State Department of Health guidelines, local and state health representatives will again screen those passengers for symptoms.All students not showing symptoms will be given the choice either to self-quarantine at home or, if needed, be provided temporary housing in a SUNY dormitory for a 14-day precautionary quarantine period in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For those asymptomatic (that is, not showing symptoms) students who request temporary housing, SUNY will coordinate transportation to designated SUNY campus dormitories to begin their 14-day precautionary quarantines.In a statement released by SUNY Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner, she indicated SUNY officials informed the institution of tentative plans to designate a vacant dormitory—Tower 2—on the Buffalo State College campus as a possible facility for the precautionary quarantine. Stony Brook University and SUNY Brockport have also been under consideration as possible precautionary quarantine sites.
Late Saturday SUNY Buffalo State was informed it will not be housing any returning students.Conway-Turner says as a reminder, as of Saturday, March 7, there were no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Erie County or among any members of the Buffalo State community. Our best protection from the novel coronavirus remains to practice simple good-health habits, such as washing our hands often and thoroughly, coughing or sneezing into the crooks of our arms, avoiding touching our faces, and staying home when we are sick.
