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Know Before You Go: Tips to Stay Safe This Thanksgiving

Nov

17

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Tuesday, November 17, 2020

This year, COVID-19 has changed the way we work, learn and holiday — and this Thanksgiving is no exception. As we enter flu season and with coronavirus cases on the rise, it is very important to prioritize your health and safety during this holiday season. Valencia College will be closed next week beginning Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29, 2020, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. During this time of family gatherings, we encourage you to keep the following in mind as you prepare to celebrate:

• Our planning partner, Orlando Health, offers tips and creative ways to celebrate the holidays while keeping safety in mind. Best practices include limiting the number of people gathering; abstaining from gathering in small or poorly ventilated spaces, organizing Zoom get togethers in lieu of in-person gatherings; limiting travel; keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet; as well as keeping in mind the ages of family members and being careful to not gather if sick. For the full list of Thanksgiving holiday celebration tips, read Orlando Health’s article titled Turkey Dinner on the Lawn? Creative Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in 2020.
• As a partner in the Safer, Stronger, Together initiative, Valencia promotes adherence to safe practices to show care and respect for others in our community. These practices include personal actions such as wearing a mask or face covering in public or when you are not able to maintain physical distance; practicing good hygiene by remembering to wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer when hand washing is not possible; and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. For more information on #DoYourPartOrl, click here.

If you are traveling internationally:

• You may be required to use your sick or vacation leave to quarantine for up to 14 days before returning to campus. Contact Organizational Development and Human Resources at HR4U@valenciacollege.edu or 407-299-5000 extension HR4U (4748) to determine if your travel destination will require you to use your accrued leave to quarantine before returning to work on campus.
• Please remember to review our illness reporting and contact-tracing protocols. Full details and resources are available on the Illness Reporting and Contact Tracing webpage.

Reference the following sites for up-to-date travel notices related to the Coronavirus:

• CDC Information for Travelers
• NAFSA: Association for International Educators – Resources
• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory

Returning to campus:

If you are traveling internationally during the Thanksgiving break, contact Tanya Mahan, HR analyst and Valencia’s specially trained COVID-19 case manager at COVIDillness@valenciacollege.edu or 407-299-5000, extension 3047 before returning to the campus. She will provide you with next steps and authorization to return.

Prior to returning to campus, review Valencia’s Phase 2 guidelines. These include taking the Daily Health Assessment, staying home if sick and wearing a mask on campus. For a complete list of Phase 2 protocols, read Roadmap for Reopening: Phase 2 Reminders for Fall Term.

Hopefully, these tips and reminders are useful as you make plans for Thanksgiving. If you have questions about holiday travel, phase 2 guidelines, or illness reporting, please contact Organizational Development and Human Resources at HR4U@valenciacollege.edu or 407-299-5000 extension HR4U (4748).

Related Tags: coronavirus, phase 2, roadmap for reopening, thanksgiving