March 6, 2020
March 6, 2020—The Salk Institute announced today that due to the unfolding novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, all public events scheduled to be held on the Salk campus through the end of March have been canceled. On Wednesday, the Institute closed its campus to the public and canceled all public tours of the iconic architectural landmark.
“Protecting the health and welfare of our employees, their families and visitors to Salk is our top priority at this time,” says Rusty Gage, president of the Salk Institute. “Much remains to be known about the spread of the virus and we want to err on the side of caution.”
As news continues to change day-by-day regarding COVID-19, the Salk Institute is monitoring recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as local public health organizations. The Institute has activated its emergency response team task force to develop comprehensive, proactive approaches to this complex and rapidly evolving situation and has taken the following actions:
Event cancellations
All public events scheduled to occur at Salk in March are canceled and may be rescheduled at a later date. This includes, but is not limited, to: Salk Science & Music Series (March 8); Women & Science Design and Discovery (March 18); and the La Jolla Aging Meeting (March 27). Business meetings are still permitted.
Revised travel guidelines
To further mitigate the risk to Salk staff and the community during this rapidly changing situation, the Institute is restricting all international business travel and domestic business travel this month. International personal travel is also discouraged. Those deemed at risk for possible exposure to COVID-19 will be required to self-quarantine for a 14-day period.
Additional precautionary measures
Employees, staff and the community are encouraged to practice good hygiene: wash hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and stay home if you are not feeling well. Other precautionary measures made around campus include: signage regarding symptoms and preventative tips; extra cleaning of public spaces; and the ordering of sanitizing stations.
Looking forward
The Institute is continuing to monitor the situation and evaluate plans to ensure the continuation of business operations with minimal interruption while protecting the health, safety and well-being of Salk staff, families, visitors and the community.
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