COVID-19: World Affairs Council Response and Resources
To Our Community:
The health and safety of our community – members, event attendees, speakers, and staff – is our highest priority. As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout the country, we wanted to share some of the actions the Council is taking. We will be updating this blog regularly with new resources as we are provided with them.
As this situation continues to evolve, we will closely monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials. We will rely on their recommendations and expertise to inform our decisions.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared yesterday a ban on mass gatherings of more than 100 people and all students in Ohio will have extended spring break. Kentucky Governor is recommending all schools stop in-person classes for time being and cancel weekend services.
At this time, we have decided to take the following steps to ensure the safety of our community:
- Postpone the April 2nd event – “Political War” featuring Linda Robinson
- All Council staff will be working remotely through the end of March, and we will closely monitor developments with the virus to determine extending this in the upcoming weeks
Feel free to reach out to any of our staff members via email during this time.
Michelle Harpenau, Executive Director mharpenau@cincyworldaffairs.org
James McManus, Director of International Programs
jmcmanus@cincyworldaffairs.org
Hannah Gerth, Global Education Manager
hgerth@cincyworldaffairs.org
Eleanor Kremer, Operations Manager
ekremer@cincyworldaffairs.org
While we are not organizing any public gatherings, we are still available for video conferencing and calls, as well as select meetings.
We will be checking our office voicemail three times per day, if you would like to leave us a message. The office phone number is 859-448-8984
All of us at the Council understand that this issue is cause for concern for many, and we offer our deepest sympathies to those who have already been affected. As the situation evolves, we will continue to make decisions with the health and well-being of our community as our utmost priority.
We encourage the community to continue to support local businesses and others who may be affected by COVID-19.
We prioritize you regardless of whether it’s a challenging and unpredictable time. Now more than ever, your well-being is of the utmost importance. Please keep yourselves, your families, and your colleagues healthy with these CDC-recommended everyday preventive actions:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures; keep abreast of travel information
Consult CDC’s COVID-19 Situation Summary, which is updated regularly as information becomes available.
If you feel ill or experience flu-like symptoms, we urge you to stay home and seek medical care.
Globally yours,
Michelle Harpenau, Executive Director
mharpenau@cincyworldaffairs.org
