GMC News
GMC Shares Update on Coronavirus Protocol
Georgia Military College Shares Update on Coronavirus Protocol
The safety, health, and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority at Georgia Military College. Our Nurse Director and her staff are working closely with State and local health departments, as well as the CDC, to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus as closely as we can. This is a rapidly evolving situation and governmental policies and procedures are changing as the situation changes. GMC does have processes and protocols in place for the Preparatory School, Corps of Cadets, and our College campuses to address this concern.
To ensure the prevention of Coronavirus to the greatest extent, GMC has implemented the following mandatory measures for all 14 college campuses, GMC Prep School, Corps of Cadets, and all institutional departments:
• All students, faculty, and staff must sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving a classroom or office.
It is highly important that everyone take proactive and preventative measures so that we mitigate the spread of Coronavirus to any GMC campus, student, faculty, or staff member. We have ensured that all GMC campuses have sufficient hand sanitizer and anti-viral wipes in all classrooms, offices, and common areas. We have also ensured the cleaning of GMC facilities be increased.
At this time, GMC and all its campuses remain open, but we will continue to follow recommendations by the CDC and Department of Education for guidance on any closures that may occur. We are working to inform all of our students, their parents, faculty, and staff, as well as the community about preventative measures we can all take to decrease the chance of this virus spreading.
For students other than those attending our Milledgeville campus, if you are uncomfortable attending in-seat classes or you believe you may be subjected to a 14-day quarantine due to travel, we encourage you to register for classes through the Global Georgia Military Online College, and take all classes online, as we enter spring quarter. If you are already registered for in-seat classes but would like to switch to on-line, please contact your advisor immediately. With the exception of students at the GMC-Milledgeville campus, every student can sign up to take a full class load online before the spring quarter starts on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
For information on GMC’s protocols for Coronavirus, visit https://www.gmc.edu/current-students/coronavirus-info.cms for the latest information. This link is updated daily.
What is the difference between seasonal flu and COVID-19?
• Coronaviruses are a family of viruses and there are different types of coronaviruses within that family, much like there are different types of influenza viruses. In the United States, there are common coronaviruses that circulate every year, which usually cause upper respiratory tract illnesses much like the common cold. Coronaviruses tend to circulate in the fall and winter months, like influenza. Most people get infected with these viruses at some point in their lives. The coronavirus that has emerged in Wuhan, China, is a new type of coronavirus and is infecting people for the first time, which means that people do not have immunity to it.
What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?
• For the vast majority of people who have had the illness, symptoms were mild (like a cold or flu) and they resolved after several days. Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and sore throat.
What preventative actions can faculty, staff, and students take at this time?
• 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 eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid sharing food, beverages, and utensils.
• Avoid close contact with those who may be ill.
• Cover cough/sneeze with a tissue or cough/sneeze into your elbow.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces.
• Get your annual flu shot.
It is highly recommended that faculty, staff, and students continue to practice preventive actions as flu season continues. If you are feeling ill, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
More Information
Outbreaks involving novel coronaviruses evolve quickly and recommendations from public health officials may change frequently as new information becomes available. Please check the following websites often for updated information.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Georgia Department of Public Health website: https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus
For the latest information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
