Message to Students from China (Feb 27, 2020)
Monday, March, 2nd, 2020 Archived / Inactive COVID-19
Note: this message was originally sent on February 7, 2020 and lightly edited on March 2, 2020 to correct minor typographical errors and to reflect the updated name for the coronavirus to COVID-19.
Dear International Students from China:
On behalf of the Office of the Provost and the Tufts International Center, we are writing to express our support for you in this difficult time caused by the Novel Coronavirus (2019-n-CoV, [update: now COVID-19]). The recent days and weeks have been a source of understandable concern and anxiety as news about the coronavirus has gained local, national, and worldwide attention. Given this, please accept our thoughts and best wishes for each of you, your friends and family members, and others who may have been directly or indirectly affected by the current situation.
In delivering this message, we want to be sure that you are aware of the support and resources that are available to you through the University. The International Center, as well as our University partners and colleagues, are monitoring developments closely. Many resources can be found at go.tufts.edu/coronavirus, where you can find updates about the University’s response to the coronavirus, preventative measures you can take to reduce risk, and contact information about where to go for medical assistance and advice. The International Center will also post periodic updates, which you can access from the International Center’s home page (https://icenter.tufts.edu). Finally, our colleagues at Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS) have provided useful resources to help with managing and taking care of yourself during difficult times:
- Psychological tips for recognizing and managing coronavirus concerns (CMHS)
- On-line resources to help with anxiety and stress
- Advice and information on getting better sleep
- Counseling and support services available in person at CMHS and by telephone, text, and live chat through iHope and BetterHealth
- Flyer with tips and suggestions to help with stress reduction (in Chinese).
In closing, we encourage you to contact us if there are any specific concerns or questions that you have about any matter. Send your suggestions and comments to Andrew.Shiotani@tufts.edu, or drop by the International Center at 20 Sawyer Avenue or other International Center locations. We welcome the chance to learn more about your needs and concerns and to identify ways about how we can help further.
As the University expressed in a community update earlier this week, we value all members of our international community, and expect everyone to be treated with understanding, compassion, and respect especially in these difficult and stressful times. We want to reaffirm our support to you in full agreement with these values. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Sincerely,
Diana Chigas
Senior International Officer and Associate Provost
https://global.tufts.edu
Andrew K. Shiotani
Director, Tufts International Center
https://icenter.tufts.edu