Health update: Keeping watch on COVID-19

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”22810″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]We’ve created this page to help keep you informed about how the latest developments with the emerging COVID-19 respiratory disease could impact MIPA events and activities. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact MIPA Executive Director Jeremy Steele at 517-353-6761 or mipa@msu.edu.

April 2, 2020, 2 p.m.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, all in-person summer youth programs at Michigan State University have been suspended. MIPA is working on plans to offer an online program to students in place of our summer workshop at MSU. Stay tuned for more information about that program.

Students who have already registered for our in-person workshop will receive a full refund, or may apply any payments they’ve made to our online program. Please contact the MIPA office for more information.

March 23, 2020, 2 p.m.

MIPA’s board today made the decision to cancel the April 20 Awards Celebration. Instead, we have begun working on a plan to celebrate the hard work of students via various online technologies. Our timeline is impacted by the governor’s stay at home order. More information will be announced at a later date.
Our special May/spring contests, which include Best Newscast, Special Projects and our Film Challenge, have been suspended until there’s more certainty about the K-12 school year in Michigan. We look forward to rolling out these contests as soon as possible.
We’ve also suspended planning for all in-person workshops and trainings through May. At this time, we continue to plan for our summer workshop in late July.
Meanwhile, MIPA has scheduled its annual membership meeting, to be held via Zoom video conference, at 9:30 a.m. Monday, April 20. Member advisers will receive information on how to participate.
The MIPA office is closed. Staff are working remotely and are responding to phone calls and email messages.

March 13, 2020, noon

The decision to close school buildings statewide through at least April 5 will have a ripple event on a variety of activities, including production of student media. At MIPA, we are suspending online registration for our April 20 Awards Celebration.

Since our founding nearly a century ago, one of MIPA’s key strengths has been how well we take care of each other. As students and teachers push beyond the immediate crisis of today and get a chance to plan a path forward, MIPA is here to help. Please use our listservs and networks of advisers and students to share ideas, best practices and tools for learning and practicing journalism.

We will find an appropriate time and venue to celebrate the amazing work of our students this past year – including how they are handling this crisis both as students and as journalists. That may be April 20 or it may be at a later date or it may be using virtual technologies. We’ll announce more when we are able to make a more informed decision in this rapidly evolving environment.

Meanwhile, the resources of the MIPA office remain available to our members. Please contact us with any needs.

March 11, 2020, 11 a.m.

State officials have confirmed two cases of COVID-19, a Wayne County man who recently traveled domestically and Oakland County woman who recently traveled internationally. Both are hospitalized. Health officials believe more cases are likely to be found, but it’s not clear how widespread the illness may be or what methods might be used to slow or prevent its spread. Michigan State University has moved in-person classes to online instruction as part of its response to this disease.

MSU’s decision about classes does not impact MIPA operations, and there is not at this time a general recommendation from state or local officials to cancel events. We continue to plan our Spring Awards Celebration on April 20, although we are developing contingency plans. We encourage advisers to start making field trip arrangements as normal, but to develop their own contingency plans. We are altering our cancellation and refund policies to accommodate the uncertainty that exists, and we continue to make plans for our program that allow us to protect the health and safety of attendees.

March 10, 2020, 10 a.m.

At this time, we are preparing for the MIPA Spring Awards Celebration on Monday, April 20, to take place as scheduled. We also are moving forward with planning for the MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop in July.

MIPA is closely monitoring guidance from local, state and national health experts related to this disease, and we are implementing their recommendations into our operations.

We are also working closely with our partners at the Lansing Center, which hosts the Spring Awards, and Michigan State University, which houses the MIPA office and is the site of the summer workshop.

Organizations, schools and event planners across the country are developing plans to address the impact of this disease, reduce its spread and keep people safe. Some have cancelled events and conferences or limited travel. These decisions are being made based on the facts in specific communities, guided by the latest science.

The situation with this disease is evolving. As of this date, no known cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Michigan. The CDC says that the immediate risk for most people of being exposed to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low.

Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions seem to be at higher risk from this disease, according to the CDC.

The CDC recommends the following precautions for preventing the spread of this disease. You can find more information at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
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.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

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COVID-19 Resources

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