In the face of colleges across the country suspending in-person classes in an effort to prevent spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), College of the Canyons (COC) officials have released a statement detailing the steps they are taking to continue providing educational services in the face of a potential outbreak.

“We now know this is a real possibility given the Centers for Disease Control’s announcement that the virus will likely crop up across America,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Diane Van Hook. “Given the CDC’s warning, we are planning now for any possible disruptions due to an outbreak.”

Van Hook collaborated with other community college presidents from across the state on Sunday to discuss how to prepare for such an outbreak.

“The State Chancellor’s Office has been working with the Governor’s Office and will be providing guidance to COC and the other 114 colleges state-wide on how to respond to this rapidly evolving issue,” said Van Hook. “In addition, we are coordinating with L.A. County Public Health, the City of Santa Clarita and the local school districts.”

College of the Canyons plans to follow the lead of the State Chancellor’s Office along with state, federal and Los Angeles County health officials in the event of an outbreak, officials said.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has also posted updated guidelines for colleges and universities.  Among its recommendations is the development of institutional action plans in the event of increased community transmission of COVID-19.

College of the Canyons is following these recommendations, and with the formation of a campus task force, has taken action to reduce exposure, said officials.

COC officials stressed that as of Wednesday, there were no known cases of COVID-19 at College of the Canyons.

Among other preventative measures, COC has formed a task force that includes administrators, facilities and maintenance personnel, human resources staff, faculty, classified staff, communications staff and the chancellor.

“This group is helping to gather information, formulate, prepare and implement COC’s response, and strategize on how to keep students and employees informed,” said Van Hook.

Planning is underway to formalize a contingency plan to allow COC to move as much instruction online as possible in the event of a campus closure.

“At this time, we are not aware of any confirmed coronavirus cases at the college, or in the wider Santa Clarita community,” said Eric Harnish, spokesperson for the college. “Based on the guidance given by public health agencies, we are continuing with classes and campus events.”

To mitigate potential spreading, the college has added temporary cleaning staff during both day and evening shifts whose sole focus is cleaning door handles and other frequently touched surfaces in high-traffic areas, according to Harnish.

COC college leadership is proactively developing communication and action plans to help inform students, faculty and staff to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19.

These plans include supplying tissues to college campuses, increasing the cleaning schedule for public areas and temporarily increasing custodial staff.

In addition to these operational changes, COC also plans to develop a website dedicated to providing updates and answering Frequently Asked Questions, as well as communicating via email, fliers and social media educational information about basic prevention measures, such as frequent handwashing and staying home when sick.

“We will work to continue the work of updating the district’s Emergency Response Plan to include protocols for issues such as travel restrictions; cancellation of classes, events, athletic competitions or performance; and the protocol response should students, faculty or staff be diagnosed with COVID-19,” said Van Hook.

Students and staff are encouraged to be aware of the symptoms of coronavirus and how to prevent it. Symptoms are flu-like, and include coughing, sneezing and difficulty breathing, according to Public Health officials.

“Even if the symptoms seem mild, do not come to campus or go out in public if you feel unwell,” said Van Hook to faculty members. “Encourage unwell students to stay home as well.”

More information and updates on the coronavirus are expected to be shared when it becomes available. In the meantime, COC officials are set to update the “News” section of their website with fresh information, post on social media and post messages around campus to encourage prevention and symptom familiarity, according to Van Hook.

Related: First Death Related To Coronavirus COVID-19 Reported In L.A. County, Cases Grow To 27

On Wednesday, the L.A. County Department of Public Health announced the first coronavirus-related death in L.A. County, and that there are now 27 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the area.

College of the Canyons currently plans to continue classes and operations as normal.

Contrastly, multiple California State Universities (CSU) announced Wednesday that they would be suspending all in-person events to prepare for online instruction. CSU Northridge announced Wednesday that all classes would be cancelled Thursday through Sunday to prepare for the online transition, which would begin after spring break on March 23.

CalArts in Santa Clarita also announced a suspension of all in-person classes, activities and performances between Wednesday, March 11 and Sunday, March 22.

COC encourages community members to stay informed with the latest information on the outbreak and to continue to practice healthy habits to prevent the spread of illness.

For science-based, updated information, College of the Canyons recommends visiting the CDC and the World Health Organization websites on the coronavirus.

“Stay safe Cougars, wash those paws often and stay home if you are unwell,” said Van Hook.

If there is suspicion of an active COVID-19 case on campus, faculty, staff and students are to contact the Student Health Center by phone at 661-362-3259.  The criteria are: fever, cough and/or shortness of breath with history of international travel in the past 14 days or close contact with a confirmed case.

When the Student Health Center is closed, faculty, staff and students are to call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health directly at 213-240-7941 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or 213-974-1234 (after hours) and follow their instructions.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• 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.
• 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.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.