Coronavirus Update: Directives and Resources

Dear Faculty and Staff,

In response to the Vietnamese Prime Minister directive (No.# 16/CT-TTg) call for urgent measures to control and prevent COVID-19, the Department of Education and Training has instructed all educational institutions to work online from home, and for people to only go out if necessary from April 1, 2020, for 15 days. 

This means that everyone should continue to enforce maximum social distancing and to only go out primarily for necessities – food, medicine, medical care, for the next 15 days. Everyone must continue to wear a mask in public places and at work, and maintain at least 2 meters from others at all times. The Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, captured it well, when he said, ” We are asking people to come together as a nation by staying apart from each other.”

This week, in one-on-one Zoom sessions with new faculty members around the world, I had some great conversations and several opportunities to hear first-hand how other institutions are dealing with the current challenges. We are not alone and must continue to work in unity and collaboration.

Once again,  I encourage you to use all of the resources available to you: e.g. subscribe to updates from the Wellness Blog, where our Wellness Committee regularly shares helpful articles, podcasts, and videos. This recent post contains a video series from Lea Waters on Adapting to COVID-19 that is particularly informative. 

Also, the Good News Digest, sent weekly to parents, is in its second edition. Have a look and celebrate some of the achievements and good news in our community. Also, this week there’s a “Things to do for Spring Break” section, which is also on Padlet.

With this, I wish you all a continued relaxing Spring Break. Have some fun and relaxation! You have earned it.  And, don’t forget to check in on each other, call your buddy, and stay connected to your family at home and our family here at SSIS.

All good wishes,
Catriona