Coronavirus - information for the IMT School community

24 February 2020

With reference to the recent cases of New Coronavirus infection in Italy, no precautionary measures are foreseen for Tuscan universities at this time, so all the School’s activities will continue to take place as planned.

Everyone is invited to observe normal hygiene practices, that is:
• wash your hands often with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) or with alcoholic solutions;
• sneeze or cough into a tissue or with your elbow flexed, throw the used tissues in a closed basket immediately after use;
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
• avoid close contact with people who are sick or who show symptoms of respiratory diseases (such as coughing and sneezing);
• do not exchange objects that allow contact with other people's saliva (food, glasses, dishes, cigarettes, etc.);
• do not take antiviral drugs or antibiotics unless prescribed by your doctor (antibiotics don't work against viruses).

Fur further details you can visit the following websites:
Regione Toscana (in Italian)
Italian Ministry of Health (in Italian)
World Health Organization (World Health Organization)

For any useful information it is also possible to contact the public utility telephone number 1500 set up by the Ministry of Health, which is active 24 hours a day, and the number 800556060 (option 1) set up by Regione Toscana, which is active from Monday to Friday, from 9 to 15.

For those who have had contacts with confirmed cases of Covid-19 and also for all the people who have returned to Italy in the last 14 days after having stayed in the areas of China affected by the epidemic or from the quarantined areas in the Lombardia Region and in the Veneto Region the following numbers have been made available by local health authorities:

• Asl Toscana centro (Firenze, Prato, Pistoia, Empoli) 055.5454777
• Asl Toscana nord ovest (Pisa, Livorno, Lucca, Massa Carrara, Viareggio) 050.954444
• Asl Toscana sud est (Arezzo, Grosseto, Siena) 800.579579

Besides, these people should proceed to self-isolation for at least 14 days and contact a doctor or health authorities if fever and cough occur.

As of today, there is no news of cases in Tuscany, so any flu symptoms (such as cough, fever or sore throat) are to be attributed in the first instance to common seasonal viruses.
In case of febrile respiratory diseases, avoid going to the emergency room spontaneously, but refer to your doctor or 118 for an assessment of your state of health.
As a precautionary measure, given the current framework, we suggest to postpone all the journeys that are not strictly necessary.