| Dear Friends,
I am sure that all of us are following news of the quickly evolving situation with COVID-19. I want to let you know that we are taking the coronavirus very seriously here at the International Institute of Buffalo. We have put into place procedures to aid in the safety of staff, clients and students, volunteers, and visitors. We are following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as local and state health officials. We are prepared to enhance our cleaning schedule and its intensity. Staff, volunteers, and clients are being encouraged to stay home if they are not feeling well. We are also reminding staff to follow CDC recommendations for thorough hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and reminding staff to turn to trusted health websites, such the Erie County Department of Health (www2.erie.gov/health/) and the New York State Health Department (www.health.ny.gov/) for accurate and updated information. We have become aware that social distancing is an important method of slowing down the spread of the coronavirus. So, while there are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Erie County, we are practicing social distancing by cancelling the following events through the end of March. – Model United Nations – cancelled for March 17 – What We Carry: Stories of Buffalo’s Immigrant Women –cancelled for March 24 We will continue to keep you informed of any additional policy and event changes as they emerge. Finally, during this time of stress, we urge everyone to be kind to our foreign-born neighbors and co-workers. The foreign-born are no more the source of coronavirus infection than any of us. Let’s work together to reduce the risk for everyone. Cordially, Eva Hassett Executive Director |