Updates: Facility Access, PPE Donations, COVID-19 Research, and Deliveries

March 25, 2020

Dear Pratt faculty, 

I am writing with a few reminders and updates related to Pratt operations in light of the recent stay-at-home order issued by the Durham mayor’s office. Please share with your lab staff and students as needed.

Access to Pratt Facilities

• As noted in the Duke-wide memo sent by Kyle Cavanaugh today, “Individuals who are maintaining critical research laboratory functions may continue to do so provided they observe safety guidelines.  However, access to offices and classrooms for the purposes of teaching online classes is no longer permitted.”

• The expectation continues to be that all Pratt personnel are working remotely, with the exception of those individuals who have been approved by the Senior Associate Dean for Research to continue limited, critical work in research labs. As noted in our March 20 memo, any essential work performed on campus must be done voluntarily--no one can be forced to carry out this work if they are concerned about being placed at risk of disease.  

• Pratt faculty who had planned to use offices or classrooms for online teaching--such as to record lessons using Panopto--may no longer do so. Please check keepteaching.duke.edu for resources for teaching from home.  If you are concerned about your home internet connectivity or bandwidth, please complete the Duke OIT speed test following these instructions and make note of the data. You can then contact help@pratt.duke.edu for assistance. 

Donations of Personal Protective Equipment

Duke has received many offers of PPE for colleagues in the Health System, and has established a central drop-off for easy donation. Click here for more information.

Deliveries

New procedures for package delivery were issued and posted to the pratt.duke.edu/covid19 webpage on March 24.

Working with SARS-CoV-2

Investigators wishing to initiate any studies with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 should register their intent by completing the survey here, or through MyResearchHome by clicking “Planning Coronavirus Research? Notify Us” in the COVID-19 Quick Links.

Thank you for your continued flexibility and patience in adapting to the challenges presented by COVID-19. If you have questions or need assistance, please email pratt-research@duke.edu.

George A. Truskey
Senior Associate Dean for Research