Dear Colleagues,

I write to inform you that a member of the MBL staff has tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This is the first confirmed case involving a member of our MBL campus community. This patient has not worked on the MBL campus for more than 14 days and is self-isolating at home. On behalf of the entire MBL community, we wish our colleague a quick and full recovery.

I recognize that this news is concerning, and the circumstances are difficult. Our MBL community is incredibly strong and supportive, and we must continue to rely on that support especially now. I ask that you respect our efforts to protect the privacy of our colleague. For immediate questions or concerns, please contact your supervisor or Human Resources Department team members at hr@mbl.edu. I also encourage staff who wish to speak to a counselor to contact the MBL’s Employee Assistance Program provided by E4 Health or call (800) 828-6025.

Safeguarding the health of our community is our greatest concern. Please continue to practice social distancing and follow the prevention guidelines offered by the CDC. If you experience flu-like symptoms, please call your physician.

As always, it is vital for our community to support each other, avoid uninformed assumptions or discrimination, and base our actions on the best information and data available. The CDC has provided resources on reducing stigma related to COVID-19. Information on COVID-19 and topics of interest to the MBL community are available at https://goforward.mbl.edu/.

We will continue to keep you apprised during this evolving situation.  Please continue to take care of yourselves and your families.

Sincerely,

Nipam H. Patel
Director