sPHENIX is a new detector at RHIC.

[David Morrison <morrison AT bnl.gov>]

    Dear sPHENIX collaborators,
    
    The BNL Lab Director Doon Gibbs sent out this COVID-19 update to the
    Lab community.  In case you didn't receive it via other channels,
    we're forwarding it to the sPHENIX list.
    
    Regards,
    Dave and Gunther

-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: COVID-19 Update for March 15: Site Access Changes, Social Distancing, and Telework Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2020 19:38:05 -0400 From: BNL Media & Communications Office <pubaf AT bnl.gov> To: broadcast-l AT lists.bnl.gov

NOTE: The following message is being sent to the Lab community on behalf of Laboratory Director Doon Gibbs. Note to supervisors: Please post or share a copy of this email for staff who do not have access to email.

* * *

COVID-19 Update for March 15: Site Access Changes, Social Distancing, and Telework

While the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to climb in Nassau and Suffolk counties, NY State, and across the country, the Laboratory has yet to report its first presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19 on site. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated the importance of taking proactive measures now to reduce the severity of the outbreak in the weeks and months ahead. Also, both county executives on Long Island announced this weekend that all Long Island K-12 schools will be closed for the next two weeks, representing an additional hardship for many of our staff. While Brookhaven Lab will continue its crucial work on behalf of the nation, we will also do our part to help slow the spread of this disease, in part by taking the actions outlined below.

Site Access Changes
Starting Saturday, March 14, the Laboratory suspended all non-essential visits to the Laboratory - by retirees, family members, and members of the public - until further notice. We are also taking the following actions:

- We will suspend access for all non-Brookhaven users, visitors, and guests starting Tuesday, March 17, with exemptions for non-Brookhaven users already on site and for those non-Brookhaven users and guests who are permanently or semi-permanently based at the Laboratory. This action supersedes and expands the 30-day ban on hosting international visitors that began on March 14.
- The fact that the National Synchrotron Light Source II will soon begin a month-long maintenance shutdown should help minimize the impact on our largest user population. We are working with management at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider - which will continue its science run through July - to ensure crucial shift positions usually staffed by external collaborators can be filled by Brookhaven Lab staff and others already on site instead.

- A limited number of exceptions (e.g., compressed gas deliveries, warehouse deliveries, food deliveries, etc.) will be instituted to sustain mission-critical activities, science operations, and support to the National Weather Service. These requests for access (including for collaborators on mission-critical science programs) will be submitted by the associate lab directors to the Deputy Director for Operations for review and approval.


Social Distancing
By reducing opportunities for transmission of the virus, we can delay and reduce the severity of the impact on our community and protect those most at risk. Please continue to practice social distancing:

- All employees should keep at least six feet from others as much as possible, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and don't shake hands.

- Rather than meeting in person, whenever possible, employees should use BlueJeans videoconferencing, MS Office Teams, or other technology for meetings, or just use the telephone.
- As announced Friday, any internal meetings with more than 30 attendees must be moved to virtual participation (audio or videoconference), rescheduled to a future date, reduced to include fewer people, or cancelled.

Telework
We're continuing to work with each directorate to identify critical research and other activities that require facility access, as well as the operational staff we need to conduct that work safely. As a complement to this, we will also be enabling telework for both exempt and non-exempt staff to reduce the density of employees on site, which will help keep the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission low. Managers and supervisors will be provided guidance regarding who is eligible for telework as well as telework implementation requirements for those who are approved to work from home.
- Employees at higher risk should work out accommodations with their supervisor to telework if they have not done so already.
- Implementation details will be provided to the ALDs and office directors by the ALD for Human Resources this week.

Additional Information
All previous prohibitions on non-essential international business travel for Brookhaven Lab staff and guidelines for self-quarantine remain in effect and can be found on the Lab's COVID-19 website, along with many additional resources: https://www.bnl.gov/COVID19/. All questions should be directed to the Lab's COVID-19 Task Force for coordination at COVID19 AT bnl.gov.

I'll continue to share more information as it becomes available.

- Doon Gibbs
Laboratory Director

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Brookhaven National Laboratory www.bnl.gov
Media & Communications Office Phone: (631)344-3174
Bldg. 400 - P.O. Box 5000 Fax: (631)344-3368
Upton, NY 11973
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


_______________________________________________
Broadcast-l mailing list
Broadcast-l AT lists.bnl.gov
https://lists.bnl.gov/mailman/listinfo/broadcast-l

-- 
David Morrison  Brookhaven National Laboratory  phone: 631-344-5840
                Physics Department, Bldg 510 C    fax: 631-344-3253
                          Upton, NY 11973-5000  email: dave AT bnl.gov