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COVID-19: Info & Resources for our students & community

At the Siena Art Institute (SART) & Siena School for Liberal Arts (SSLA), we are committed to ensuring the health & safety of all of our students and community members. This page provides latest information and guidelines for the SART/SSLA community and our students regarding current global concerns regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), a situation that is evolving rapidly in Italy and worldwide (we will update this page as new information becomes available). We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation with updates provided from local, regional, national and international authorities and we have been in contact with our current students as well as with our international partners. 

Measures in place at SART/SSLA:

Our building will be closed from the evening of March 9 through May 4 2020, due to Italy's national mandate. Our teachers and administrative staff continue to work remotely while our building is closed to assist our students with their studies through work from home.  We are carefully following guidelines set out by the Italian Health Ministry (Ministero della Salute) and the World Health Organization (WHO).  Classes, public lectures, conferences, and community workshops at the SART/SSLA have been postponed until April 3. During this period of elevated advisory levels, we are in the process of setting up a schedule for lessons to continue via video conferencing.

  • We are in regular communication with our students and it is understandable that the uncertainty of this situation can cause anxiety. Our program staff is available and students are encouraged to reach out to let us know about their concerns or if we can help direct them to resources.

  • Everyone is urged to utilize safe hygiene practices as outlined by the World Health Organization: regularly wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, avoid touching your face, cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow not your hands, don’t share glasses, forks, bottles, or cosmetics. Sleep, nutrition, and physical activities are important to maintain a healthy immune system. (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public) 

  • Everyone is urged to avoid all "unnecessary travel" in all of italy but are permitted to be out for grocery shopping etc.  Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other businesses remain open. 

  • We recommend to all of our current students and community members if you have booked a trip, please evaluate carefully the safety of your destination before deciding whether to travel. If you have not made a reservation, we recommend to postpone your journey.  

  • Be sure to follow updates from your country’s state department: the latest US State Department Coronavirus updates about Italy can be found at https://it.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ .  Information from the Greek Embassy in Rome about the current coronavirus situation can be found at: https://www.mfa.gr/italy/it/the-embassy/news/annuncio-del-ambasciata-di-grecia-in-italia-riguardo-ai-casi-covid-19-nel-paese.html

Again, the our building is closed through April 3 2020 but our teaching staff continues to work with our students remotely and likewise our administrative staff remains available to provide support to any SART/SSLA community member who needs assistance.

The situation in Siena, in Italy, and globally:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has helpful material available on their website available to the public, including an informative video about coronavirus, and the WHO also continues to public regular situation reports about the global COVID-19 situation. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Daily updates for the public (in Italian) are available from the Italian Health Ministry Health (in Italian) and the Italian Protezione Civile (in English and Italian). http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/en/risk-activities/health-risk/emergencies/coronavirus

The city of Siena has information and guidelines about the coronavirus response on their online portal:

https://www.sienacomunica.it/coronavirus-informazioni-utili-sito-del-comune/

 

If you may have symptoms:

If you are a student experiencing symptoms of coronavirus you are advised to immediately self-isolate and contact SART/SSLA staff immediately who can put you in contact with the local medical authorities to receive evaluation and treatment.  The most concerning symptoms for coronavirus can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.  For more detailed information on coronavirus symptoms, please see the advice of the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

In his declaration from March 3rd (in Italian) (in English) the President of our Region of Tuscany, Enrico Rossi, confirmed that free treatment, prevention and assistance is offered for all foreign tourists, students, and scholars within our region, guaranteeing “the same health coverage, the same assistance, and the same treatment defined and assured to all Tuscan citizens.”

 

SART/SSLA administrators & the local Italian Health Officials should be immediately informed if:

  • you have recently stayed in the Italian regions which are currently under quarantine (the “red zone / zona rossa”)

  • you have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus

  • you have recently entered Italy from China or other countries considered at high-risk for the virus in the past 14 days.  In Tuscany, you may phone 055 545 4777 for this purpose or 800.579.579. Operators are on duty from 8:00 to 20:00, or you may leave a message from 20:00-8:00. 

Resources & contact info for support (local, regional, national, and global):

  • The Italian Health Ministry’s COVID-19 helpline can be called at 1500 (from within Italy) and has information on their website:  http://www.salute.gov.it/nuovocoronavirus 

  • For non-emergency information and support, al toll-free helpline is run through the Tuscan Regional Health Service and can be reached at 800.556060, Monday-Friday from 9:00-17:00.

  • More information and updates addressing the current coronavirus situation from Sienese city government: https://www.comune.siena.it/La-Citta/Comunita/INFORMAZIONI-CORONAVIRUS-COVID-19

  • Updates and advice for the public about the coronavirus from the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 

  • SART/SSLA administrative staff is available to provide support to any SART student or community member who needs assistance.  Our office number: (+39) 0577 573086

  • The national number to call for extreme health emergencies is 118.

Coronavirus Information: 

 

Government declarations, mandates, and other useful info: 

Italian Governmental Policies and Declarations: 

A series of procedures are being taken by the Italian government to contain the spread of COVID-19. Listed below (in Italian) are the policies currently enacted. More details can be found on the website of the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri: http://www.governo.it/it/approfondimento/coronavirus-la-normativa/14252

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