U.Va. to test all residential students on regular basis
By Zach Rosenthal | October 14, 2020University Spokesperson Wes Hester confirmed in an email statement that employees of the residences will also have the opportunity to be tested.
University Spokesperson Wes Hester confirmed in an email statement that employees of the residences will also have the opportunity to be tested.
The University’s other restrictions on mask-wearing, social distancing and travel, which were extended for an additional two weeks last Tuesday, will remain in place for at least another week.
The announcement comes less than a week before the deadline to drop a class, and students must decide to opt into the CR/GC/NC system about a month before final exams.
The University issued refunds throughout the end of September to on-Grounds students for housing and all-access dining plans, as well as to those who chose to stay home for the fall semester.
Ryan said that the University will consider implementing additional regulations on Lawn residents before the next academic year and before the next class of students moves onto the Lawn.
Ryan said that the University has already issued interim suspensions to multiple students who have not complied with public health guidelines and warned that the University will be “more vigilant moving forward.”
According to a new policy, students are not allowed to record Zoom sessions — for any reason — unless they have been given written permission by the instructor and all participants have been notified that they will be recorded.
An email to Balz-Dobie residents at 4:58 p.m. Wednesday evening requested they return to their dorms by 6 p.m. to be tested for COVID-19.
University President Jim Ryan described the University's reopening as "so far, so good."
Dr Reid Adams, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Chief Medical Officer Adams provided updates on the contributions of UVA Health to the community.
The Board of Visitors approved resolutions to remove the George Rogers Clark statue, contextualize the statue of Thomas Jefferson in front of the Rotunda, rededicate or remove the Whispering Wall, rename the Curry School and rename Withers-Brown Hall.
The Board is scheduled to discuss the historic landscape during Friday's full board meeting, as well as the Racial Equity Task Force report submitted to President Ryan in August.
Just over two weeks into the academic year, Ryan says he is “cautiously optimistic” that the University will not have to send students home mid-semester because of the University’s increased testing capacity and additional isolation and quarantine space.
The COVID-19 and safety-related demands include financial compensation and hazard pay, adequate personal protective equipment and risk reduction, revised and clearly articulated policing and COVID-19 guidelines, provisions for food security and housing stability and revised financial aid policies for resident staff.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through asymptomatic individuals, the University plans to notify anywhere from 50 to 150 students daily that they are required to provide samples.
As of Monday, there have been 47 reports of students violating COVID-19 restrictions, though there is significant overlap between the reports. 11 reports were from the University’s Just Report It portal, while 36 reports were made through the community portal.
University leadership cited several reasons for their decision in the email, including improving conditions locally and in Virginia, knowledge gained from other universities who have opened, and encouraging behavior from student athletes, graduate students, and other individuals in Charlottesville over the summer.
The total number of cases among students, faculty, staff and contract employees since Aug. 17 is now 67, not including pre-arrival testing, according to the University community tracker.
The message comes the weekend before classes begin, which typically marks annual Block Party celebrations.
UNC’s decision to pull the plug on in-person classes comes after clusters of cases popped up in three residence halls and a fraternity house — where students live in close proximity to each other — just days after the semester began Aug. 10.