Happy Friday,
You may have read or heard that California is the first state to have its status upgraded regarding community transmission risks associated with COVID-19. This is an encouraging sign, although our rates in Merced County have not declined as quickly as we would have hoped.
As we continue to learn how to operate in person while living with COVID-19, we come across areas for improvement with our campus protocols and standards.
One important area that we want to adjust is food in the classroom, during instruction. Starting immediately, food may not be consumed in the classroom during scheduled class sessions. This new restriction is to prevent individuals from removing their masks while in higher density class settings as a public health mitigation measure.
We appreciate the feedback from those who reached out on this issue and encourage others to do the same if they see opportunities for improvement.
Here are a few key reminders for all of us to continue doing our part .
- The asymptomatic testing program provides an important contribution to monitoring our public health and I ask that all of us follow our protocols, whether it’s the weekly testing to remain in compliance with the UC Policy or whether its part of our Lot Quality Program to ensure we are mitigating any outbreak risks.
- Face coverings are required indoors at all times, with limited exceptions. Please stay vigilant in wearing yours to help safeguard our campus health.
I hope the fall semester is going well for our Bobcat community. To the extent you can, take advantage of our cooler weather (albeit temporary and with air quality permitting) and have a safe weekend!
Andrew Boyd
Chief Resilience Officer
