The University of Virginia on Tuesday evening announced the implementation of new health and safety restrictions in response to a recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases among students.
The new restrictions took effect Tuesday evening and will remain in place through Feb. 26, when University leaders will re-evaluate them based on case numbers and other data at that time.
The new measures were announced in a University community email message from President Jim Ryan, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dr. K. Craig Kent, Provost Liz Magill and Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis.
“We know that the temporary steps outlined below will be difficult for members of this community, particularly our students,” the leaders wrote. “That said, in light of the rapid growth in cases we have seen over the past week, we believe they are essential to preserving our isolation and quarantine space and reducing the risk of spreading cases into the Charlottesville/Albemarle community.”
The operating changes include:
- All in-person events and gatherings, on- and off-Grounds, as defined in Policy SEC-045, are prohibited and should be moved online. These restrictions take effect at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
- This includes social gatherings, club and organization functions, and other in-person interactions that do not meet the exclusions set forth in SEC-045.
- In-person classes will continue, with additional measures enacted to limit congregation in common spaces before and after classes.
- Research activities will continue, with any modifications determined by the vice president of research and the provost.
- On-Grounds students may leave their residence hall for essential activities such as:
- Attending an in-person class.
- Eating at, or picking up a meal from, dining halls or other locations on Grounds.
- Engaging in an individual outdoor activity, such as running or walking.
- Complying with ongoing prevalence testing requirements, receiving a symptomatic COVID-19 test, or other medical care.
- Going to an on- or off-Grounds job, excluding volunteer activities, not impacted by these modified restrictions.
- Picking up mail at the mailroom.
- Going to the Bookstore for essential personal items.
- Off-Grounds students are encouraged to remain at home and limit contact with individuals outside of their living arrangement. Off-Grounds students may only come to Grounds to:
- Attend an in-person class.
- Eat at, or pick up meals from, dining halls if they have a meal plan.
- Comply with ongoing prevalence testing requirements, receive a symptomatic COVID-19 test, or other medical care.
- Go to an on-Grounds job not impacted by these modified restrictions.
- Recreational facilities will close at their planned times Tuesday evening and remain closed during this period.
- Libraries will close at their planned times Tuesday evening, with operations moving to contactless pick-up during this period.
- Dining facilities will remain open and grab-and-go options will remain available. In-person seating will be restricted to no more than two people dining together.
- Telework is strongly encouraged for as many employees as possible.
- For staff and students who work in areas that are closed due to the short-term measures and who are unable to work remotely, the University said employment status and pay will not be interrupted.
University leaders last week alerted UVA community members of the presence of the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant, known as the U.K. variant, and of a concerning rise in positive cases that was distributed widely among students both on- and off-Grounds.
