A virtual town hall on Wednesday will focus on the spread of the COVID-19 virus locally and nationally and include health and safety tips for the holidays.

The town hall comes as cases surge across the country with the holiday season approaching. In comparison, COVID-19 cases have remained relatively low in the Charlottesville area and at the University of Virginia, thanks to students, faculty, staff and community members embracing public health measures. However, there has been a slight uptick in cases at UVA in recent weeks, as well as some reports of larger gatherings.

The town hall, which is aimed at UVA students and their families, will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom to address some of those issues, review COVID-19 conditions in Charlottesville and offer guidance for the upcoming holiday season, as students prepare to leave Charlottesville for the Thanksgiving break. Students will not return to Grounds until in-person instruction resumes Feb. 1.

Speakers will include Provost Liz Magill, Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis, Department of Medicine Chair Dr. Mitch Rosner and Director of Hospital Epidemiology Dr. Costi Sifri.

The town hall is open to parents, students, faculty, staff and community members. Participants can register in advance and submit questions here.