1 00:00:00,299 --> 00:00:01,619 Hi everyone. 2 00:00:01,619 --> 00:00:05,810 Today I want to speak directly to students to share some important changes we’re making 3 00:00:05,810 --> 00:00:08,340 and explain why we’re making them. 4 00:00:08,340 --> 00:00:11,250 I’ll start with a word of thanks. 5 00:00:11,250 --> 00:00:15,800 Over the last few weeks, the vast majority of you have been following the University’s 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,570 health and safety guidelines in order to protect yourselves and the people around you—from 7 00:00:20,570 --> 00:00:25,079 the waiter on the Corner, to the dining hall employees, to the professor in front of the 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:26,079 classroom. 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,619 You have been doing the right thing, not just when it’s easy but when it’s hard—and 10 00:00:29,619 --> 00:00:31,659 for that we are incredibly grateful. 11 00:00:31,659 --> 00:00:36,960 I especially want to thank the residents of Balz-Dobie, Lefevre, Echols, and Kellogg who 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:41,609 had to be tested after we discovered signs that there might be infections in their residence 13 00:00:41,609 --> 00:00:46,039 halls, you handled disruptions to your schedules with patience and understanding. 14 00:00:46,039 --> 00:00:51,480 I also want to thank in advance those of you who may be asked to do something similar in 15 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:53,379 the days and weeks ahead. 16 00:00:53,379 --> 00:00:58,790 All of you are the reason we still have a chance to make this semester a success. 17 00:00:58,790 --> 00:01:04,300 But, as we’ve said from the very beginning, staying one step ahead of this virus will not 18 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:05,550 be easy. 19 00:01:05,550 --> 00:01:09,340 It will require everyone doing their part—not just some of the time or even most of the 20 00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:11,190 time, but all the time. 21 00:01:11,190 --> 00:01:16,290 Recently, it’s become clear just how difficult—and important—that can be. 22 00:01:16,290 --> 00:01:20,560 Over the last few days, we’ve become more concerned about the spread of COVID-19 within 23 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:21,860 the UVA community. 24 00:01:21,860 --> 00:01:26,110 Some of this has been driven by a rise in the number of positive cases in our community. 25 00:01:26,110 --> 00:01:30,950 We’ve also gotten reports of a few large student gatherings, both on and off Grounds, 26 00:01:30,950 --> 00:01:37,170 as well as reports about inconsistent adherence to masking and distancing guidelines. 27 00:01:37,170 --> 00:01:41,350 This has caused concern among our public health experts, who worry that we may be headed in 28 00:01:41,350 --> 00:01:45,650 the wrong direction—and that if we don’t get back on track quickly, we could end up 29 00:01:45,650 --> 00:01:51,400 in a situation where we have to severely restrict where students can go or risk running short 30 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,930 on isolation and quarantine space. 31 00:01:53,930 --> 00:01:58,360 That’s not a situation any of us wants to be in, which is why we are putting in place 32 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,680 three new restrictions that will apply to students, on- and off- on Grounds, for 33 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,960 at least the next two weeks: 34 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:10,970 First, gatherings will now be limited to 5 people, down from a previous limit of 15. 35 00:02:10,970 --> 00:02:15,270 Students will still be able to gather outside safely, including on the Lawn, but will have 36 00:02:15,270 --> 00:02:17,460 to do it in groups of 5 or fewer. 37 00:02:17,460 --> 00:02:22,480 If this new limit is not respected, we may have to consider additional restrictions, 38 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:23,800 including curfews. 39 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:28,610 Second, all students will be required to wear masks at all times unless you’re at home 40 00:02:28,610 --> 00:02:34,230 in your room, eating, or exercising outdoors or in accordance with the guidelines at one 41 00:02:34,230 --> 00:02:36,610 of our on-Grounds IM/Rec facilities. 42 00:02:36,610 --> 00:02:40,930 And even when you are exercising, you should always keep a mask on hand in case you run 43 00:02:40,930 --> 00:02:42,450 into another person. 44 00:02:42,450 --> 00:02:47,850 Finally, we are going to ramp up enforcement of our travel and visitor policies for students, 45 00:02:47,850 --> 00:02:52,180 which should be simple to understand and to follow: please do not leave Charlottesville 46 00:02:52,180 --> 00:02:56,090 over the next two weeks, and do not invite visitors to come to town. 47 00:02:56,090 --> 00:03:00,810 This is to protect people outside this community as well as to prevent more of the virus from 48 00:03:00,810 --> 00:03:02,690 being brought back to Grounds. 49 00:03:02,690 --> 00:03:07,820 Importantly, these masking and gathering guidelines will apply to faculty and staff on-Grounds 50 00:03:07,820 --> 00:03:12,230 as well with the traditional exception that if you’re alone in your office, you do not 51 00:03:12,230 --> 00:03:13,760 need to wear a mask. 52 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,480 These new guidelines will officially go into effect tomorrow – Wednesday, September 23rd 53 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,069 – at 9am. 54 00:03:20,069 --> 00:03:24,080 In addition to these new restrictions, it’s more important than ever to be mindful of 55 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,450 maintaining physical distance from other people whenever possible. 56 00:03:27,450 --> 00:03:31,860 This includes at bars and restaurants; if you cannot stay six feet from others at a 57 00:03:31,860 --> 00:03:34,290 restaurant or bar, do not go in. 58 00:03:34,290 --> 00:03:39,590 And speaking of bars, if you are under 21, please do not go in, period. 59 00:03:39,590 --> 00:03:44,209 Our medical experts have identified bars as among the highest risk locations, and we need 60 00:03:44,209 --> 00:03:50,319 your help in limiting risk for yourselves, your fellow students, and members of our community. 61 00:03:50,319 --> 00:03:55,280 Please understand that these rules are important for your safety and the safety of those around 62 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:56,280 you. 63 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:00,190 We know these additional restrictions will be an added burden, and we do not adopt them 64 00:04:00,190 --> 00:04:01,190 lightly. 65 00:04:01,190 --> 00:04:05,450 But we are doing what we can to slow down the spread of the virus and increase our chances 66 00:04:05,450 --> 00:04:07,570 of remaining on Grounds all fall. 67 00:04:07,570 --> 00:04:13,010 We hope and trust you will follow these restrictions, but if need be, we will have no choice but 68 00:04:13,010 --> 00:04:14,220 to enforce them. 69 00:04:14,220 --> 00:04:19,209 We have already had to issue interim suspensions to several students for intentionally disregarding 70 00:04:19,209 --> 00:04:24,580 policies around gatherings, masking, and social distancing, and we will be even more vigilant 71 00:04:24,580 --> 00:04:26,009 going forward. 72 00:04:26,009 --> 00:04:29,189 We will also put in place additional restrictions if necessary. 73 00:04:29,189 --> 00:04:34,030 I say this not to alarm you, but to make clear that we will continue to do everything we 74 00:04:34,030 --> 00:04:38,610 need to in order to keep people safe and to give students a chance to remain on Grounds 75 00:04:38,610 --> 00:04:39,710 this semester. 76 00:04:39,710 --> 00:04:42,550 A few other important things to note: 77 00:04:42,550 --> 00:04:46,169 In-person classes will continue during this two-week period. 78 00:04:46,169 --> 00:04:50,909 Classes are obviously a part of our core mission as a University, and we have no evidence that 79 00:04:50,909 --> 00:04:53,710 the virus has been transmitted in classrooms. 80 00:04:53,710 --> 00:04:58,439 We’re also going to continue ramping up testing—monitoring the wastewater coming 81 00:04:58,439 --> 00:05:03,520 out of dorms, testing random groups of students every day, and very soon, rolling out saliva 82 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:08,169 screening that will allow us to test larger numbers of students at multiple locations 83 00:05:08,169 --> 00:05:09,169 across Grounds. 84 00:05:09,169 --> 00:05:13,479 I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: if you get asked to submit a test, 85 00:05:13,479 --> 00:05:14,479 please do so. 86 00:05:14,479 --> 00:05:19,839 You won’t get in trouble for testing positive or for providing accurate information to contact 87 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:20,839 tracers. 88 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:25,969 I still believe we can do this, but it will take everyone’s very best effort. 89 00:05:25,969 --> 00:05:29,669 From the very beginning, we have known that this path would be difficult. 90 00:05:29,669 --> 00:05:33,370 Some people said we couldn’t do it; some people still have their doubts. 91 00:05:33,370 --> 00:05:37,270 But while getting to Thanksgiving is going to be hard, all of you have shown over the 92 00:05:37,270 --> 00:05:43,090 last six months that you can do hard things—whether it’s missing graduations and sports seasons, 93 00:05:43,090 --> 00:05:48,199 figuring out online classes, or trying to make new friends under extraordinarily challenging 94 00:05:48,199 --> 00:05:49,199 circumstances. 95 00:05:49,199 --> 00:05:52,340 I believe this is a challenge we can meet. 96 00:05:52,340 --> 00:05:56,639 Please be dedicated about following our health and safety guidelines, encourage the people 97 00:05:56,639 --> 00:06:01,060 around you to do the same, and together we will keep this semester on track. 98 00:06:01,060 --> 00:06:05,379 We will keep you posted on our progress during these next two weeks, and hopefully at that 99 00:06:05,379 --> 00:06:09,770 time we will be able to ease some of the new restrictions we are putting in place today. 100 00:06:09,770 --> 00:06:11,069 Thank you, and take care.