WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.269 --> 00:00:01.269 Hi, everyone. 00:00:01.269 --> 00:00:06.700 I hope you all had a good break and that those of you who are UVA faculty, staff, and students 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:08.650 are ready to start this new semester. 00:00:08.650 --> 00:00:14.410 I’d like to start by thanking you, again, for your efforts last semester. 00:00:14.410 --> 00:00:19.090 Without your dedication, commitment, and discipline, we would not have been able to complete the 00:00:19.090 --> 00:00:21.900 semester safely and successfully. 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:25.990 You were able to accomplish something that many doubted was possible, and it was your 00:00:25.990 --> 00:00:30.150 concern not just for yourselves but for others that made all the difference. 00:00:30.150 --> 00:00:35.500 My main message today is that we are going to need the same resolve and compassion this 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:37.130 semester as well. 00:00:37.130 --> 00:00:42.100 Last week, we announced that we will welcome undergraduate students back as previously 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:43.100 scheduled. 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:47.840 Like last semester, not all classes will be held in person—but all undergraduate classes, 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.360 both in person and online, will start on February 1. 00:00:51.360 --> 00:00:56.329 We are also sticking with our existing plans for the start of graduate and professional 00:00:56.329 --> 00:00:59.540 programs, which have a range of start dates for the semester. 00:00:59.540 --> 00:01:03.930 If you are a graduate or professional student with questions, please check with your individual 00:01:03.930 --> 00:01:06.549 school or program. 00:01:06.549 --> 00:01:08.909 We did not make this decision lightly. 00:01:08.909 --> 00:01:13.509 As you may know, the number of Covid cases is at an all-time high, both nationally and 00:01:13.509 --> 00:01:14.509 locally. 00:01:14.509 --> 00:01:18.469 But after many conversations with medical and public health experts, we have decided 00:01:18.469 --> 00:01:21.189 to bring students back for several reasons. 00:01:21.189 --> 00:01:26.240 First, we learned a great deal this fall and are in a much stronger position to respond 00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:27.420 to the virus. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:32.689 We can now perform thousands of tests per day, and we will be requiring every student 00:01:32.689 --> 00:01:34.710 to get tested once a week. 00:01:34.710 --> 00:01:38.429 We are also making regular testing available to faculty and staff. 00:01:38.429 --> 00:01:43.850 We also have more experienced support teams and more isolation and quarantine space, and, 00:01:43.850 --> 00:01:49.829 as a community, we have more experience following and enforcing health and safety protocols. 00:01:49.829 --> 00:01:54.039 As was true in the fall, we also know that thousands of students will be in the area 00:01:54.039 --> 00:01:57.219 this spring, whether classes are in-person or online. 00:01:57.219 --> 00:01:58.630 Many of them already are. 00:01:58.630 --> 00:02:02.560 By welcoming those students to Grounds, we will have a better sense of what’s happening 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:08.020 and will be able to do more to keep our students and members of the community safe. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:12.720 Leaders in the health system are also confident about our hospital capacity. 00:02:12.720 --> 00:02:19.211 UVA Health has 736 hospital beds, and while the health system is busy right now, that 00:02:19.211 --> 00:02:24.730 activity is driven primarily by non-COVID patients, many of whom are undergoing elective 00:02:24.730 --> 00:02:25.730 procedures. 00:02:25.730 --> 00:02:30.260 We have opened a second Covid unit in our new bed tower and can flex to create more 00:02:30.260 --> 00:02:33.400 beds if the number of cases goes up. 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:37.700 We will keep monitoring the situation closely and will adjust if we have to. 00:02:37.700 --> 00:02:43.430 We also learned a lot last semester about how the virus spreads—and the relative risks 00:02:43.430 --> 00:02:45.340 of different environments. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:50.410 We did not see any evidence of transmission within classrooms or from UVA students to 00:02:50.410 --> 00:02:54.090 faculty, staff, and members of the community this fall. 00:02:54.090 --> 00:02:58.860 And we have every reason to believe that will continue to be the case—as long as we keep 00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:01.730 following health and safety guidelines. 00:03:01.730 --> 00:03:05.230 That last part is going to be more important than ever. 00:03:05.230 --> 00:03:10.970 With more Covid cases in and around Charlottesville—and with news of more contagious variants being 00:03:10.970 --> 00:03:15.840 detected across the country—we are going to have to be even more vigilant than we were 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:17.100 last semester. 00:03:17.100 --> 00:03:22.050 That’s why we are taking additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus—from 00:03:22.050 --> 00:03:28.100 encouraging students to quarantine before returning, to requiring all students to submit 00:03:28.100 --> 00:03:32.830 a negative Covid test before returning, to testing all students within seven days of 00:03:32.830 --> 00:03:34.820 arrival back in Charlottesville. 00:03:34.820 --> 00:03:40.740 We’re also limiting the size of gatherings to no more than six people starting January 00:03:40.740 --> 00:03:45.310 19 and continuing through at least the first two weeks of the semester. 00:03:45.310 --> 00:03:50.580 I realize this limit asks more of all of us – especially our students, but we want to 00:03:50.580 --> 00:03:56.209 make sure we do everything we can to get off to a strong start and avoid a surge in cases 00:03:56.209 --> 00:03:58.291 at the outset of the semester. 00:03:58.291 --> 00:04:02.740 We’ve heard from many of you—especially faculty, staff, and members of the community—about 00:04:02.740 --> 00:04:04.910 when you’ll be able to get the vaccine. 00:04:04.910 --> 00:04:10.240 The Virginia Department of Health is in charge of distributing the vaccine, and UVA Health 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:14.500 is partnering with our local health district to accelerate distribution. 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:19.900 We’re giving out as many doses as we get to the people VDH and the local health district 00:04:19.900 --> 00:04:25.400 tell us are eligible, but it’s going to take time to vaccinate everyone. 00:04:25.400 --> 00:04:30.150 For a number of reasons, as Dean Groves will explain in a minute, it remains incredibly 00:04:30.150 --> 00:04:35.479 important for everyone to keep following health and safety measures, especially mask wearing 00:04:35.479 --> 00:04:40.650 and social distancing in public—even if you’ve had Covid or have already gotten 00:04:40.650 --> 00:04:42.229 the vaccine. 00:04:42.229 --> 00:04:44.620 This semester won’t be easy. 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:49.490 As I mentioned, if anything, it’s going to take even more patience, more vigilance, 00:04:49.490 --> 00:04:54.169 and more creativity from all of us, especially until the weather gets warmer. 00:04:54.169 --> 00:05:00.819 The difference between success and failure really will come down to the many small, personal 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:03.939 decisions each of us makes every day. 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:08.289 We will need help and resolve from all of you to make this semester work. 00:05:08.289 --> 00:05:14.720 We all know by now that Covid is a virus that will take advantage of every lapse and misstep, 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:19.499 which means that our health and safety guidelines and university testing strategy have never 00:05:19.499 --> 00:05:21.300 been more important. 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:24.819 Conditions are more challenging than they were in the fall, and we will be prepared 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:27.129 to change plans if we have to. 00:05:27.129 --> 00:05:28.949 But we’ve been through this before. 00:05:28.949 --> 00:05:30.659 We know what it takes. 00:05:30.659 --> 00:05:35.410 And I am confident that, together, we can make it through this semester just like we 00:05:35.410 --> 00:05:36.520 did the last one. 00:05:36.520 --> 00:05:40.909 I look forward to seeing all of you soon, even if it’s virtually. 00:05:40.909 --> 00:05:45.309 And now I’ll turn it over to our Dean of Students, Allen Groves, to talk a little more 00:05:45.309 --> 00:05:48.319 about what this semester will look like for students. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:49.600 Thank you. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:50.600 Thanks Jim. 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:54.780 I want to start by saying “thank you” to our students. 00:05:54.780 --> 00:05:59.610 Last fall, we asked you to return to Grounds only if you were prepared to make personal 00:05:59.610 --> 00:06:04.879 sacrifices and help us protect the entire community from COVID, including those more 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.110 vulnerable than yourselves. 00:06:07.110 --> 00:06:12.270 This meant conducting events virtually, limiting the size of gatherings, and complying with 00:06:12.270 --> 00:06:15.139 masking and facial distancing requirements. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:19.970 I want to specifically thank our student members of Resident Staff who worked to keep everyone 00:06:19.970 --> 00:06:25.479 safe in our residence halls, our fraternities and sororities who came together early on 00:06:25.479 --> 00:06:30.680 and agreed to refrain from hosting social gatherings, and everyone who stepped up in 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:37.139 a public health crisis to allow the University to maintain an in-person semester. 00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:41.509 There were certainly some instances where compliance fell short and required that students 00:06:41.509 --> 00:06:46.870 and student organizations be held accountable through our student-run UJC, but those tended 00:06:46.870 --> 00:06:49.210 to be the exception, not the rule. 00:06:49.210 --> 00:06:54.620 When cases spiked in September and gathering limits had to be temporarily reduced to 5, 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:59.339 students responded to the challenge and case counts began to decline. 00:06:59.339 --> 00:07:02.129 So again, thank you. 00:07:02.129 --> 00:07:07.900 As President Ryan said, we are faced with a situation now that is not unlike September. 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:11.409 Case counts are spiking regionally and nationally. 00:07:11.409 --> 00:07:17.419 Last Friday, the New York Times reported the CDC is warning, and I’m quoting, that “a 00:07:17.419 --> 00:07:23.139 far more contagious variant of the coronavirus first identified in Britain could become the 00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:27.830 dominant source of infection in the United States by March, and would likely lead to 00:07:27.830 --> 00:07:34.719 a wrenching surge in cases and deaths that would further burden overwhelmed hospitals.” 00:07:34.719 --> 00:07:37.849 This is what we face in the coming weeks and months. 00:07:37.849 --> 00:07:43.539 For this reason, we have lowered the gathering limit to 6 people at least until Feb. 14, 00:07:43.539 --> 00:07:45.279 when it will be reassessed. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:50.639 This number was chosen in consultation with medical experts as a good limit to allow some 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:55.009 socialization while helping reduce the threat of viral spread. 00:07:55.009 --> 00:08:00.669 It also allows a suite of students in a residence to gather without leaving anyone out. 00:08:00.669 --> 00:08:06.080 Our fraternities and sororities have also agreed to adhere to this limit in their upcoming 00:08:06.080 --> 00:08:09.780 recruitment activities, which is critical. 00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:14.969 We have a system in place to review requests for exceptions to the gathering limits, although 00:08:14.969 --> 00:08:20.430 any exception must stay within the restrictions set by the Commonwealth, city and county. 00:08:20.430 --> 00:08:28.629 Last fall, we received 40 such requests from student groups and schools, and approved 32. 00:08:28.629 --> 00:08:33.080 Exception requests must clearly set out the nature of the planned event and the measures 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:38.450 being employed to help insure safety and avoid virus transmission. 00:08:38.450 --> 00:08:45.040 Such requests may be forwarded to our office via odos@virginia.edu. 00:08:45.040 --> 00:08:50.360 We will also continue to look for other opportunities for you to safely engage in student life within 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:53.460 the restrictions necessitated by the virus. 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:59.200 That said, I need to make clear that we will step up compliance enforcement this semester, 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.530 given what we are seeing in virus trends and rising case counts. 00:09:02.530 --> 00:09:07.700 We have to protect our community and avoid overwhelming our medical system. 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:12.260 Students should be well-versed by now in what is required, including the necessity to gather 00:09:12.260 --> 00:09:18.370 in groups of 6 or less, wear masks at all times, and maintain a 6 foot minimum distance. 00:09:18.370 --> 00:09:23.100 Given the increasing risk, we will move even more quickly to immediately address violations 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:28.240 and, in the most severe cases, suspend those who do not comply. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:33.270 It won’t take many violations of scale to quickly unravel the in-person aspects of the 00:09:33.270 --> 00:09:38.630 spring semester, so each person’s decision to fully comply really matters. 00:09:38.630 --> 00:09:44.690 I also want to speak about the perception among some that once you have had COVID, restrictions 00:09:44.690 --> 00:09:46.880 should no longer apply to you. 00:09:46.880 --> 00:09:52.160 As University leadership explained in an email last Friday, the science around whether those 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:59.460 who have had COVID -can contract the virus again and spread it to others again is inconclusive. 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:04.330 People who contract COVID may shed the virus for a period of time that extends beyond the 00:10:04.330 --> 00:10:07.800 alleviation of symptoms or a positive test. 00:10:07.800 --> 00:10:12.850 Of course, our fellow community members also have no way of knowing which people previously 00:10:12.850 --> 00:10:17.420 tested positive and which are putting themselves and others at risk by ignoring health and 00:10:17.420 --> 00:10:19.580 safety standards. 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:25.840 Universal adherence to COVID prevention restrictions will avoid anxiety within our shared community 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:28.560 and prevent potential conflict. 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:33.280 Most importantly, following these standards is part of the commitment people who are on 00:10:33.280 --> 00:10:37.540 Grounds make to the University and to each other. 00:10:37.540 --> 00:10:42.780 Lastly, with respect to the COVID vaccine, except for students training in a health care 00:10:42.780 --> 00:10:47.930 field and working with patients, the general student population is not yet eligible to 00:10:47.930 --> 00:10:49.700 receive the vaccine. 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:54.610 If you have not received an email invitation directed to you, you are not eligible for 00:10:54.610 --> 00:11:00.230 a vaccine right now we ask that you please do not try to sign up for one. 00:11:00.230 --> 00:11:05.130 Our local health district is working to vaccinate what are called category 1A -- health care 00:11:05.130 --> 00:11:10.290 personnel and residents of long term care facilities, with the assistance of the UVA 00:11:10.290 --> 00:11:11.290 Medical Center. 00:11:11.290 --> 00:11:17.980 The health district will next move on to category 1B, focusing on those age 75 and over. 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:22.610 We do not yet know when most students will be vaccinated as they are not in any of the 00:11:22.610 --> 00:11:24.560 groupings announced so far. 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:29.630 The Governor has said he hopes all residents of the state will be vaccinated by the early 00:11:29.630 --> 00:11:30.630 summer. 00:11:30.630 --> 00:11:34.430 As soon as we know more, we will let you know. 00:11:34.430 --> 00:11:38.750 By choosing to return to Grounds this spring, you are agreeing to abide by these restrictions 00:11:38.750 --> 00:11:44.090 imposed by the University, and to stay aware of any changes to those restrictions that 00:11:44.090 --> 00:11:47.530 may be necessitated by changing viral trends. 00:11:47.530 --> 00:11:51.900 This means you need to read the weekly COVID email updates, which we are working to make 00:11:51.900 --> 00:11:57.060 easier to navigate so you can easily get to the information most pertinent to you. 00:11:57.060 --> 00:12:01.900 Our students did an admirable job in working to keep everyone safe last fall, and we need 00:12:01.900 --> 00:12:07.150 an even greater level of commitment this spring as we enter the most potentially dangerous 00:12:07.150 --> 00:12:12.730 phase of the virus in terms of rising case counts and ease of viral spread. 00:12:12.730 --> 00:12:19.840 I know we are capable of doing this, and I wish you the best as we begin the spring semester.