AnonymousSource: UC Santa Barbara
Our medical staff have observed a sharp increase in the number of positive COVID-19 test results in Isla Vista. Yesterday, 22 new positive results were reported in students living in Isla Vista, and this morning (Saturday, January 16th), 51 more have come in. The vast majority of these cases are among undergraduate students. To put these numbers in perspective, testing during Week 2 of this quarter yielded 2.5 times more positive results than testing during Week 10 of the fall quarter. Student Health has also observed that students are experiencing more serious symptoms than they were just a few weeks ago.
This trend – not related to recent move-ins at on-campus apartments – reflects the increasing rate of infection that we are seeing throughout Santa Barbara County (SBC) and California. Yesterday, SBC Public Health Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso shared that our county has the highest rate of spread in the state. We are sharing this information with you today because we want you to have it as soon as possible so that you are fully informed to make safer choices that protect the health of our community.
Even if you are relatively young, in good health, and have no underlying medical conditions, please keep in mind that the risk to you might be lower, but it is not zero. There is great risk of being an asymptomatic carrier and transmitting the virus to others who are at high risk for serious illness in our community – Isla Vista is home to many children, families, and elderly people, including people with pre-existing conditions. The only way to protect our community’s wellbeing is for each one of us to take thoughtful action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We must continue to follow public health guidelines diligently until it is safe to resume in-person activities. Please continue to follow the guidance of the December 6, 2020 Regional Stay-At-Home Order including:
- 100% masking and physical distancing. All businesses remaining open will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing.
- No gatherings with members of other households (indoors or outdoors). This includes gathering in the streets, at parks including beaches, and moving from one place to another in large groups. Very few exceptions apply.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Executive Director, Student Health & University Physician
SACJON: In a previous comment on a related article Duke wrote that this situation is “a non story. Bring them back.” Duke said these numbers are “nothing more than a drop in the bucket.” I’d hate to be in that bucket. Remember when Duke said we were just about to move from Red Tier to Yellow Tier and open up? A week later we got moved into Purple Tier.
No one is pointing blame in the right place. We all know which subset of people traveled over the holidays to do large in home social gatherings to get infected and then came home to do more in home social gatherings to get more people infected. The fact is this subset of people just don’t care. They get free healthcare and probably consider going to the hospital a vacation since they get waited on by nurses. If they cared about not dying, then they would be more careful like the rest of society. Because are society values political correctness more than the well being of our society we will continue to be locked down by the government while our Governors kids attend private school.
I am sure UCSB has an outbreak of the flu every year – it is not news. Just like college students get CV should not be news. Now id all of these students were actually filling up our hospitals and dying, then, yes, that would be news.
I keep looking new or fresh information in these discussions but am disappointed. Hopefully Biden will fix the vaccine pipeline and this will all go away.
Wow VOR you literally brought out edhat to comment on your misinformation this time. Bravo
We will never beat the virus with people like VOR constantly undermining efforts with bunk data points and angry rants about Florida.
VOR I’ll show you, you claimed that since we have shit down outside dining that people will, and I quote you “will now meet up and dine at homes…” like complete strangers will see someone on the street and say “hey since we can’t dine outside here. Come over to my house!” Yeaaa you basically said that.
PSTARSR: Since we’re bringing up old comments, how about this bigoted classic from you…”Solvang, the largest tourist attraction near us. Especially for chinese and other foreigners. Holy hell i thought we were free of idiots like this! Good grief” (https://www.edhat.com/news/solvang-openly-defies-state-covid-19-order)
I still have a tough time buying that. How exactly are you or someone whose isolating and at-risk come into contact with one of these students and risk exposure? Everyone in grocery stores is wearing masks and respectful of others. They shouldn’t be going home to grandma and if they are that’s a family issue. You’re not going to get it walking your dog past them playing beer pong in the rose gardens, you’re not going to get it passing them on State (whether they have a mask on or not).
We’ll never beat the virus with irresponsible leadership whose only approach has been to try and force everyone into their homes by themselves for 10 plus months. That approach isn’t working because 1) it isn’t a tool at the governments disposal and 2) we are humans and it simply isn’t possible for everyone to shelter in their homes for months on end.
Morning Pstar, you still think my completely rational comment is still crazy ? https://www.sfgate.com/news/editorspicks/article/California-outdoor-dining-ban-COVID-19-surge-worse-15882565.php
Biden’s current Covid plan is to mandate face masks while traveling. Brilliant! It’s already being done. We are all safe now.
There has been, like the scientific papers and articles from qualified medical professionals showing that the heavy restrictions not only don’t work but cause more harm than good. But not being open minded, you gloss right over it and argue with the poster instead.
The UCSB crowd can’t help it. They’re just not affected out there. They’re not going to die from it (99.9% true). Yes, a bunch of them will come down with it, but it’s likely to be a cough/flu-like deal and that’s about it. For every one that actually went to get tested and tested positive, there are probably twenty or more that never even bother to get a test. They’ll be speading it rampantly amongst themselves for a while. The big downside for the greater good is really what hurts – numbers staying high in our county and our businesses and PUBLIC schools not getting back in action.