[Students] Thanksgiving Travel

[Communications]

Dear Campus Community,

This week, the United States saw its deadliest day for COVID-19 while California’s 102% increase in positive cases over the last two weeks triggered a return to broader restrictions statewide and implementation of a limited stay-at-home order<https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/limited-stay-at-home-order.aspx>. Additionally, last Friday, the State of California issued a travel advisory<https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx> stating that all persons traveling to California should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. In response to these changes, we are putting new procedures in place to keep our community safe.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, please practice extra caution by limiting all in-person gatherings and non-essential travel. You may find the recommendations<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html> for holiday activities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be helpful. If possible, please refrain from traveling for Thanksgiving.

If you are a student living on campus, please stay on campus or stay home if you travel. If you are one of our employees currently working onsite, please stay home or celebrate in accordance with California Department of Public Health guidance<https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-for-the-Prevention-of-COVID-19-Transmission-for-Gatherings-November-2020.aspx> on gatherings.

If you decide to travel, please note the below:

  *   Any student who resides in campus-operated housing and who engages in any off-campus unmasked activity (sharing a meal, recreational activities, gatherings, etc.) is required to sequester for 14 days within their residential unit upon returning to campus.
     *   For students living in residence halls, sequester requires the student to wear face coverings and socially distance within the residential unit (with the exception of their personal bedroom and the shower), complete the daily wellness check, and undergo COVID-19 testing twice per week after returning to campus.
     *   Students living in apartments or family housing, who need to sequester will also need to complete the daily wellness check and undergo COVID-19 testing once per week.
  *   Essential employees approved to work on campus, who travel outside of their regular household for in-person gatherings, are recommended to sequester for 14 days and complete one COVID-19 test per week through their local or county provider.

Supervisors and research plan owners are responsible for working with their teams concerning travel plans. Human Resources will soon provide guidance regarding options for employees who are recommended for sequester. Please reach out to Human Resources or Academic Personnel if you have any questions.

We recognize that further restrictions may be difficult, especially as the holidays approach. If you need help to navigate this phase of the pandemic, please do not hesitate to seek out additional support. Students who need professional and confidential mental health support may contact UC Riverside’s Counseling and Psychological Services<https://counseling.ucr.edu/> (CAPS<https://counseling.ucr.edu/>) at 951-827-5531. CAPS offers free services to all UC Riverside students.

Staff and faculty can contact the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program<https://hr.ucr.edu/employee-resources/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program> for confidential counseling, referral, or other resources.

Your resilience and commitment to our community throughout the pandemic has been remarkable. Please remain diligent in your personal efforts to stay healthy and safe while also supporting those around you.

Stay healthy,

Kim A. Wilcox,

Chancellor

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