With cold weather on the horizon, the likelihood of accidents caused by slick conditions will be increasing, creating yet another safety concern for schools to manage during the pandemic.
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership at the private college began exploring how they could safely resume on-campus classes in the fall of 2020 and maintain operations should isolated parts of the community contract COVID-19.
The University of California, Davis is offering its students a monetary incentive to stay home for spring break. Students who opt for a quiet “staycation” over a more traditional college spring break experience will receive $75 in gift cards. The offer comes as the U.S. approaches the one-year anniversary of coronavirus-related shutdowns and restrictions all around the country.
Following Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that he was revoking the statewide mask mandate the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has updated its public health guidelines for state schools.
Last week, an ex-Pomona city councilman was sentenced after pleading no contest to one felony charge of possession of child sexual abuse material and one misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child. Rubio Gonzalez, 45, faces three years of probation (two years of felony probation and one year of summary probation) and a minimum of one year of counseling. Gonzalez is also required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill was passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday in a highly partisan vote. The bill now heads to the Senate where—if it passes—it is expected to do so by a similarly razor-thin margin. However, despite significant opposition to the aid package within the halls of Congress, local officials around the country from both parties have expressed support for the federal aid that would come nearly a year into the global pandemic.
President Joe Biden clarified his goal of reopening the majority of U.S. K-8 schools within the first 100 days of his administration. “I think many of them five days a week,” he said. “The goal will be five days a week.”
Chief among any college student parent’s concern is how their student will stay safe on campus.
In Travis County TX, the COVID-19 testing positivity rate is 20.2% at high schools, 27.1% at middle schools, 19.8% at elementary schools and 10% at preschools.
Schools and universities are faced with an extraordinary challenge this fall. They need to create plans on preventing, identifying and managing people with potential Covid-19 infection and exposure while providing high-quality education.
- By Soumi Eachempati, MD, FACS, FCCM