COVID Omicron Surge: UC Students May Begin January With Remote Learning
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- University of California students may be starting the January term with remote learning as part of a plan to stop the spread of the COVID omicron variant.
UC President Dr. Michael V. Drake sent a letter to campus chancellors Tuesday morning directing each to implement a return-to-campus plan that "mitigates public health impacts, responds to the unique circumstances facing your campus, and maintains our teaching and research operations."
Drake said in the letter the directive may force individual campuses to begin the year with remote instruction to allow students go through a testing protocol as they return to instruction.
"Given the differences in local conditions and campus operations across the University, the length of this remote instruction period may vary from campus to campus," he said.
The return-to-campus plan would incorporate a test, sequester, and retest model as described in the UC Health Coordinating Committee's guidance for returning students.
Chancellors were tasked with emphasizing the importance of preventive measures on campus including masking and avoiding large gatherings, particularly indoors, during the opening weeks of winter quarter or spring semester.