WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.299 --> 00:00:01.619 Hi everyone. 00:00:01.619 --> 00:00:05.810 Today I want to speak directly to students to share some important changes we’re making 00:00:05.810 --> 00:00:08.340 and explain why we’re making them. 00:00:08.340 --> 00:00:11.250 I’ll start with a word of thanks. 00:00:11.250 --> 00:00:15.800 Over the last few weeks, the vast majority of you have been following the University’s 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:20.570 health and safety guidelines in order to protect yourselves and the people around you—from 00:00:20.570 --> 00:00:25.079 the waiter on the Corner, to the dining hall employees, to the professor in front of the 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:26.079 classroom. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:29.619 You have been doing the right thing, not just when it’s easy but when it’s hard—and 00:00:29.619 --> 00:00:31.659 for that we are incredibly grateful. 00:00:31.659 --> 00:00:36.960 I especially want to thank the residents of Balz-Dobie, Lefevre, Echols, and Kellogg who 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:41.609 had to be tested after we discovered signs that there might be infections in their residence 00:00:41.609 --> 00:00:46.039 halls, you handled disruptions to your schedules with patience and understanding. 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:51.480 I also want to thank in advance those of you who may be asked to do something similar in 00:00:51.480 --> 00:00:53.379 the days and weeks ahead. 00:00:53.379 --> 00:00:58.790 All of you are the reason we still have a chance to make this semester a success. 00:00:58.790 --> 00:01:04.300 But, as we’ve said from the very beginning, staying one step ahead of this virus will not 00:01:04.300 --> 00:01:05.550 be easy. 00:01:05.550 --> 00:01:09.340 It will require everyone doing their part—not just some of the time or even most of the 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:11.190 time, but all the time. 00:01:11.190 --> 00:01:16.290 Recently, it’s become clear just how difficult—and important—that can be. 00:01:16.290 --> 00:01:20.560 Over the last few days, we’ve become more concerned about the spread of COVID-19 within 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:21.860 the UVA community. 00:01:21.860 --> 00:01:26.110 Some of this has been driven by a rise in the number of positive cases in our community. 00:01:26.110 --> 00:01:30.950 We’ve also gotten reports of a few large student gatherings, both on and off Grounds, 00:01:30.950 --> 00:01:37.170 as well as reports about inconsistent adherence to masking and distancing guidelines. 00:01:37.170 --> 00:01:41.350 This has caused concern among our public health experts, who worry that we may be headed in 00:01:41.350 --> 00:01:45.650 the wrong direction—and that if we don’t get back on track quickly, we could end up 00:01:45.650 --> 00:01:51.400 in a situation where we have to severely restrict where students can go or risk running short 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.930 on isolation and quarantine space. 00:01:53.930 --> 00:01:58.360 That’s not a situation any of us wants to be in, which is why we are putting in place 00:01:58.360 --> 00:02:02.680 three new restrictions that will apply to students, on- and off- on Grounds, for 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:04.960 at least the next two weeks: 00:02:04.960 --> 00:02:10.970 First, gatherings will now be limited to 5 people, down from a previous limit of 15. 00:02:10.970 --> 00:02:15.270 Students will still be able to gather outside safely, including on the Lawn, but will have 00:02:15.270 --> 00:02:17.460 to do it in groups of 5 or fewer. 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:22.480 If this new limit is not respected, we may have to consider additional restrictions, 00:02:22.480 --> 00:02:23.800 including curfews. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:28.610 Second, all students will be required to wear masks at all times unless you’re at home 00:02:28.610 --> 00:02:34.230 in your room, eating, or exercising outdoors or in accordance with the guidelines at one 00:02:34.230 --> 00:02:36.610 of our on-Grounds IM/Rec facilities. 00:02:36.610 --> 00:02:40.930 And even when you are exercising, you should always keep a mask on hand in case you run 00:02:40.930 --> 00:02:42.450 into another person. 00:02:42.450 --> 00:02:47.850 Finally, we are going to ramp up enforcement of our travel and visitor policies for students, 00:02:47.850 --> 00:02:52.180 which should be simple to understand and to follow: please do not leave Charlottesville 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:56.090 over the next two weeks, and do not invite visitors to come to town. 00:02:56.090 --> 00:03:00.810 This is to protect people outside this community as well as to prevent more of the virus from 00:03:00.810 --> 00:03:02.690 being brought back to Grounds. 00:03:02.690 --> 00:03:07.820 Importantly, these masking and gathering guidelines will apply to faculty and staff on-Grounds 00:03:07.820 --> 00:03:12.230 as well with the traditional exception that if you’re alone in your office, you do not 00:03:12.230 --> 00:03:13.760 need to wear a mask. 00:03:13.760 --> 00:03:18.480 These new guidelines will officially go into effect tomorrow – Wednesday, September 23rd 00:03:18.480 --> 00:03:20.069 – at 9am. 00:03:20.069 --> 00:03:24.080 In addition to these new restrictions, it’s more important than ever to be mindful of 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:27.450 maintaining physical distance from other people whenever possible. 00:03:27.450 --> 00:03:31.860 This includes at bars and restaurants; if you cannot stay six feet from others at a 00:03:31.860 --> 00:03:34.290 restaurant or bar, do not go in. 00:03:34.290 --> 00:03:39.590 And speaking of bars, if you are under 21, please do not go in, period. 00:03:39.590 --> 00:03:44.209 Our medical experts have identified bars as among the highest risk locations, and we need 00:03:44.209 --> 00:03:50.319 your help in limiting risk for yourselves, your fellow students, and members of our community. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:55.280 Please understand that these rules are important for your safety and the safety of those around 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:56.280 you. 00:03:56.280 --> 00:04:00.190 We know these additional restrictions will be an added burden, and we do not adopt them 00:04:00.190 --> 00:04:01.190 lightly. 00:04:01.190 --> 00:04:05.450 But we are doing what we can to slow down the spread of the virus and increase our chances 00:04:05.450 --> 00:04:07.570 of remaining on Grounds all fall. 00:04:07.570 --> 00:04:13.010 We hope and trust you will follow these restrictions, but if need be, we will have no choice but 00:04:13.010 --> 00:04:14.220 to enforce them. 00:04:14.220 --> 00:04:19.209 We have already had to issue interim suspensions to several students for intentionally disregarding 00:04:19.209 --> 00:04:24.580 policies around gatherings, masking, and social distancing, and we will be even more vigilant 00:04:24.580 --> 00:04:26.009 going forward. 00:04:26.009 --> 00:04:29.189 We will also put in place additional restrictions if necessary. 00:04:29.189 --> 00:04:34.030 I say this not to alarm you, but to make clear that we will continue to do everything we 00:04:34.030 --> 00:04:38.610 need to in order to keep people safe and to give students a chance to remain on Grounds 00:04:38.610 --> 00:04:39.710 this semester. 00:04:39.710 --> 00:04:42.550 A few other important things to note: 00:04:42.550 --> 00:04:46.169 In-person classes will continue during this two-week period. 00:04:46.169 --> 00:04:50.909 Classes are obviously a part of our core mission as a University, and we have no evidence that 00:04:50.909 --> 00:04:53.710 the virus has been transmitted in classrooms. 00:04:53.710 --> 00:04:58.439 We’re also going to continue ramping up testing—monitoring the wastewater coming 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:03.520 out of dorms, testing random groups of students every day, and very soon, rolling out saliva 00:05:03.520 --> 00:05:08.169 screening that will allow us to test larger numbers of students at multiple locations 00:05:08.169 --> 00:05:09.169 across Grounds. 00:05:09.169 --> 00:05:13.479 I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: if you get asked to submit a test, 00:05:13.479 --> 00:05:14.479 please do so. 00:05:14.479 --> 00:05:19.839 You won’t get in trouble for testing positive or for providing accurate information to contact 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:20.839 tracers. 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:25.969 I still believe we can do this, but it will take everyone’s very best effort. 00:05:25.969 --> 00:05:29.669 From the very beginning, we have known that this path would be difficult. 00:05:29.669 --> 00:05:33.370 Some people said we couldn’t do it; some people still have their doubts. 00:05:33.370 --> 00:05:37.270 But while getting to Thanksgiving is going to be hard, all of you have shown over the 00:05:37.270 --> 00:05:43.090 last six months that you can do hard things—whether it’s missing graduations and sports seasons, 00:05:43.090 --> 00:05:48.199 figuring out online classes, or trying to make new friends under extraordinarily challenging 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:49.199 circumstances. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:52.340 I believe this is a challenge we can meet. 00:05:52.340 --> 00:05:56.639 Please be dedicated about following our health and safety guidelines, encourage the people 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:01.060 around you to do the same, and together we will keep this semester on track. 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:05.379 We will keep you posted on our progress during these next two weeks, and hopefully at that 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:09.770 time we will be able to ease some of the new restrictions we are putting in place today. 00:06:09.770 --> 00:06:11.069 Thank you, and take care.