COVID-19 UPDATE: Positive test results in UO community; student input sought

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NEW:

  • Four additional University of Oregon students are determined to be positive COVID-19 cases in Eugene, for a total of 40 cases in the UO community. The students are recovering in isolation.
  • Lane County Public Health (LCPH) has confirmed that two of the cases are travel-related and two have yet to be linked to other cases and are still under investigation. LCPH officials are conducting contact tracing and monitoring for individuals associated with these positive cases. Note that UO does not report on students who may be determined by LCPH as contacts of positive cases, who currently may be quarantining for a period of 14 days.
  • The UO is holding multiple listening sessions the week of July 27 to hear directly from students what their needs and concerns are for fall term. Students who are selected to participate will receive a $5 Gift Card to the Duck Store. If you are a current UO student interested in participating, please click here and complete the interest form.
  • The Division of Global Engagement is hosting an international town hall with President Michael Schill, university leaders, and experts on international student immigration rules from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, July 22. In preparation for fall term, the UO is committed to supporting international students during this time of crisis and change. All are welcome to attend.

REMINDERS:

  • Last week, Provost Patrick Phillips sent a message to faculty and GEs and Chief Human Resources Officer Mark Schmelz sent a message to staff about plans to resume more in-person instruction, research, services, and events in the fall, including information about the university’s criteria for resuming and its safety plans. If, by August 26, the university does not have confidence in our ability to manage all of the conditions, we will transition to a more limited operational status for fall.
  • As of July 15, face coverings are now required statewide in outdoor public spaces when physical distancing is not possible, in addition to the existing requirement for indoor spaces.
  • Details of the university’s face covering and symptom self-check policies are now available on the new COVID-19 regulations page.

You can reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 by limiting the number of people with whom you are in close contact. Take the following precautions:  

  • Keep groups small and limited to only people you know.
  • Wear masks or cloth face coverings.  
  • Remember that exposure is defined as being within six feet of another for 15 minutes.
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after touching common surfaces.
  • Don’t share drinks, vapes, or utensils.

RESOURCES:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  • The Oregon Health Authority reports 14,847 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in the state, 398 cases in Lane County, 3,566 in Multnomah County, and 69 in Coos County on July 20. Forty members of the UO community have tested positive.
  • The university continues to work in close coordination with the Oregon Health Authority and our companion institutions and agencies. Additional resources are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oregon Health Authority, and your health care provider.
  • As a reminder, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The Centers for Disease Control outlines some general precautions to minimize the spread of respiratory diseases. 

The UO is providing biweekly COVID-19 updates, on Mondays and Thursdays. Urgent information will be shared through direct emails.

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