COVID-19 Updates: The University of San Diego and San Diego County

COVID-19 Updates University of San Diego San Diego County California The University of San Diego (USD) continues to monitor the coronavirus and has created a website to keep students/families, faculty, and staff up-to-date on topics affecting the university for Fall 2020, including plans for hybrid teaching, new safety/health measures, and housing. As announced by President Harris on May, 2020, USD intends to reopen the campus for the fall semester, including on-campus classes, provided this is allowed by state and county orders. To read more about the plan visit: https://www.sandiego.edu/news/detail.php?_focus=76564

At the English Language Academy (ELA), we have considered the advantages and disadvantages of following this hybrid structure, and given the number of challenges still facing our students, we have decided that remote instruction is the most effective way to offer our students a rigorous and engaging course of study in Fall 2020. We look forward to welcoming students back to campus in Spring 2021.

The good news for San Diego County is overall we have experienced a lower rate of positive cases of the coronavirus and cases of COVID-19 (the actual disease created by the virus) compared to other counties in California, and the rest of the country. Likewise, the number of deaths is lower as well. As businesses, workplaces, and schools begin to reopen, we must continue to practice social distancing and wear face coverings to keep these numbers low. Remember in order to keep the disease from spreading:

• Everyone should stay home except to take care of essential needs, go to an essential job, go to reopened businesses or go out for exercise.
• Practice social distancing.
• Keep at least six feet away from other people unless they’re household members.
• Avoid gatherings of any size.
• You need to have a face covering when leaving home and wear it when you’re within six feet of anyone not a household member, or when entering an indoor public place.

Given the population of California, we have experienced a remarkably low number of positive cases and actual deaths. Most likely, this is a result of Governor Newsom closing down business and schools very early on when the COVID-19 was first declared a pandemic. In fact, we were the first state in the country to do so. Currently, we are in Stage 2 of a 4-stage program to reopen.

Additional Information may be found at the following website:
University of San Diego: https://www.sandiego.edu/coronavirus/
San Diego County: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/community_epidemiology/dc/2019-nCoV/status.html
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/ community_epidemiology/dc/2019-nCoV/reopening.html
California: https://covid19.ca.gov/