UCSB Health Alert

Campus medical experts are concerned about the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Isla Vista. This week alone, Student Health has been informed of 22 new positive cases among undergraduate students living in private residences in Isla Vista. This follows the 9 and 10 new cases reported in the preceding two weeks. None of the individuals currently live or work on campus. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has reported a total of 69 positive cases in Isla Vista since the pandemic began, with half of these cases reported in the past 17 days.

It’s important that students, faculty and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone who has tested positive share that information through the email or phone number in the Reporting COVID-19 section of the campus’s COVID-19 information page, and then assist the COVID-19 support team, who will notify others who may have been exposed. This is critical to mitigating the spread of the disease.

Information about testing sites can be found in the COVID-19 Santa Barbara Testing Resource List, also on the COVID-19 information page.

The information you share with the campus COVID-19 support team at Student Health will be kept strictly confidential and will not result in any penalties or disciplinary action.

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19:

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and may appear 2-14 days following exposure to the virus. For your own wellbeing, as well as that of your friends and family, health experts urge you to follow these health precautions:

• Follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines if you have a known exposure to COVID-19. These call for a 14-day quarantine, regardless of your test result.

• Practice physical distancing and avoid gatherings of large groups. Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and people who don’t live with you. Avoid crowded places and large gatherings.

• Wear a face covering in all workplaces, and in both indoor and outdoor settings with other people where physical distancing of 6 or more feet cannot be maintained.

• Clean your hands frequently. Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, especially if you have been in a public place.

• Use a household disinfectant daily to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as tables and countertops, faucets, doorknobs, handles and light switches.

For more information: COVID-19 Information for the UC Santa Barbara Campus, Current Status of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County