After the week of Jan. 24 saw 147 confirmed COVID-19 cases as reported by University Health Services, UC Berkeley released an update urging students to avoid indoor gatherings.
Due to the uptick in cases, campus sent an email to all residential students today, notifying them of the recent increase of students in quarantine housing. It clarified that students in said housing have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have come into close contact with someone who has.
The email also stated that lack of adherence to COVID-related residential community guidelines, such as gathering outside of one’s household grouping, increases the chance that the campus will not have enough space in quarantine housing for those who need it.
“Please help us to reverse this disturbing trend,” the campus update reads. “It is critical and required by current public health orders, that you do not attend indoor gatherings – large or small – with people outside your household. Even if you think it is safe, it probably is not.”
UC Berkeley Housing additionally sent out an email Friday to inform residents of a testing badge system that will be implemented at Cal Dining’s three dining commons, Crossroads, Café 3 and Clark Kerr, beginning Monday.
According to the email, campus health ambassadors will ask residents to show their badge in eTang before entering a dining hall to ensure that those in the hall have met their mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements, as indicated by a green badge.
“We recognize that this is a big change and we thank you for your efforts to keep getting tested, and doing your part to keep our community safe and healthy,” the email reads.
Check back for updates.
