COVID-19

CHANCELLOR'S MESSAGE COVID-19 UPDATE - OCTOBER 30, 2020

I hope my message finds everyone safe and well. The challenges of online instruction and remote operations are still apparent, especially as we endeavor to offer some class section components and some staff support at the campuses. Nevertheless, everyone is truly giving this their “all” and, as a result, we are keeping our students and employees safe, in large measure, and we are also providing high-quality instruction and services. The Board of Trustees and I send kudos and heartfelt thanks for all that you are doing.

This message is intended to offer information about the current state of COVID-19 impact in our District.

SDCCD COVID-19 CASES

In the interest of transparency, I want you to know what COVID-19 cases have emerged in our District. Here is the current update, although we will need to monitor and record things more closely since there may be errors in this chart: COVID cases at the SDCCD broken down by campus

Note: Students working remotely since March 2020
Note: 98% employees working remotely since March 2020
Note: Figures above are an aggregate of on-campus and off-campus infection

In each case, there was thorough follow-up with appropriate tracking and notifications, and, thus far, there have been no reported deaths. I have spoken with health officials outside of our District and they have conveyed great respect and admiration for our efforts to keep our numbers low, which they note are surprisingly low for such a large organization. We are continuing to follow all health protocols for our on-campus students, faculty, administrators, and classified professionals.

CASES IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

The New York Times has been tracking COVID-19 cases among institutions of higher education. It is instructive to see in map form how the virus as been increasing.

Colleges affected by COVID

UPDATE FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

Here is today’s COVID-19 update from the County Health and Human Services Agency with data through Oct. 28.

State Metrics:

- San Diego County’s state-calculated, adjusted case rate is currently 6.5 per 100,000 residents. Limit for Tier 2, the Red Tier, is 7.0.

- The testing positivity percentage is 3.5%, placing it in Tier 3 or the Orange Tier.

- The state’s health equity metric looks at the testing positivity for areas with the lowest healthy conditions.

- The County’s health equity testing positivity percentage is 5.1%. This metric does not move counties to more restrictive tiers but is required to advance.

- The California Department of Public Health will assess counties on a weekly basis, with the next report scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Community Setting Outbreaks:

- Eight new community outbreaks were confirmed on Oct. 28: four in business settings, two in grocery settings, one in a preschool setting and one in a restaurant setting.

- In the past seven days (Oct. 22 through Oct. 28), 37 community outbreaks were confirmed.

- The number of community outbreaks remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days. A community setting outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households over the past 14 days.

Testing:

- 13,338 tests were reported to the County on Oct. 28, and the percentage of new laboratory-confirmed cases was 3%.

- The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 2.8%. Target is less than 8.0%.

- The 7-day, daily average of tests is 11,100.

- People with and without symptoms who are at higher risk for COVID-19 should be tested. Healthcare and essential workers should also get a test, as well as people who had close contact to a positive case or live in communities that are being highly impacted.

Cases:

- 358 new cases were confirmed among San Diego County residents on Oct. 28. The region’s total is now 55,898.

- 3,892 or 7.0% of all cases have required hospitalization.

- 902 or 1.6% of all cases and 23.2% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.

Deaths:

- Four new deaths were reported in the County on Oct. 28. The region’s total is now 885.

- Three men and one woman died between Oct. 26 and Oct. 27. Their ages ranged from mid-30s to early 80s and all had underlying medical conditions.

CONCLUSION

The Board of Trustees, the Presidents, the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the governance leaders, and I are continuing to monitor this overall situation, which is lately seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases. We are trying to make the best judgment calls possible during this evolving crisis. And, as I have said before, I believe we have been and are effective in meeting our two top priorities: 1) ensuring the health and safety of our students and employees; and 2) ensuring the continuity of instruction and operations. Many thanks to all of our faculty, classified professionals, administrators, student leaders, and community supporters for your understanding and advice.

Stay well!

Dr. Constance M. Carroll
Chancellor, San Diego Community College District