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Accessed: 6/5/2020 COVID-19: UCSD to Initiate "Return to Learn" Program; Mass COVID-19 Testing to Begin - UCSD Guardian To learn more about The UCSD Guardian's coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, click here → May 5, 2020 Guardian Staff This article was cowritten by UCSD Guardian Editor-in-Chief Daisy Scott and News Editor Jacob Sutherland, is a part of our news series on the COVID-19 pandemic. For information on how to prevent the spread of the virus, click here. Chancellor Khosla announced in a May 5 email that UC San Diego will begin mass testing students for novel coronavirus as part of efforts taken toward students returning to campus. This testing is part of a larger program called “Return to Learn,” and will begin its first phase on May 11 by making testing available to over 5,000 students who currently reside on the UC San Diego campus. The testing will involve students obtaining nasal swabs from designated on-campus locations, using a barcode to identify the swab as their own, self-swab their nose, and return the test sample at drop-box locations. The university anticipates that the approximately 65,000 students, faculty, and staff will all be able to self-test on a monthly basis as early as September, 2020. According to the statement, “Return to Learn” consists of five long-term components: Accessed: 6/5/2020 COVID-19: UCSD to Initiate "Return to Learn" Program; Mass COVID-19 Testing to Begin - UCSD Guardian • Risk Assessment and Mitigation: The university administration will implement a variety of changes to campus culture to mitigate any potential transmission of the virus, including “optimal class sizes and density, the scope and structure for co-curricular activities, and appropriate personal behaviors, like physical distancing and the use of face coverings.” • Proactive Vigilance: UCSD scientists have worked with the administration to develop mathematical models for virus management. According to the models, if 60 to 90 percent of the on-campus population is tested, the university estimates that they “have a greater than 90 percent chance of detecting the spread of SARS- CoV-2 when fewer than 10 persons among tens of thousands are actively, but unknowingly, shedding viral particles.” • Rapid Response: When or if an individual does test positive for COVID-19, university public health team members will reach out to them, as well as any other they may have come in contact with before being tested. The university email states that they will be working alongside “state and local public health officials in all our responses.” • Technological Tools: The program will also include studies that look for viral RNA from “residential wastewater and surface collections,” as it is believed that the disease may be more infectious before symptoms occur. This knowledge will help the university to better monitor the spread of the virus. • Big Picture: The program at large is designed to “identify clusters of individuals shedding virus or those at greater risk in specific locations.” This will allow for faster treatment, as well as quicker interventions and refinements within the program. Ultimately, UCSD aims to lessen the chances of outbreaks on campus through this mass testing and early detection system. Khosla stated in the announcement that while the program is unprecedented for the university, it could serve as a model for other schools around the country if proven successful. “The UC San Diego Return to Learn Program represents higher education at its finest, and if successful, the program can help UC San Diego and similar institutions to do what we do best: teach, conduct leading-edge research, and provide service to our communities,” Khosla wrote. Accessed: 6/5/2020 COVID-19: UCSD to Initiate "Return to Learn" Program; Mass COVID-19 Testing to Begin - UCSD Guardian Students are encouraged to continue practicing social-distancing to limit any potential contact with the virus. This is a breaking story, and The UCSD Guardian has contacted the university for further comment. The article will be updated with any further developments. This article was updated at 4:06 p.m. to include details on the testing procedure. Accessed: 6/5/2020 Like a Good Neighbor... - UCSD Guardian May 6, 2020 Veronica Menendez This is my first article for the Guardian and I wanted it to be about some recent changes I have personally seen in my community caused by COVID-19. In these times of great uncertainty, we find ourselves scared, confused, and worried about what the future holds for us. Being in quarantine is a huge sacrifice and can be difficult for many of us. But I propose that we see it as an opportunity for us to practice being good citizens. I am grateful that during these hard times, my community has taken steps to make our current environment safer and friendlier. Many local restaurants and other establishments have started making food packages for those who find themselves without access to food. These actions, and the people behind them, are what it means to be a good member to your community. We have seen much on the news about people fighting at market places for items, elders being scared to shop for groceries, and mothers not finding diapers for their children. This is a time where we need to show compassion and friendliness to our fellow neighbors. The most important thing we should leave with, coming out of this quarantine, is knowing what it means to be a good neighbor and a good member of your community. So what does that mean? Does it mean being friendly with your next-door neighbors? Accessed: 6/5/2020 Like a Good Neighbor... - UCSD Guardian Getting involved with your community? Donating food? It means all these things and more. I’ve listed some ways that we can be good neighbors and show friendliness: 1. Make time to call your family and friends to make sure they are ok. When we can’t gather in groups of more than 10 people, it is hard to stay connected with family and friends. Spending some time of your day sending a text message, FaceTiming, or having a Zoom meeting with your friends and family is a great way to stay connected and check in on how they have been doing; quarantine affects everyone differently. 2. Help your parents with that technical issue they always seem to have with their phone. We all have that one parent or guardian who can never seem to work their phone — or any piece of technology, really. With this extra time on our hands, we should look at it as an opportunity to teach our parents or guardians how to properly use their phone or any other piece of technology they struggle with, especially in my case: the computer. 3. Spend time helping your siblings with the online homework assignment they are struggling with. As we struggle with online classes, so do our siblings. Online classes are new to us and to them. But while we have a plethora of resources available to us, they might not have as many. Offer your help and go over material together for them to have a better understanding. 4. Donate extra canned goods to shelters. Be a good neighbor and donate extra canned food items to shelters in your community. With the closure of many food places and new rules in place regarding grocery shopping, people are struggling with getting access to food. Donating food, even if it’s five cans, makes a difference. 5. Remember to not hoard essential items. Accessed: 6/5/2020 Like a Good Neighbor... - UCSD Guardian When the pandemic started, we saw on the news how people rushed to the grocery shops trying to stock on necessities. We also saw how this rush to hoard items left those with bigger needs empty-handed. That hoarding continues today, as aisles that used to be filled with toilet paper are now empty. We must remember that we are not the only ones quarantining. There are countless others who need the same necessities as us, and in that sense, we must be respectful to others 6. Doordash some food to your friend or nextdoor neighbor We all miss going out to eat with friends and can’t wait till we can finally go out. Until then, I suggest doing this activity electronically. Brighten someone’s day by sending them food through DoorDash or any other food delivery system. My family and I recently sent some food to our next door neighbor, who recently did us a big favor, to show our appreciation. 7. Help with chores around the house. I think my favorite thing about living away from home was not doing as much chores, but now that I am back, it’s back to the same routine as before. Yet, in these different circumstances, I know it’s much more difficult for my mom to do them all by herself. I volunteer to do some chores, while my brother takes up another few and my mom the last few. This act of assistance goes a long way and is a good way to make your “community” at home a better place. 8. Volunteer to cook dinner for your family It is not easy cooking dinner every day for a larger group of people. If you are quarantining with others, I suggest you volunteer to help with cooking. Even if you are not the best cook, helping by cutting vegetables or even washing them is another act of being a good member of your household. 9. Support your local restaurants by ordering takeout While many restaurants have closed due to COVID-19, many others remain open.

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