USCB Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

USCB’s goal for the Spring 2021 semester – to the extent possible within CDC and SCDHEC-guided mitigation protocols – is to restore our campuses to more customary operating environments and schedules.  Masking, social distancing, and routine sanitizing remain a mandate for all students, faculty, and staff in order to guard against the spread of COVID-19.  Further, we are following progress of vaccine distribution in South Carolina very closely.  Working with SCDHEC, we will offer on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics as soon as the vaccines are made available to us.  We anticipate being part of a Phase 2 Rollout in the spring.  We will update the university community as we learn more.  We continue to urge all Sand Sharks to get a flu shot and to remain vigilant about safeguarding the health and well-being of our community.  For more information: Student Resources Page and Faculty-Staff Resources Page.

USCB continually monitors conditions across our campuses, the region, and the state to determine a university-wide level of alert. For each level, there are mitigation strategies to be followed by members of our community in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

USCB COVID-19 Dashboard - January 19, 2021. TESTING - 35 Tested (January 12 to January 19), 11 Tests Pending, 1833 Tested Total. COMPARISONS - New Cases, USCB = 13; Beaufort County = 883; South Carolina = 27213. Total Cases, USCB = 111; Beaufort County = 12346; South Carolina = 404492. CURRENT CAMPUS ALERT LEVEL = GREEN = SCORE: 0.83. INDICATORS - COVID Campus Capacity = green, Campus Operations = green, Campus Environment = yellow, Community Resources = orange. ALERT LEVELS - GREEN SCORE: 0 to 0.9 = Low Risk: New normal protocols (masks, handwashing, social distancing, reduced classroom occupancy); public gatherings permitted, YELLOW SCORE: 1 to 1.9 = Moderate Risk: New normal protocols; public gatherings restricted, ORANGE SCORE: 2 to 2.9 = High Risk: Limited campus activities; consider randomized testing of students and employees; transition of some classes to online/remote learning, RED SCORE: greater than 2.9 = Very High Risk: Restricted campus activities (essential only); consider transition of most or all classes to online/remote learning. Historical Cases USCB: August 25, 2020 = 11, September 1, 2020 = 1, September 8, 2020 = 4, September 15, 2020 = 5, September 22, 2020 = 17, September 29, 2020 = 8, October 6, 2020 = 7, October 13, 2020 = 2, October 20, 2020 = 5, October 27, 2020 = 9, November 3, 2020 = 3, November 10, 2020 = 2, November 17, 2020 = 2, December 1, 2020 = 2, December 8, 2020 = 1, December 15, 2020 = 1, January 5, 2021 = 3, January 12, 2021 = 15, January 19, 2021 = 13. Isolation and Quarantine Beds: 90% Beds Available, 10% Beds Occupied. Historical Campus Alert Levels: August 25, 2020 = 0.33, September 1, 2020 = 0.33, September 15, 2020 = 0.33, September 22, 2020 = 0.46, September 29, 2020 = 0.46, October 6, 2020 = 0.46, October 13, 2020 = 0.46, October 13, 2020 = 0.46, October 20, 2020 = 0.46, October 27, 2020 = 0.46, November 3, 2020 = 0.33, November 10, 2020 = 0.42, November 17, 2020 = 0.42, December 1, 2020 = 0.67, December 8, 2020 = 0.67, December 15, 2020 = 0.75, January 5, 2021 = 0.92, January 12, 2021 = 0.83, January 19, 2021 = 0.83.

COVID Campus Capacity includes data related to:

  • Number of New COVID-19 Cases
  • USCB’s Ability to Trace and Quarantine Close Contacts
  • Number of Students and Employees in Isolation or Quarantine

Campus Operations includes data related to:

  • PPE Supplies
  • Finances
  • Adequacy of Personnel for Day-to-Day Operations

Campus Environment includes:

  • Adherence to Masking and Social Distancing
  • Degree of Anxiety Reported by USCB Community and Surrounding Communities

Community Resources includes data related to:

  • County and State Transmission Rates
  • Capacity of Regional Healthcare Services
  • Availability of COVID-19 Testing

Resources

Student Resources: 
https://www.uscb.edu/student_life/student_services/coronavirus-resources/index.html

Faculty-Staff Resources: 
https://www.uscb.edu/human_resources/uscb-covid-19-toolbox/index.html

Dashboard Data Source for Beaufort County and for SC:
SCDHEC County Level COVID 19 Data

Questions related to USCB’s COVID-19 Response:
 uscbcovid19@uscb.edu or (843) 208-8099

Wishing you continuing good health!