Coronavirus Update Jan 15, 2021: Campus, Dashboard & Vaccination Updates

UCCS COVID-19 Dashboard (through Jan. 14, 2021): 

• In the last week, 91 diagnostic tests were performed through the UCCS Wellness Center.
• In the last week, 5 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the community or through the Wellness Center.
• Since the beginning of the fall semester, 260 total COVID-19 cases have been reported among students, including those who have reported but not been on campus.

El Paso County COVID-19 Dashboard (through Jan. 14, 2021):

• COVID-19 level: Level Orange: High Risk
• 14-day incidence rate: 492.5
• Positivity rate: 8.16%

State of Colorado Vaccine Distribution (through Jan. 14, 2021):

• Phase Status: 1A and 1B
• People immunized with one dose: 223,827

If you are experiencing symptoms, do not come to campus.

Spring semester reminder:

The campus will start the spring semester remotely, Jan. 19. Classes will return to their originally scheduled instructional modes on Monday, Feb. 22. 

Zoom available for classes and meetings:

UCCS has secured Zoom as an OIT-supported platform for university operations, including classes, meetings and activities. For instructions on how to integrate an existing Zoom account, or to sign in for the first time, visit this OIT information page. 

On campus events:

Updated guidelines for on-campus events hosted by UCCS are available at uces.uccs.edu/covid-19-event-planning-resources.

Vaccine distribution:

Plans are continually changing, and UCCS is adapting to the latest guidance and information from state and county health departments in its planning.

• As reported last week, UCCS has applied with El Paso County Public Health to create a closed Point of Distribution site, or POD site, at the Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center when vaccines are available to the campus population. UCCS has not heard if that site has been approved or denied. If approved, the university does not expect to receive the vaccine on campus until March at the earliest.
• If you are 70 or older, the county has established a target of completing vaccines for 70% of this population by Feb. 28. Individuals in this category should follow the instructions below, or instructions you've already received from your personal health care provider, and not wait for any potential vaccine to possibly arrive on campus. The three largest providers in Colorado Springs have the following guidance for individuals over 70, who are currently eligible for vaccination. This applies to anyone over the age of 70, not just employees:
  • UCHealth: UCHealth is using My Health Connection, its online patient portal, to communicate with patients. If you do not have an active account or are new to UCHealth, sign up to be placed on a list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available for your age, according to the state’s plan. Visit their website, UCHealth.org/covidvaccine, for more information. 
  • Centura: If you are a Centura Health patient, you will receive an invitation when it is your time to receive the vaccine through MyCenturaHealth, its patient portal. These invitations will be sent based on the state tiering system, starting with patients age 70 and over. An appointment is required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and walk-ins cannot be accommodated. If you are currently not a patient you can go to centura.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information to get added to their vaccination list. 
  • Kaiser Permanente: For Kaiser Permanente members 70+ (and others in eligible 1A and 1B categories) visit Kaiser Permanente’s vaccine webpage to complete the “COVID-19 vaccine sign up.” Upon providing your information to them, you will be placed on a first-come, first-served wait list for the vaccine based on your eligibility. 
• The Department of Defense is operating its own vaccine distribution and has started the process for the installations in El Paso County with active duty military members and dependents. Our military affiliated students, staff and faculty should look to their command, VA or TriCare resources for more information. 

Schedules and timelines may be adjusted, either quicker or slower, based on the supply of vaccines to the state and public health recommendations for distribution. Colorado is receiving approximately 70,000 vaccines each week. For information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on vaccine distribution, visit covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.

Annual and academic year parking permits:

To prevent extra charges on employee paychecks and to return unused parking permits sooner, faculty and staff with annual parking permits will have their current permits terminated. Employees who paid for permits in full at the beginning of the year will receive a refund for the rest of the year in the way it was originally paid (check or credit card) and those on a payroll deduction will have it stopped. Employees will need to purchase new permits for the spring semester.

Parking permits will be required starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 22, and will go on sale Feb. 1. Spring permit rates at all levels will be adjusted to account for the remote start to the semester.

Any employees purchasing permits by payroll deduction must register for permits before Feb. 10, 2021 if they want it deducted from the February paycheck. Otherwise, it will result in a larger charge in the March paycheck.