UC Davis Chancellor Releases Statement After First Ever ‘No Known Contact’ COVID-19 Patient Arrives

DAVIS, CA. (THECOUNT) — Chancellor Gary S. May and UC Davis Health Vice Chancellor and CEO David Lubarsky issued the following statement Thursday after the UC Davis Medical Center received the first known coronavirus patient believed to have contracted the illness with no known contact or association to China.

Dear UC Davis Community:

As you may be aware, a confirmed case of COVID-19 has been documented in a Solano County resident who is being treated at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. This case is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as possibly the first patient with no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual. Because of the precautions we have had in place since this patient’s arrival, we believe there has been minimal potential for exposure at the medical center.

To date, no one in Yolo County or on the UC Davis main campus has tested positive for COVID-19. We do want you to know, however, that out of an abundance of caution, three members of the campus community who had been living in Kearney Hall are currently in isolation. The CDC is testing one of them for COVID-19, and this person is not on campus. The other two individuals are asymptomatic, meaning they are not showing any symptoms of illness, so, following CDC guidance, they have not been tested.

As an additional precautionary measure, daily disinfection practices are being implemented within all Student Housing and Dining Services properties.

Additionally, all students seeking care at the Student Health and Wellness Center are being asked about recent travel and contact with people with known COVID-19.

Many of you are asking about the status of classes and campus operations both in Davis and Sacramento. We will follow the guidance of the Yolo County and the California Department of Public Health before we make any decisions. We are not planning to cancel classes or suspend or modify operations at this time. Currently, we believe there is no need to do so.

We understand that there is a great amount of concern, uncertainty and anxiety in the campus community. The safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff are our highest priority. We are taking all appropriate measures and working closely with the CDC, California Department of Public Health and county agencies to coordinate.

While there is much we are learning about COVID-19, one thing we do know is that it has a high recovery rate.

Read more.

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: Davis is a city west of Sacramento, in California. It’s home to the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame, which has a collection of antique bikes and trophies. To the southwest, the UC Davis Arboretum features acres of gardens, with trails and a lake. Locally grown produce is sold at the Davis Farmers Market. The Hattie Weber Museum has exhibits on the area’s history, including dresses from the 1920s and ‘30s – wikipedia.