Pilots Prevent
Health Center
January 16, 2021
The University of Portland was notified last night that a previously-diagnosed case of COVID-19 infecting one (1) on-campus staff member is the recently-discovered “UK variant” or “B.1.1.7” strain of the virus. It is the first known case of this variant in Oregon. The infected staff member has been in isolation since the initial diagnosis and will remain so until cleared by their healthcare provider in the coming days.
UP community members deemed to have come in close contact with the infected staff member have been in quarantine since Monday. Thus far, neither the infected individual nor persons in quarantine have developed symptoms associated with COVID-19. As part of contact tracing, no UP students are in quarantine in connection with this case.
The UK variant spreads more easily than other versions of the COVID-19 virus. However, it is not considered more severe; and UP has received guidance from health authorities that no additional precautions beyond normal COVID-19 mitigation strategies are necessary. According to infectious disease experts, current COVID-19 vaccines should still protect against this latest strain.
Plans by UP to begin prescheduled baseline testing and campus move-in on Monday of students for the spring semester will continue. University officials have added the following statement:
“Our robust testing protocols caught this infection early and worked as they should have. Our resources came together quickly to identify, isolate and care for this member of our UP community, and to address the possibility of further spread,” said Michael Lewellen, UP Vice President for Marketing & Communications. “We remain confident in our COVID-19 planning and management strategies. Opening of our spring 2021 semester with limited students in residence halls and a hybrid of online and select in-person classes will proceed as scheduled.”
For several months, UP has worked with the Oregon Health Authority and Multnomah County Health Department on plans for a measured return to campus for students, faculty and staff. Approximately 830 undergraduates will begin prescheduled move-ins next week to occupy UP residence halls following baseline testing provided by national healthcare provider Carbon Health. The hybrid educational model for the University’s 4,000 students will begin on January 25. UP continues to inform its community and track all COVID-19 reporting online at https://www.up.edu/pilotsprevent/index.html.
Additional information regarding COVID-19 and the UK Variant is available through the Multnomah County Health Department at www.multco.us/COVID19.
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