Coronavirus Update, August 20, 2020
Cornell administration has agreed to meet with organizers of a Resident Assistants’ strike, on the heels of over 50 RAs filing a list of demands to the university. The RAs cited concerns over their own health, residents’ needs, and evolving campus procedures as the school prepares to reopen.
The Cornell Daily Sun reports that more than 50 RAs skipped their virtual training meetings yesterday and are not participating in any meetings or training until their demands are met. These demands include new safety measures, RA representation in decision-making processes, and hazard pay.
Between 4,000 and 5,000 students are expected to arrive on campus in the coming week, many RAs have expressed concern over their personal safety. There is a significant shortage in their staff as well as a lack of sufficient personal protective equipment. Many RA's rely on their roles for their food and housing and feel they are left with few alternatives to the position.
Vice President for Student and Campus Life Ryan Lombardi has agreed to meet with R.A. organizers as soon as possible in response to the requests. He also says that staff should have received welcome packets with masks, and that extra masks will be provided if needed. Lombardi adds that residence hall bathrooms and surfaces are being regularly disinfected.
Members of residential staff are worried that they will not be able to control whether or not students respect social distancing regulations, and that the administration might not be able to quickly control a potential spread of COVID-19.
A joint public forum between administrators from Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Tompkins Cortland Community College was held over Zoom Tuesday night.
The event was held to discuss the upcoming semester and address concerns from the community, the Ithaca Voice reports. Each administration explained their plan for a safe return to campus. TC3 will go forward with a hybrid model, keeping the campus open while reducing the number of people in one place. Ithaca College will still be reopening campus to an extent, but students will be taking classes virtually this fall. Cornell University is still planning reopening in-person with some of its students already returning to campus.
Vice President of Cornell’s Student and Campus Life Ryan Lombardi stated that 4 percent of the university’s students have returned and infection rates have been low. About 0.6 percent of students from states not on New York’s travel advisory list have tested positive. Administrators stressed that public health was their top priority and that students would continue to be tested upon arrival to campus and will be closely surveilling their students.
At the most recent Tompkins County Legislature meeting, there was unanimous approval to utilize contingent funds to support community surveillance testing for COVID-19. A press release issued Tuesday outlines that testing will be made available for all Tompkins County residents at the Cayuga Health Systems site at the Ithaca Mall.
Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino and Public Health Director Frank Kruppa also gave an update on the local response to the virus, including data on testing, recent announcements of reopening from community partners, and enforcement processes for those not adhering to social distancing guidelines.
In addition, Legislature Chairwoman Leslyn McBean-Clairborne read a proclamation covering the history of women’s struggle with the right to vote. She did so in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Tompkins County Human Rights Commission also gave a statement in solidarity of local residents fighting against racial injustices and providing recommendations for changes in policy.
The Tompkins County Health Department issued a release Thursday announcing that gyms and fitness centers will be able to reopen in Tompkins County on August 24, 2020, as long as certain guidelines are followed.
This comes after Governor Andrew Cuomo released guidance for the reopening of these facilities on Monday. Those stipulations include reading the issued guidance and creating and submitting a safety plan that includes certified heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It also details that these facilities could only open at 33 percent capacity, and personal protective equipment will be required at all.
The Tompkins County Health Department will be scheduling inspections with local facilities that submit a reopening plan to ensure they follow guidelines and have the proper ventilation systems.
Looking at the local COVID-19 caseload, the latest numbers released Thursday from the Tompkins County health department, indicate that there is 1 additional positive, and no new recoveries. According to the County Health Department, that leaves 7 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins.
In Schuyler County, there are 2 new cases of COVID-19 reported as of Thursday, according to their Health Department. Those two are the only active cases in Schuyler County, and the first new positives in several weeks.
Contributing writing by WRFI Volunteer Phoebe Harms