Coronavirus 3/10-11: Davis school district cancels events to follow new guidelines

• Yolo County recommends schools ‘minimize students working within arm’s length
• Community events canceled in response to new Yolo County recommendations
• Davis school district cancels events to follow new guidelines

BlueDevilHUB.com will be updating this story as more information becomes available. Latest update: March 11, 2020 at 6:33 p.m.

PHOTO: Teachers at Davis High put up new posters in classrooms in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (Courtesy: Allyson Kang).

Davis school district cancels events to follow new guidelines

By Allyson Kang and Lyah Fitzpatrick,

BlueDevilHUB.com Editors–

In response to the Yolo County Public Health press release issued on March 10, the David Joint Unified School District has applied several new measures effective from March 12 through April 30. These measures are part of an effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

A message from Superintendent John A. Bowes announced that “all upcoming school and District-related large gatherings are canceled through April 30 or will be modified in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.” 

This includes all field trips, school dances and assemblies. Outside events using school campuses will be cancelled, with possible exceptions.

See below for a compiled list of cancelled events at Davis High. For an interactive map of community events affected by the outbreak, click here.

Cancelled events	To be evaluated
Environmental Science field trip Spring Fling dance Youth in Government New York journalism field trip Washington/Canada band trip Robotics competition – St. Louis Red Cross blood drive	SAT test (March 14) Prom

The cancellation of the annual Environmental Science field trip is disconcerting to students.

“I don’t really mind, but it’s still a little annoying because we paid to go and probably aren’t getting a refund,” Environmental Science student Darren Wong said.

Senior Sam Hendrix, the committee head of the 2020 spring fling, has spent almost three months planning the now-postponed dance. She is “really disappointed” with the multitude of cancellations.

“Rather than just cancelling everything I think the administration needs to take better action into protecting their students, rather than just cancelling events and not protecting us in any other sense,” Hendrix said.

The symphonic and concert bands have also been affected by the wave of dropped events. They had planned an excursion to Washington and the University of Washington, where they would then take a bus to Victoria, Canada. The trip is no longer happening.

Senior Damian Murillo calls the sudden cancellation “one of the biggest slaps in the face to everyone involved.”

“Most of the seniors from years past have said the Canada trip is the best one, and having all that hype built up and suddenly we can no longer go really just puts a damper on all of us,” Murillo said.

There is talk of replacing the international trip with a more localized experience, but Murillo believes the statement “is going to take a hit to the band in terms of morale without a doubt.”

Several sports games have also been cancelled. Junior Vivian Lee is a member of the Davis High track team, whose meet at UC Davis on March 13 was called off.

“I guess it is [justified] because many people would be there. I’m still sad though, about it being cancelled,” Lee said.

Continuing games will be held in the largest possible venue available at each school. Per Yolo County’s recommendations, the district is focusing on “social distancing,” or trying to reduce close contact in order to mitigate the spread of the outbreak. 

However, as of March 11, Davis schools will remain open.

According to a letter addressed to superintendents on March 10 from the Yolo County Office of Education, “the Public Health Department is not recommending school closures at this time because individuals under 18 years of age have not been shown to be a high-risk group for serious illness from this virus.”

This decision will be subject to consideration if a staff member or student is confirmed to have coronavirus (COVID-19).

Community events canceled in response to new Yolo County recommendations

By Lindsey Su and Allyson Kang,

BlueDevilHUB.com Editors–

Starting on March 9, 2020, the Yolo County Health Officer “strongly recommends that all community organizations, schools, religious organizations, and other entities and event planners cancel any non-essential large gatherings or events.” The officer has announced that a reassessment will take place on or before April 1.

As a result, many organizations around Davis have started to cancel large meetings, from church services to library programs.

All Yolo County libraries have cancelled program events until March 31, although they will still operate according to standard hours.

UC Davis has also cancelled in-person finals and all events with a planned attendance of more than 150 people until March 31, excluding certain artistic and athletic performances. A complete list of cancelled university-associated events can be found here.

At Davis High, all sports games against schools in the Elk Grove school district have been canceled until the end of the week as a result of the district’s closing. Other games are also being cancelled.

Field trips, including an environmental science field trip to a marine lab, have been cancelled.

Click through the interactive map below to see which events in Davis have been cancelled (red) and which events will continue (blue). It will be updated as more information becomes available.

Interactive Davis community events map

Yolo County recommends schools ‘minimize students working within arm’s length’

By Gabe Lee and Renee Xiang,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

The Yolo County Public Health Department issued updated guidelines regarding the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak today.

The statement recommends that “schools should minimize students and/or staff working within arm’s length of each other whenever feasible.”

The statement was a response to increased concern regarding the virus in the area as a total of eight combined cases have been confirmed in Yolo County and neighboring Placer County. In addition, the YCPHD has found evidence of “community spread,” meaning cases of “unknown origin.”

Additionally, the YCPHD stated that they have shifted their treatment of the situation from one of containment to “mitigation” as the outbreak becomes increasingly volatile. 

The counties are also recommending that work places implement telecommuting if feasible.

The Davis Joint Unified School District‘s website states that “DJUSD will be working with the Yolo County Office of Education, other school districts in our county and other partners to issue revised guidance for our schools in the coming days.”

Physics teacher Jean-Paul Whittall expects to find out more information about the guidelines at Davis High’s staff meeting tomorrow.

“I think it’s unreasonable to expect immediate, same-day action to be taken by the school, we have general staff meetings once a week and I fully expect this to be addressed at that point, but same-day action is [near] impossible,” Whittall said.

Junior Livy Taylor appreciates that the county is taking action and implementing certain regulations for schools.

“It shows that they’re not just ignoring it and pretending that it will go away,” Taylor said.

BlueDevilHUB.com reporters for the coronavirus (COVID-19) story include Gabe Lee, Hannah Cho, Lindsey Su, Lyah Fitzpatrick, Renee Xiang and Allyson Kang.