Holiday Zoom'ing!

Amid skyrocketing cases of COVID-19 across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance this month urging individuals to avoid traveling for the holidays and to consider canceling plans to spend time with relatives outside their households. 

The guidance comes as the United States surpassed 250,000 deaths related to the novel coronavirus earlier this week. 

“Amid this critical phase, the C.D.C. is recommending against travel during the Thanksgiving period,” said Dr. Henry Walke, COVID-19 incident manager at the agency, during a recent news briefing.

“We’re alarmed,” Walke continued, citing an exponential increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. “What we’re concerned about is not only the actual mode of travel –– whether it’s an airplane or bus or car, but also the transportation hubs we’re concerned about, as well.”

On Thursday, Alaska health officials reported the state’s 100th coronavirus death and Chief Medical officer Dr. Anne Zink and other state officials have urged Alaskans to follow similar guidance: don’t travel, stay home if you can help it and celebrate the holiday virtually if possible. 

To that end, students and staff are reminded that the Zoom access provided by the university serves as an excellent way to remain connected with family over the holiday weekend while still maintaining safe social distance. 

To access your UA provided Zoom account go to alaska.zoom.us and log in with your UA

username and password. Click ‘Schedule a Meeting’ in the top navigation bar, input meeting details and click ‘Save,’ then copy the meeting URL or click ‘Copy the invitation’ and email to your family members and friends which you wish to meet virtually with. 

Happy Zoom-ing and please have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.