COVID-19 cases remain low after fall break and Omicron appearance in California

As Chapman students return from fall break, the university’s COVID-19 protocols encourage testing and quarantine immediately following out-of-state travel. Graphic by HARRY LADA, Art Director

UPDATED: Dec. 6, 2:30 p.m. PT

As community members return to the Chapman University campus following fall break and Omicron variant cases begin to appear across the country, COVID-19 cases have stayed low with a positivity rate of 0.34% among those tested.

Holiday CU Safely Back protocols require students to complete a COVID-19 test three to five days after returning from out-of-state travel, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, unvaccinated students — which make up approximately 6% of the student population — are required to complete a seven-day quarantine period following any trips out of state.

For the Orange campus, testing occurs at 145 Sycamore Avenue, behind the Student Health Center. Extra testing is available in the parking lot of the Student Health Center to account for increased demand after holiday breaks, according to the CU Safely Back website. For the Rinker Health Science Campus, testing occurs at the first floor lobby of 9501 Jeronimo Road.

Students must indicate if they’ve returned from out-of-state travel in the past 10 days on their daily COVID-19 health screening survey. Photo illustration by KATIE REUL, Editor in Chief

All unvaccinated students, faculty and staff are still required to receive twice-weekly tests, even with an approved vaccination exemption. Chapman also added an extra question regarding out-of-state travel to the daily COVID-19 health screening to help identify students who need to complete additional protocols.

These COVID-19 policies come at a time when the Omicron variant, which was first identified in Botswana and South Africa, is quickly becoming the newest public health development. The first U.S. Omicron case was discovered Dec. 1 in California. The patient, who returned to the U.S. from South Africa Nov. 22, is a San Francisco resident who is currently in isolation.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the individual had mild symptoms that are improving and has since been under self-quarantine. All close contacts have been contacted and have tested negative, the report said.

The World Health Organization declared Omicron a variant of concern Nov. 26 based on early evidence the strain has several mutations capable of impacting transmission.

“California is monitoring the new variant from Southern Africa closely,” California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted Nov. 27. “We will continue to be guided by data and science. Right now, the best way we know to protect yourself is to get vaccinated and get your booster. Go today. Don’t wait.”

Since the first identified case, two more cases have been reported in Minnesota and Colorado, respectively. The Minnesota patient tested positive after travelling to New York City and has not been outside the U.S. recently. The Colorado patient tested positive after traveling to South Africa.

As of Dec. 5, at least 15 states have detected the Omicron variant, and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said that number is expected to rise.

There is no current evidence suggesting Omicron is more dangerous than other COVID-19 variants like Delta, but there are some signs pointing that the stain is incredibly mutated. 

The Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) urges vaccination and testing in response to Omicron.

“Although we are still learning about this new variant, it’s important to understand that new versions of the virus will continue to emerge as long as there are large proportions of people who are unvaccinated,” Regina Chinsio-Kwong, OCHCA Deputy County Health Officer, said in a Nov. 30 statement. “Please know that vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce everyone’s risk of getting sick, being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.”

Between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30, the seven-day average COVID-19 case rate dropped from 7.5 to 6.3 per 100,000 people and the average number of daily COVID-19 cases decreased from 242 to 204. The positivity rate also declined from 2.7 to 2.3 percent, hospitalizations increased slightly from 188 to 196, and ICU admissions increased slightly from 49 to 52 per day.