COVID-19 status report

The number of COVID-19 cases has continued to surge in California over the past two weeks. According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, in California, 42 counties are experiencing a high rate of cases, 13 have a moderate rate, and only three counties have a low rate of infections. In areas with high COVID-19 transmission, CDC and CDPH recommend wearing a mask when indoors or when you are close in crowded situations.

This statewide surge continues to affect our ANR colleagues, with the first two weeks of July having the most cases since early January 2022. We have seen multiple cases occur at several ANR locations, as well as at some statewide meetings. Gatherings over the July 4^th holiday and travel out of state appears to have led to many of the cases experienced by our UC ANR colleagues. When multiple cases occur at the same location in a short time period, workplace safety standards require additional investigation and interventions, including a return to mandatory mask use for all employees.

Please remember that we all need to continue to monitor ourselves for symptoms and take precautions if we learn we have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19. Employees who have symptoms, are exposed to someone who has COVID, or test positive need to report this to their supervisor and use the COVID-19 Screening Report survey to report their conditions. Follow the guidance of the survey if you are advised to stay home from work. If necessary, ANR's COVID-19 response team will follow up with you to provide more information about quarantine, leave, and your return to work. Even if you have been away from work for a few days, it is important to report your COVID-19 case, so we can determine if additional notification or other measures are required and manage your return to work. 

This ongoing rate of COVID-19 cases requires our vigilance to prevent spreading the illness at work or during UC ANR activities in the community. Thank you for your continued efforts to keep yourself, your families and your UC ANR colleagues safe. 

Related news: UC issues final COVID-19 vaccination policy 

Confidential conflict management services for UC ANR employees

The UC Davis Ombuds Office has started providing UC ANR staff and faculty with off-the-record conflict management services as of July 1, 2022. The Ombuds Office focuses on helping employees to develop strategies for navigating challenging situations, planning for difficult conversations, and/or addressing conflict. The Ombuds Office operates confidentially, informally, impartially and independently. 

There is no issue too big or too small to bring to the Ombuds Office. Common concerns that the Ombuds Office helps with include interpersonal issues with coworkers or volunteers, role or workload concerns, professional roadblocks, red tape, communication challenges, and abrasive behavior or unfair treatment. Conflict and disagreement are inevitable in our work environments, and the Ombuds Office helps build employees' conflict competence to harness the positive potential of differences and conflict to improve professional relationships.

The Ombuds Office offers the following services (available virtually from any location): 

• Individual meetings: 90-minute confidential conflict coaching sessions with an Ombuds.
• Mediations: Informal, voluntary and confidential discussions between individuals in conflict, facilitated by an Ombuds.
• Workshops: Staff and faculty can learn strategies for improving conflict management and communication skills by attending Conflict Competence workshops. To register, visit https://lms.ucdavis.edu/. For details, please visit https://ombuds.ucdavis.edu/services/training.  
• Presentations: Brief informational presentations to increase awareness about the Ombuds role and services.

To learn more about Ombuds Office services, call the Ombuds Office at (530) 754-7233 or visit their website at https://ombuds.ucdavis.edu.