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Editor's note: This version is updated to correct the return date of the individual who traveled to South Africa.
December 1, 2021
Dear UCSF Community,
Today, the California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health confirmed that the first case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant in the United States has been identified in the Bay Area, though it is likely that other cases in the country exist but have not yet been detected.
It’s been less than a month since the new, heavily mutated and highly transmissible Omicron strain was detected and designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization. It’s now rapidly spreading across the world.
A message from Joshua Adler, Chief Clinical Officer
December 22, 2021
Dear UCSF Community,
Just last week, I wrote to you about the rapid spread of Omicron, which is becoming the dominant COVID-19 virus in the U.S. I write today to update you on new policy changes as we work as health care leaders to protect our patients, families, and each other.
First, we are grateful for the more than 70 employees and learners who have signed up in the labor pool to volunteer to help fill critical staffing positions.
Dear UCSF Community,
Today, we mark two years since we admitted our first patients to UCSF. This was the just the beginning of a global pandemic of epic proportions that has had life-changing impact. We honor everyone who has answered the call of duty, especially our frontline health care workers.
The arrival of springtime brings a new season symbolizing rebirth, rejuvenation and renewal.
Here at UCSF, we are cautiously optimistic as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to decrease in the United States and in California. As such, we are easing some of our COVID-19 policies and protocols, described below.
We hope you are well with the arrival of the fall season. We are happy to report that new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and test positivity rates have fallen in recent weeks, a promising sign that conditions are improving across the country.