This week, Washington鈥檚听Governor Jay Inslee issued a new听听order strengthening mandates already in place to encourage social distancing, a crucial measure听for听slowing听the spread of COVID-19. While the Governor鈥檚 directive includes additional, important requirements, here听at the 痳豆在线,听we are听already operating听with听many of听these听rules听in place. This new directive does, however, require additional efforts to ensure that our region鈥檚 efforts to 鈥渇latten the curve鈥� are successful. I thank you all for your ongoing flexibility and support of one another.
The UW has been on modified operations and we are now moving to restricted operations. As a reminder, our campuses never close, and our hospitals, clinics, critical research and limited residential operations continue.听Spring quarter will听start听next Monday,听March 30, with classes held remotely. All preparations for remote learning during spring quarter are authorized to continue, including for faculty and teaching assistants who periodically need to access on campus technologies to prepare lectures and coursework. Already, we are seeing听how听the creative, thoughtful work of our faculty moving instruction to听online听and remote听tools is听giving students access to instruction and coursework.
Most听UW employees who can work from home are already doing so. With this听new听order, all employees who can听telework without hampering critical operations听must听do so;听teleworking is no longer strongly encouraged or strongly suggested; it is mandatory for employees who can do so without hampering critical operations.
听Mission critical research听as well as听essential functions to serve and听protect students who still reside on campus will continue. Supervisors, principal investigators and facility managers will receive additional guidance today about what this new directive means for critical employees as well as the operations of labs and research. And of course, our heroic frontline health care providers and the vital听staff members听who support them听will continue their work enabling the听testing,听treatment听and research听needed听to fight this pandemic听and听meet the critical health care needs that occur in ordinary times. For the many people in our Husky family who have asked how they can support our UW health care workers and others in our community who are being impacted by this virus, we have compiled some suggestions for how you can help.
In his message to the state, Governor Inslee reminded us that 鈥渢he less time we spend听together听in public, the more lives we will save.鈥澨齇ur UW community is defined by our values and our commitment听to putting those听values into action听鈥� through our work, service and,听sometimes,听our sacrifices. At a time like this, I feel more acutely than ever what it means to be a member of this strong, generous, courageous family.听And I know that together, we can save lives and听help听end this crisis. On behalf of all of us, please, STAY AT HOME听so all of us can STAY HEALTHY.