Out & About with Brief Month-End & Quarter-End #RandomThoughts

The last three months was quite stressful at times--between being on Alert, trying to navigate through the challenges at the Daily Outsider, and the broader World challenges, it left quite a bit to be desired--including the reporting on Russians offering bounty money to the Taliban--which was included in the Presidential Daily Brief in spite of the spin--with this the New York Times reported today by Adam Goldman .   I understand from the New York Times reporting that at least 3 US Marines who  died  in 2019 may have died as a result of this program.    

As I write this, I have been working on a draft #RandomThoughts that will be published next week on Iran.  I also have been helping with editing a column as well on Iran especially in light of the latest UN Security Council Hearing on Iran which was held virtually--that I understood both sides were admonished.    A major explosion also occurred in Tehran at a Medical Center that resulted in the death of 19 people--including a number of Doctors.         

Back home here in the US, It has also been quite a worrisome time as COVID-19 has come back and come back strong--as I was working away on Social Media Analysis and Engagement at the Daily Outsider, I released this to my personal Twitter Feed in support of what Governor Newsom called for--just to live up to what I've called for: 

Vala Afshar--who is a must read for me on Twitter--noted a very critical point that I found very tragic--although I did welcome a call by Vice President Pence and US Senator McConnell to wear masks: 

When our young children and future grandchildren revisit history, they will be utterly shocked that the wealthiest country in the world somehow managed to politicize wearing masks during the deadliest pandemic that their parents and grandparents witnessed.

Stunning ignorance.

— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) June 30, 2020

As I bid farewell to the quarter, all I could take comfort in were these thoughts as I look forward to the on-going engagements during Q3:  

Out & About re: #CoronaVirus....

My Son is attending UC Davis--I just received this from UC Davis as I also saw reports that over 8,000 cases have been diagnosed in California--profound challenging times:

Dear UC Davis Parents: As you may be aware, a confirmed case of COVID-19 has been documented in a Solano County resident who is being treated at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. This case is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as possibly the first patient with no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual. Because of the precautions we have had in place since this patient’s arrival, we believe there has been minimal potential for exposure at the medical center. To date, no one in Yolo County or on the UC Davis main campus has tested positive for COVID-19. We do want you to know, however, that out of an abundance of caution, three members of the campus community who had been living in Kearney Hall are currently in isolation. The CDC is testing one of them for COVID-19, and this person is not on campus. The other two individuals are asymptomatic, meaning they are not showing any symptoms of illness, so, following CDC guidance, they have not been tested. As an additional precautionary measure, daily disinfection practices are being implemented within all Student Housing and Dining Services properties. Additionally, all students seeking care at the Student Health and Wellness Center are being asked about recent travel and contact with people with known COVID-19. Many of you are asking about the status of classes and campus operations both in Davis and Sacramento. We will follow the guidance of the Yolo County and the California Department of Public Health before we make any decisions. We are not planning to cancel classes or suspend or modify operations at this time. Currently, we believe there is no need to do so. We understand that there is a great amount of concern, uncertainty and anxiety in the campus community. The safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff are our highest priority. We are taking all appropriate measures and working closely with the CDC, California Department of Public Health and county agencies to coordinate. While there is much we are learning about COVID-19, one thing we do know is that it has a high recovery rate. Here are actions that you can take to ensure we all stay as healthy as possible: • Stay informed:    o UC Davis COVID-19 information page    o Yolo County information    o CDC information • Practice daily preventative care:    o Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.    o Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.    o Stay home if you are sick.    o Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work and school.    o Practice healthy habits: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.    o If you have not received your annual flu shot, please schedule one with your provider to help protect yourself against the flu.    o Do not smoke or use e-cigarettes. • Remain calm:    o While the progression of COVID-19 is still emerging, the CDC is reporting that for the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low. • Resources:    o Student Health and Wellness Center    o The Harassment and Discrimination Assistance and Prevention program    o The Academic and Staff Assistance Program Again, we are taking all necessary precautions and are working with public health officials. We do not believe there is any reason for anyone to overreact. Any person who is in isolation and asymptomatic is not considered contagious. We ask you to be kind and respectful to one another, as our Principles of Community guide our behaviors and interactions. We will continue to provide you with updates as we have them. You can find information at any time here. Sincerely, Gary S. May Chancellor, UC Davis David Lubarsky Vice Chancellor and CEO, UC Davis Health Copyright © The Regents of the University of California, Davis campus. All rights reserved. This message was created, edited and produced by the UC Davis Office of the Chancellor. Our mailing address is: University of California at Davis One Shields Ave. Davis, CA 95616 View this email in a browser | Privacy Policy | Manage my email preferences